What is the concept behind Ziryab?
The Ziryab concept is a mixture of cultures. Its objective is to bring together the varied and spicy flavors and fresh herbs from around the Mediterranean, with the traditional flavors of Catalonia.
Thus offering a unique culinary experience, while enjoying a wide variety of carefully selected wines from the wine regions of Catalonia and throughout the Mediterranean area. Ziryab’s fusion tapas bring you flavors of the Mediterranean – using spices such as thyme or sumac blends and herbs such as mint, rosemary and sage, fruits such as almonds, figs and dates – creating a fusion with more traditional dishes found throughout Catalonia & Spain. «Tapas in Barcelona» … with a twist!
Ziryab opened its doors in 2012. The owners: two siblings. The sister had traveled extensively, living in various countries, especially war zones, doing humanitarian work and visiting prisons. The brother, profoundly deaf from birth and profoundly awesome with an adventurous spirit, had been working in an office in London, bored and looking for new projects. And here we are! A restaurant that blends flavors and experiences, and which today has a diverse and multicultural team of over 15 deaf people. One of the few places in the world where deaf people can get served in their own language.
Who was Ziryab?
Ziryab was the nickname given to Abu el-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Nafi,’ a young musician born in Baghdad in the 8th century. When Ziryab realized that his musical talent was better than that of his teacher, he also knew it was time to leave; because he understood that there was no greater offense than remaining under tutelage in those circumstances. In the year 822 at the age of 33 and after a long journey, Ziryab arrived in the city of Córdoba which, at that time, was the heart of the Islamic Iberian Peninsula. Ziryab was welcomed by the court of the Abbasid Caliphate and began to develop his work as a royal advisor.
The people of the court quickly realized that Ziryab possessed an extraordinary talent: not only was he capable of composing and playing exquisite music (hence his nickname Ziryab, which means blackbird), but his knowledge extended to subjects as diverse as poetry, art, fashion, geology, chemistry or astronomy. Apart from bringing new musical styles and instruments to the Al-Andalus region (he was the creator of a five-stringed lute that quickly became popular in the court), Ziryab also revolutionized the Hispanic culture of the time in its culinary aspect, introducing new concepts such as the glass, the order in which food is served (first course, second course and dessert) and the consumption of asparagus, as well as incredible flavors that totally transformed the identity of local gastronomy.
With all the innovations he brought throughout his life, the figure of Ziryab opened new and stimulating paths to which the process of fusing tapas with the flavors of the countries he discovered during his travels can be linked…
Articles and documentaries about Ziryab
Fancy a special evening in El Born?
Enjoy a cuisine full of aromas, wines, and good company. Book a table at Ziryab and let yourself be amazed.