Breakfast has a low priority in Barcelona. Locals grab a cup of coffee
and maybe a pastry on their way to work. Lunch is eaten between 12 and
4 P.M. and dinner between 8 and 12 P.M. Tapas is about as classic as
Spanish cuisine gets and you have to try it!
Mercat de la Boqueria
A
famous food market in Barcelona is Santa Catarina Market with its wavy
and colorful ceiling made of tiles. It’s good, but my personal favorite
is Mercat de la Boqueria, just off the Rambla in Raval. It’s crowded and
loud. With its iron roof and monstrous glass stalls, it is one of the
of the world's most photographed food markets, selling everything from
delicious freshly squeezed juices to fresh fish, chocolates in all
shapes and nuts, spices and meat, meat and more meat. I suggest that
you stop for lunch at Bar Pinotxo, where you should ask for grilled
lobster. Yummy.
The market is closed on Sundays.
La Bouqueria, (Mercat de Sant Josep),
La Rambla 91.
Taller de Tapas
In El Born, go to Taller de Tapas.
Sit at the long wooden counter and look out in the kitchen for inspiration on what to pick from the menu.
It is an inexpensive place.
Taller de Tapas, l’Argenteria 51
La Campana
Also
in El Born you will find a very pretty ice cream parlor where
everything is home made. Besides all the ice-cream flavors, you can
choose between the beautiful boxes of ”dolcos” to bring home.
La Campana, Carrer de la Princesa 36
Origen
Origen
is a lovely little place to eat in El Born. The restaurant is extremely
cozy with its small wooden tables and candles. The food is healthy and
well prepared. This restaurant is much nicer and comfortable than its
sister restaurant around the corner. Pick the right one!
Origen, Vidreria 6-8.
In
Gracia, many locals hang out on Placa de la Virreina. At Virreina Bar
they obviously recommend Cava – the Spanish Champagne. Try a few of
them. The bartenders’ favorite one is Penedes. If you pick a Cava from
that domain, you are in for a treat.
l’Arrosseria Xâtiva
On your way to Placa de la Virreina, you can stop at l’Arrosseria Xâtiva.
The
entire place is wooden and in shades of brown. The only thing that
isn’t brown are the long lamps in cream-colored fabric that hang from
the ceiling. In the daytime it’s a good place for a cup of coffee among
mostly older local residents. At night it becomes more crowded and the
atmosphere more hectic.
l’Arrosseria Xâtiva, Torrent dén Vidalet 26.
Restaurant Agua in Barceloneta.
Wonderful
view. Delicious foie gras carpaccio, potatoes with hot sauce and
gourmet seafood. Book a table in advance, although I got there early at
8 P.M. without a reservation – and a fantastic hostess got me a table
outside with a sea view. It is very soothing to sit under the big blue
and green sunshades, listening to the waves as night falls.
Agua, Passeig de Maritim 30.
Inopia
The
pastry chef at famous restaurant El Bulli, Albert Adrià, has opened a
friendly tapas bar in the Exaimple area. The founder of El Bulli,
Ferran Adrià, often finds time to visit this place that belongs to his
younger brother. It is a true "bar de barrio"—for the people of the
neighborhood. It has a really nice atmosphere and good food! Closed
Sundays and Mondays.
Inopia, Carrer de Tamarit 104
Close to Casa Mila, in a small street off Passeig de Gracia are two good restaurants:
El Japonés
The
tables are in high demand, but if you haven’t booked in advance, you
can put your name down and wait outside with the rest of the Barcelona
crowd. You can also sit at the bar in Restaurant Tragaluz, which is
across the street. They will come and get you when your table is ready.
Once you are seated, you will get a long paper menu and a pencil –
so you check whatever you want to order. It’s a challenge to limit
yourself! The food is Japanese. Sushi, noodles, tempura and other
dainties.
It is not a place for a quiet, romantic evening, since the pace is furious and the talk is lively throughout the room.
El Japonés, Passatge de la Concepsió 2
Traguluz
Tragaluz
is one of the more expensive restaurants, and it’s usually necessary to
book your table in advance. The restaurant is in several levels with
the bar on the bottom. I suggest you take a glass of Cava there and
have a look at the extensive cocktail menu. On the top floor, under the
roof, you watch the evening sky and the green terrace through panorama
windows. The chef describes the cuisine food as Mediterranean
avant-garde cuisine and prides himself in using only the very best
products you can get. The food is exquisite – and quite pricey.
Tragaluz, Passatge de la Concepsió 5
By Katrine Salomon