El cocinero de Damasco
El cocinero de Damasco
Repsol SoleteRepsol's Solete distinction recognises casual dining spots, street food, and neighbourhood gems with outstanding quality.El cocinero de Damasco is a small Syrian kitchen on Carrer dels Templers in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, known across the city for its shawarma of lamb and turkey marinated with cinnamon and pepper and cooked on a custom vertical rotisserie.
Background
About El cocinero de Damasco
The Story
Salem Khabbaz was born in Damascus in 1945 into a family with three generations of Syrian culinary heritage, including the 19th-century Damascus restaurant Siddiq. He moved to Barcelona in 1980 and ran an earlier kebab spot near Plaça Reial before opening El cocinero de Damasco in its current Gothic Quarter location in 2011. In 2008 he co-authored a cookbook of the same name with anthropologist Jordi Colobrans, tracing 150 years of family recipes from Damascus home cooking. The restaurant's Repsol Solete designation reflects its long-standing reputation as one of Barcelona's defining shawarma spots.
The Cuisine
The kitchen serves a concise Syrian menu anchored by shawarma: hand-cut lamb and turkey marinated with cinnamon and pepper, slow-cooked on a custom-commissioned vertical rotisserie, and wrapped in warm flatbread with lettuce, tomato, pickles and tahini or yogurt sauce. Alongside the shawarma, expect falafel, creamy hummus, kibbeh, mutabbal and baklava. The restaurant does not serve alcohol, mint tea, juices and soft drinks only.
The Team
Salem Khabbaz runs the kitchen himself with a small team that includes long-standing staff members Carles and Carlos. His stated philosophy, 'work with honesty, from the heart', shapes a service style diners describe as warm, unhurried and attentive.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
El cocinero de Damasco Ratings & Reviews
Professional Ratings
Guía Repsol Solete designation
Aggregated across multiple platforms
Diner Ratings
4.6
1,192 reviews
Yelp
4.7
10 reviews
El cocinero de Damasco holds a Repsol Solete and is regularly named among Barcelona's best shawarma spots. Diners rate it 4.6/5 on Google (1,192 reviews) and 4.7/5 on Yelp (10 reviews).
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Reservations
How to Book El cocinero de Damasco
Booking
El cocinero de Damasco does not take reservations, seating is first-come, first-served. Queues are common at peak lunch and dinner hours, so arrive early or plan to wait. The dining room is small, so solo diners and pairs usually move fastest.
Experience
El cocinero de Damasco Dining Experience
A small, bright dining room with high ceilings, large windows, checkerboard flooring and Arabic-style tile work, an elegant interior that Guía Repsol notes is uncommon among kebab establishments. A custom-designed vertical rotisserie, commissioned by the owner, sits at the centre of the operation. Seating is limited, the sign outside is small and discreet, and queues are part of the experience at peak hours.
Navigate
El cocinero de Damasco Location & Neighbourhood
Getting There
El cocinero de Damasco occupies a discreet corner on Carrer dels Templers at Carrer del Palau, a quiet Gothic Quarter side street a short walk from Plaça Sant Jaume. The space is small and easy to miss, a minimal sign marks the entrance, but the bright interior, high ceilings, checkerboard floor and Arabic tilework make it distinctive once you step inside. The location puts it within a few minutes of Barcelona Cathedral and the cathedral's main tourist circuit.
Nearby
The Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) is the medieval core of Barcelona, a dense warren of narrow stone streets between Las Ramblas and Via Laietana. Tourist traffic is constant around the cathedral and Plaça Sant Jaume, but the area also holds long-standing neighbourhood restaurants and shops on quieter side streets like Carrer dels Templers. Dining here sits at the intersection of tourism and everyday local life.
Details
El cocinero de Damasco Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 13:00–16:00 & 19:00–23:00 |
| Wednesday | 13:00–16:00 & 19:00–23:00 |
| Thursday | 13:00–16:00 & 19:00–23:00 |
| Friday | 13:00–16:00 & 19:00–23:00 |
| Saturday | 13:00–16:00 & 19:00–23:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
El cocinero de Damasco hours verified 2026-04-01. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Not accepted. First-come, first-served with regular queues at peak hours.
Good to Know
Questions
El cocinero de Damasco FAQ
Where is El cocinero de Damasco located?
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The restaurant is at Carrer dels Templers, 2, in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), a short walk from Plaça Sant Jaume and the cathedral.
What are El cocinero de Damasco's opening hours?
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Tuesday to Saturday, 13:00–16:00 for lunch and 19:00–23:00 for dinner. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Does El cocinero de Damasco take reservations?
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No. Seating is first-come, first-served, and queues are common at peak lunch and dinner hours.
Who is the chef at El cocinero de Damasco?
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Owner-chef Salem Khabbaz, born in Damascus, runs the kitchen. He co-authored a Syrian cookbook of the same name published in 2008.
Does El cocinero de Damasco serve alcohol?
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No. The restaurant serves mint tea, juices and soft drinks only.
What should I order at El cocinero de Damasco?
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The signature dish is shawarma made with lamb and turkey marinated in cinnamon and pepper, cooked on a custom vertical rotisserie. The menu also includes falafel, hummus, kibbeh, mutabbal and baklava.