Casa Mari y Rufo
Casa Mari y Rufo
Casa Mari y Rufo is a family-run seafood grill in the Born neighbourhood, founded in 1981 by Mari and Rufo Soria beside Mercat de Santa Caterina. Rufo works the grill while Mari cooks traditional Catalan dishes, sourcing fresh seafood daily from the market.
Background
About Casa Mari y Rufo
The Story
Casa Mari y Rufo was founded in 1981 by Mari (from Badalona) and Rufo Soria (from the province of Soria) on a side street of the Mercat de Santa Caterina. For over 40 years, this tiny family restaurant has served market-fresh seafood and traditional Catalan cuisine from its cramped but beloved kitchen. Their son Samuel grew up in the business and worked the grill alongside his father for eight years before opening his own seafood restaurant, Somsis, in the same Born neighbourhood.
The Cuisine
Rufo works the grill and plancha while Mari handles the traditional Catalan dishes. The kitchen sources fresh seafood directly from the market and fishing boats -- gambas de Palamos, grilled octopus, cigalas, sepia a la plancha, vieiras, and oysters. Meat dishes include huevos con foie y trufa, Cafe de Paris beef fillet, and Kobe sirloin with foie. The daily lunch menu is a bargain at around 11 EUR. The restaurant has a cult following that extends to Barcelona's techno DJ community.
The Team
Mari and Rufo Soria have run this family kitchen since 1981. Rufo mans the grill while Mari cooks the traditional dishes. Their son Samuel Soria worked alongside them for years before opening Somsis nearby. The informal, no-frills family atmosphere -- where tables touch and the kitchen argument is part of the entertainment -- is part of the draw.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Casa Mari y Rufo Ratings & Reviews
Professional Ratings
Market-fresh cuisine, seafood, traditional
Diner Ratings
4.4
1,404 reviews
TripAdvisor
4.0
417 reviews
GastroRanking
8.0
1,825 opinions
Diners give Casa Mari y Rufo 4.4/5 on Google across 1,404 reviews and 4.0/5 on TripAdvisor across 417 reviews, with consistent praise for the market-fresh seafood and family-run warmth.
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Reservations
How to Book Casa Mari y Rufo
Booking
Reservations are essential -- the restaurant is small and fills up quickly, especially for dinner and weekends. Book by phone at +34 933 19 73 02. No online booking system. Walk-ins are rarely possible during peak hours.
Experience
Casa Mari y Rufo Dining Experience
A tiny, no-frills family restaurant where tables practically touch and the decor has barely changed since 1981. The deliberately unpretentious, unrenovated character is part of the appeal. The space is noisy and bustling, with Mari and Rufo sometimes arguing good-naturedly in the kitchen. The intimate back dining room adds a sense of discovery. Despite the humble setting, the restaurant attracts a mix of regulars, office workers, and Barcelona's techno DJ community -- Jeff Mills, Derrick May, and Oscar Mulero have all been patrons.
Navigate
Casa Mari y Rufo Location & Neighbourhood
Getting There
Located on Carrer de Freixures beside Mercat de Santa Caterina in the Born/Ribera neighbourhood of Ciutat Vella. The tiny side street near the market has been home to this family restaurant since 1981, in the heart of one of Barcelona's most vibrant dining districts.
Nearby
Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera (the Born) is one of Barcelona's most vibrant dining neighbourhoods, centred around the Mercat de Santa Caterina and the Passeig del Born. The area is dense with restaurants ranging from traditional family-run establishments to Michelin-starred fine dining, all within walking distance of the Gothic Quarter.
Nearby Restaurants
Ikoya Izakaya
Japanese Izakaya
Tokyo-style izakaya by Hideki Matsuhisa and Grupo Sagardi facing Santa Caterina.
Bar del Pla
Market Cuisine
Market cooking from chef Jordi Peris in Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera.
Koy Shunka
Japanese Fusion
€€€€Japanese Fusion kitchen led by chef Hideki Matsuhisa in el Barri Gòtic.
Details
Casa Mari y Rufo Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 13:00–18:00 |
| Wednesday | 13:00–18:00 |
| Thursday | 13:00–18:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Friday | 13:00–18:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Saturday | 13:00–18:00 & 20:00–00:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Casa Mari y Rufo hours verified 2026-03-01. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Essential
Good to Know
Social
From casamariyrufo on Instagram
Que siii que en el Born aún hay joyitas auténticas. Hazme caso y sigue esta ruta gastronómica! ¿Nos recomendáis alguno más?
¡Holaholaa!🙋🏻♀️Si estás por📍Ciutat Vella y te apetece comer buen producto🦞, @casamariyrufo es sin duda tu lugar❗️. Se ha convertido en uno de mis 😍restaurantes de confianza🥰 donde comer 🦀buen producto a 👌🏻buen precio. Algo difícil de encontrar, así que apunta😉. Importante llamar y reservar!☎️ 📸: 🦞
🍽️ 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒂 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝒚 𝑹𝒖𝒇𝒐: cuando el producto lo es todo 📍 Barcelona Lo que en @casamariyrufo han construido a lo largo de los años no es casualidad. Es el resultado de constancia, criterio y una idea muy clara: 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒋𝒂𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆 𝒎á𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒅 𝒚 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒐 𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆🙌. En Mari y Rufo no
Gracia por tanto cariño
@casamariyrufo de lo más auténtico que he ido en mucho tiempo en Barcelona , cocina sencilla con productazo🔝. El señor Rufo sigue al pie del cañón con 70 y pico 🌮,a destacar el pedazo de equipo que tiene sobretodo José Manuel que nos invitó a un plato sin conocernos de nada⭐️. #restaurantesbarcelo
Questions
Casa Mari y Rufo FAQ
What's on the menu at Casa Mari y Rufo?
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Casa Mari y Rufo specializes in market-fresh seafood and traditional Catalan cuisine. Signature dishes include gambas de Palamos (45 EUR), grilled octopus, cigalas a la plancha, sepia a la plancha, and huevos con foie y trufa. They also serve meat dishes like Cafe de Paris beef fillet and Kobe sirloin with foie. The daily lunch menu is available for around 11 EUR.
How do I make a reservation at Casa Mari y Rufo?
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You must book by phone at +34 933 19 73 02 as there is no online booking system. Reservations are essential since the restaurant is very small and fills up quickly.
How much does it cost to eat at Casa Mari y Rufo?
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Expect to spend around 50 EUR per person for dinner a la carte. Premium seafood like gambas de Palamos costs around 45 EUR. However, the daily lunch menu is an excellent bargain at approximately 11 EUR, making it accessible for casual dining.
Who runs Casa Mari y Rufo restaurant?
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Casa Mari y Rufo is run by the founding family - Mari and Rufo Soria who opened the restaurant in 1981. Rufo works the grill and plancha while Mari handles traditional Catalan dishes.
What makes Casa Mari y Rufo special in Barcelona?
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This tiny family restaurant has been serving market-fresh seafood since 1981, sourcing directly from the adjacent Mercat de Santa Caterina. It has developed a cult following that includes Barcelona's techno DJ community - Jeff Mills, Derrick May, and Oscar Mulero have all been patrons. The no-frills atmosphere where tables practically touch and you can hear the kitchen banter adds to its authentic charm.
What are the opening hours for Casa Mari y Rufo?
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Casa Mari y Rufo is open Tuesday-Wednesday 13:00-18:00 (lunch only), and Thursday-Saturday 13:00-18:00 & 20:00-00:00 (lunch and dinner). They are closed on Mondays and Sundays.