Abou Khalil
Abou Khalil
Al Jaima de Abou Khalil has been serving Lebanese food in Barcelona since 1983, making it the city's pioneering Lebanese restaurant. Owner Miguel Katib, who grew up in Lebanon's Shatila refugee camp before bringing his mother's cooking to Barcelona, still sources ingredients personally at Mercabarna.
Background
About Abou Khalil
The Story
Al Jaima de Abou Khalil is widely recognised as Barcelona's pioneering Lebanese restaurant, serving the city since 1983. Owner Miguel Katib, originally from Lebanon, where he grew up in the Shatila refugee camp, brought the flavours of his mother's kitchen to Barcelona and has personally sourced ingredients at Mercabarna for decades. The current Eixample space replaced the original Abou Khalil after 38 years and is styled as a Jaima (Arab tent) with cushioned banquettes, arched alcoves and patterned cement-tile floors.
The Cuisine
The menu covers the full range of Lebanese cooking: cold and hot mezze (hummus, muhammara, labneh, warak enab, fatayer), grandmother's recipes (bamiah, stuffed courgette, lamb stew), charcoal grills (shish taouk, kafta, shawarma), rice and biryanis, and classic desserts like baklawa and knafe. Meats are halal, and there are full vegetarian and vegan sections. A-la-carte spend typically lands around €25-50 per person.
The Team
Miguel Katib runs the kitchen and still handles produce buying himself. Front-of-house is unhurried and hospitable, with the house offering shisha after dinner and belly-dancing performances on Friday and Saturday nights.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Abou Khalil Ratings & Reviews
Diner Ratings
4.6
1,549 reviews
Yelp
4.9
7 reviews
Diners rate Al Jaima de Abou Khalil 4.6/5 on Google across more than 1,500 reviews, with consistent praise for hummus, grilled meats and warm hospitality. As Barcelona's longest-running Lebanese restaurant, it has built a loyal following among locals and Middle Eastern visitors alike.
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Reservations
How to Book Abou Khalil
Booking
Reservations at Al Jaima de Abou Khalil are recommended, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings when belly-dancing performances draw larger crowds. Book through aljaimadeaboukhalil.com or call +34 934 540 712.
Experience
Abou Khalil Dining Experience
The dining room is styled as an Arab Jaima (tent), with cushioned banquettes, arched alcoves, patterned cement-tile floors and warm, dim lighting. It feels comfortable and hospitable rather than polished; Friday and Saturday evenings gain an extra layer of theatre with belly-dancing performances around 22:45.
Navigate
Abou Khalil Location & Neighbourhood
Getting There
Al Jaima de Abou Khalil sits on Carrer de València between Aribau and Enric Granados, in the central Eixample grid roughly halfway between Passeig de Gràcia and Hospital Clínic.
Nearby
L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample stretches west of Passeig de Gràcia through Cerdà's 19th-century grid, a mix of modernist apartment blocks, embassies and a dense restaurant scene ranging from corner tapas bars to Michelin-starred rooms. Carrer de València cuts through the heart of it, with the Mercat del Ninot and Hospital Clínic anchoring its western end.
Details
Abou Khalil Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00–16:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Tuesday | 13:00–16:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Wednesday | 13:00–16:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Thursday | 13:00–16:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Friday | 13:00–16:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Saturday | 13:00–16:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Sunday | 13:00–16:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
Abou Khalil hours verified 2026-04-01. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Recommended. Bookings through the restaurant website or by phone.
Good to Know
Social
From aljaimadeaboukhalil on Instagram
An honour as always to host you, @perezreverte. Thanks for sharing another moment with us.
Friday at last. At Al Jaima de Abou Khalil we are ready to welcome the weekend and our favourite regulars. Lebanese flavours, good company and a corner where life is celebrated. Find us at C/ Valencia 218.
A play of light, shadow and flavour.
Four spoons, four spices, endless flavours. In every detail lives the essence of Lebanon, where the simple becomes art.
We are back. It has been a while since we were active here, but we are back with surprises you won't want to miss — stay tuned for new and delicious things ahead.
It's Friday and we are craving Lebanese: betenjan, fatush, falafel, cheese arais, hummus. Fancy it?
Questions
Abou Khalil FAQ
Is Abou Khalil in Barcelona a Lebanese restaurant?
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Yes. Al Jaima de Abou Khalil is one of Barcelona's longest-running Lebanese restaurants, serving mezze, charcoal grills, biryanis and classic sweets like knafe and baklawa.
Where exactly is Al Jaima de Abou Khalil located in Barcelona?
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The restaurant is at Carrer de València, 218, BJ in L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample, roughly halfway between Passeig de Gràcia and Hospital Clínic. The nearest station is Provença (FGC), about a 6-minute walk.
What is the full name of the restaurant?
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The full name is Al Jaima de Abou Khalil (the 'tent of Abou Khalil'), referring to the Arab-tent styling of the dining room. It is often shortened to Abou Khalil or Al Jaima by regulars.
How much does a meal at Al Jaima de Abou Khalil cost?
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A-la-carte spend is typically €25-50 per person depending on how many mezze and grills you share. Mazza tasting platters for two start at €54.90 (vegetarian) and €58.90 (meat). Credit cards and contactless payments are accepted.
What are the opening hours?
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Al Jaima de Abou Khalil is open daily: 13:00–16:00 for lunch and 20:00–00:00 for dinner.
Do I need to reserve?
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Reservations are recommended, particularly for Friday and Saturday evenings when belly-dancing performances draw larger crowds. Book through aljaimadeaboukhalil.com or call +34 934 540 712.
Does Al Jaima de Abou Khalil serve halal meat?
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Yes. All meats on the menu are halal, and there are extensive vegetarian and vegan mezze sections alongside gluten-free options labelled on the carta.