Bar BLOC Restaurant
For traditional Catalan food with a modern twist try Bar Bloc Restaurant. Our favorites include their take on patatas bravas, veal with port wine sauce, and their mouth-watering ostrich. To get there take the red metro line from Plaça Catalunya in direction Fondo to the stop Torras i Bages.
Passeig Torras I Bages no 101-105
Sant Andreu 93 345 30 18
Betty Ford Cocteleria
Drop by this Raval newcomer for some solid cocktails and a hip international crowd. Don’t miss the 2 for 1 happy hour from 8pm to 10pm
C/ Joaquin Costa, 56
933 041 368
Boadas Cocktail Bar
Whether you’re a history buff, an art lover, or just in search of a well mixed cocktail, Boadas has a little something for everyone. This coctelería founded by a former bartender from Hemmingway’s La Floridita in Havana, Cuba is the oldest cocktail bar in Barcelona. Its walls are adorned with art of famous patrons, most notably Joan Miro. The tuxedo attired bar staff will mix up old standards or try new recipes depending on your tastes.
Carrer de Tallers, 1
93 318 88 26
Cafe L'Academia
This place is another great spot in the old town. The menu is a good mix of traditional Catalan cuisine and modern updates. Enjoy the sunshine, and sit outside in the plaza in front of the Gothic cathedral. The menu del dia is a good bargain at 13.50 for two course and dessert. Try the indulgent tosaditos with foie gras.
Carrer Lledó 1
Plaça Sant Just
93 315 00 26t
Can Paixano
You've got to really want it to get served at Can Paixano, so belly up to the bar and get aggressive. It’s worth the jostling and yelling for Can Paixano’s mouth watering sandwiches and inexpensive pink cava (cava rosat). The sandwiches on the specials list are a good bet. Favorite combinations include porkchop, blue cheese, pickles, and onions (chuleta, roquefort, pepinillos y cebollas) and the serrano ham, cheese, peppers and onions (Jamon serrano, queso, pimientos y cebollas). Go early (before 2pm) to avoid the crowds at lunchtime. Take home a case of cava or some meats from their deli counter in the back.
Carrer de Reina Cristina, 7
93 310 08 39
'Tis the season for wild mushrooms here in Catalunya. While most restaurants offer specials featuring our favorite fungi, why settle for a dish when you can have a whole meal? For the next few months, Epicur is offering scheduled mushroom tasting menus. Brush up on your Catalan, because this 40EUR fixed priced event features an introduction by Enric Gràcia from the TV3 program, "Caçadors de bolets" (Mushroom Hunters).
C/ Comte Borrell, 160
93 452 19 62
Formatgeria La Seu
Taste a variety of regional cheeses and wines at Formatgeria La Seu. Duck into this little shop in the heart of Barrio Gótico any day between 12pm and 8pm to try a selection of three cheeses and a glass of wine for 2.50€. Their gift packs of Spanish cheeses make great souvenirs. For the more adventurous - try their cheese ice creams.
Carrer Dagueria, 16
93 412 65 48
Forn Sant Jaume
For a great breakfast option near the hostel, try Forn Sant Jaume. There's a coffee bar on the left and a bakery on the right. The croissants de manzana (apple) are highly recommended. The bakery carries all the traditional Catalan pastries and cakes related to each holiday. Patio seating is available throughout the year on warm days. Service is a little slow, but Rambla Catalunya is a great place to catch some morning sun and do a little people watching before starting any more serious site-seeing.
Rambla de Catalunya, 50
For upscale Indian, try this great spot in the Borne. The atmosphere is hip, but the Indian food is authentic and reasonably priced. Linger over your dinner and watch the place transform into a chic lounge (complete with DJ and guestlist) around 11pm. Stop by on Wednesday, and ladies enjoy free cocktails from 11:30pm to 1am.
C/ Antic Sant Joan 12
932 681 029
The menu at Me (Vietnamese for mother) gives fusion a whole new meaning. Taking influence from Vietnamese, Catalan and New Orleans cuisine, the food is anything but ordinary. The 14 € lunch menu (salad, soup, entree, dessert and beverage) is the best bargain. While the menu changes frequently, there are always delicious vegetarian options as well as creative meat and seafood choices. The tofu appetizer is always impeccable, regardless of how it is prepared. Another delicious favorite was the soft shelled crab. The friendly staff speaks many languages and makes honest recommendations.
Carrer de Paris, 162
93 419 49 33
Omeia
Tired of tapas? Not surprisingly, Barcelona offers an array of international flavors for restaurant goers. One of our favorites is Syrian cuisine only blocks from the hostel at Omeia. The restaurant offers solid staples like hummus and falafel, but the specials are also usually delicious. Stop in at lunch for their menu del dia (8.50€) or try a plato combinado (10-12€) for dinner. Either way, you won’t leave with an empty stomach or an empty wallet.
C/ Aragó, 211
934 523 179
La Paradeta is the place to go for fresh delicious seafood at low prices. There's usually a line out the door, but it moves fast. You pick outyour own raw seafood from the market counter at the front. Everything's priced by weight, but you can just ask for portions for two, three, etc. The person behind the counter will send your raw food back to the kitchen. You pay at the bar and purchase drinks, bread, salad etc. Then you pick a table and wait for your number to be called. Dishes come one-by-one as they're cooked. The razor clams (navajas) and the tuna were excellent. Stay away from the pulpo that was overcooked and rubbery. All-in-all the atmosphere is loud and festive, the service is minimal, and the food is great for the prices. All the wines are under 15 EUR/bottle.
C/ Comercial, 7
93 268 19 39
Petra
This small gem tucked away behind the Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral has some of the best inexpensive food in El Borne. The short menu consists of creative salads, rich pastas and flavorful entrees. The duck with apple and the sea bass with eggplant puree were fantastic. The wine list is also short, but extremely cheap. You can manage appetizers, entrees, wine and coffee for under 20 euros.
C/ Sombrerers, 13
93 19 99 99
For great modern cuisine in the center of Ciutat Vella, try Pla. Our favorites were the very tender lamb, the indulgent yet delicious filet with calvados and foie, and all of the desserts. The wine list is veryreasonably priced, and all of the starters are great options to share. After dinner, stop by next door at L'Ascensor (Bellafila, 3) for a drink. Step through the old fashioned elevator to enter the bar.
The bar was recently opened and is set to be the new hotspot the Sant Antoni neighborhood. The bar is beautifully designed and decorated. The creative drink menu offers seven sin-themed cocktails as well as a variety of imported beers. Come early for dinner and select from their sinfully delicious menu of appetizers and entrees prepared by a former Hotel Arts chef. Stay late for the dance party downstairs.
Muntaner, 734 93.453.6445
The protégé of the world-famous Ferran Adria, Carles Abellan of Comerç24 has opened a more relaxed spin-off, Tapaç24. For those looking for a cheaper taste of Abellan’s food, Tapaç24 is the perfect place to try some of Abellan’s signature tapas, plus traditional tapas and daily specials. Try their take on a ham and cheese sandwich - the Bikini24, the tender rabo de buey (oxtail), and the playful McFoie burger. Finish any meal off with chocolate ganache dressed with olive oil and sea salt, a surprisingly delicious combination. Also check out their wine list divided conveniently by price level. We’ve always had luck in the €10 section! Open from 8am until 12am, Tapaç24 is a great place for breakfast or for tapas at any time of the day. To get there, exit the hostel and walk two blocks left.
Carrer de la Diputació, 269
93 488 09 77
Vinya del Senyor
Take a break in El Borne for a glass of wine at Vinya del Senyor. The bar’s patio seating is great for people watching and catching some sun. Choose from a large and ever-changing selection of wines by the glass. If the patio's crowded, try the tables hidden upstairs where you can order only order by the bottle, but you've got great views.
Plaça Santa Maria, 5
933 103 379
Xampany
This wine and cava shop gives the illusion of an old-time bodega and is the perfect place to enjoy a tipple. Don't be intimidated by the store-front. While it appears to be simply a wine shop, there are tables set up in the back. The open question, "unas copas de cava?" will illicit an invitation to sit down and enjoy 3 euro glasses of cava. Be sure to admire the collection of cava memorabilia and the library of books on the region's wines. For Spanish speakers, don't be afraid to engage Ramon, the shopkeeper, in conversation. He's got very strong opinions and the charming ambiance and free-flowing bubbly creates the ideal situation for an ad-hoc tertulia.
Carrer de Valencia, 200
93 453 93 38