- Barcelona
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Spain
A very cool district of Barcelona, El Raval, stretches away just to the west of the Ramblas.
Not quite Barcelona's seamy underbelly, but in a decidedly chi-chi town, the next best thing.
In keeping with its working-class roots, there are still plenty of scruffy neighbourhood bars amidst the proliferating clothes shops, hip bars and restaurants.
From Placa Catalunya (north) to La Rambla (east); Ronda Sant Antoni (west) to Ronda Sant Pau (south)
What a find! Large bar/restaurant, beautifully decorated with real imagination and character. There is a very New York feel to this bar. Cool, relaxed and totally beautiful. Cocktails to die for with a varied menu to suit all tastes and very nicely priced. Staff are friendly, this is a great place for a party. Got talking with one customer who will be holding her wedding here. Not to be missed.
Riera Alta 4-6, 08001 Barcelona
5 minutes from Las Ramblas
Get away from the crowds around El Born and the Gotic Quarter and head down to Barceloneta, an old fishing village by the harbour. It's less crowded and feels more authentic then other parts of the city.
The restaurants, which predominately specialise in seafood, are excellent. And if you don't like seafood, it's still a nice place for a stroll around the menu before heading to the beach.
Great environment. Excellent cava selection. Even though there might be a queue the line moves quickly - we were out the door and it took us less than 20 minutes to sit down (can't book). I preferred it to the sister restaurant - the flagship Commerce 24 (too sterile for me).
tapaC24
diputacio, 269
08007 barcelona
Great food, nice affordable lunch menu with top quality food, nice atmosphere and quite relaxed.
Stumbled into this place after visiting the Santa Maria del Mar church in the Born area of Barcelona.
Enjoyed it so much went back for dinner and surprisingly the menu was quite broad with various European dishes. Service was excellent which I found slightly lacking in other restaurants in Barcelona.
Carrer abaixadores 10, about 30 metres from the Santa Maria del mar church.
Very good tapas in the best restaurant atmosphere. We really enjoyed it. The food was delicious. Grilled king prawns, steamed mussels, roast lamb, fried and crispy artichokes, patatas bravas. The setting on Rambla Catalubya was beautiful. They have another very lively restaurant in the Born area which was very welcoming and fun. We didn't try the other two but have heard good things about them.
Taller de Tapas
Rambla Catalunya, 49 (Eixample)
93 487 4842
C/ Comtal, 28 8 (Via Laietana)
93 481 6233
c/ Argenteria, 51 (Born)
93 268 8559
Plaça Sant Josep Oriol, 9 (Plaza del Pi)
93 301 8020
www.tallerdetapas.com
If you are a carnivore, and like eating lamb, then go to Asador de Aranda. If you aren't a carnivore, and don't like eating lamb, then don't. It's as simple as that. Asador de Aranda serves only lamb. but wow - it's the best lamb you could ever imagine. They stick great big wodges of the meat in a wood stove, and it comes out crisp on the outside and melting in the middle. You don't need anything with it, because anything else would simply fill a hole in your tummy which could otherwise be filled with lamb, so don't waste that space. It's a local favourite, so you won't find tourists here, just local families celebrating birthdays, or just enjoying lamb! The staff are wonderful, and delighted in watching us tuck into the juicy meat. In fact two waiters were so thrilled by our reaction that they brought us complimentary dessert and liqueurs - we really made some friends that night! Ignore the Ramblas, go to Asador de Aranda!
Avinguda Tibidabo, 31, Barcelona 08080 Spain www.asadoraranda.com/
A friendly, bohemian cafe-bar in the Gothic quarter, just off Carrer de Ferran. Expect to be sitting alongside writers and artists - writing and drawing, no less - during your stay. Food is reasonably priced (eg soup and a main - the 'combi of the day' - for 6 euros). Plus the staff all seem to know English, but avoid speaking it if possible - usually a good sign.
5 Calle de Arai
The hotel Omm is one of the coolest in the city with a price tag to match. In the lobby is the restaurant Moo (equally expensive) and also brasserie Moovida.
Although having different names, the restaurant and brasserie tables are almost next to each other so there's not too much difference in atmosphere, the food and wines (try the rose) are delicious and it's a fraction of the price.
Perfect place for taking friends to impress them!
Lobby of Hotel Omm. Rosselló, 265, Barcelona, Barcelona 08008.
Fabulous array of fresh food of every kind, also wine and other drinks, something for everyone. Definitely the place to shop if self catering, but some very good cheap vegetarian hot food outlets associated with the market. On a budget, or want to treat yourself, this is the place! The place buzzes, and is particularly atmospheric after dark. A little art nouveau as well! Open till 8.30pm, closed Sundays.
La Rambla 91 Nearest metro: Liceu
Excellent and unusual vegetarian food and good local wine, served by friendly staff in congenial surroundings. The staff speak English, and are very friendly.
C. Sant Antoni 52, Raval. Phone: 93 441 64 11. Website (in English): www.sesamo-bcn.com. 10 minutes walk from La Rambla, nearest metro Sant Antoni.
Barcelona can be pretty expensive for tourists, so when you go there I can give you a good tip: buy a discount card; it saves you a lot of money! I bought one, named the Go and Connect discount card, which was only 12 euros. With this card I was able to go out for almost nothing. I got discounts in a lot of shops, restaurants, clubs, transport rentals and more!
If you are interested you can check out their site to see where you can get the card and where you can get discounts - I think it is a must in an expensive but amazing city like Barcelona.
An established (since 1827) chocolatiers in the Barri Gotic. My god, talk about mouthwatering....not too sweet. Pierre Marcolini has some serious competition!
A truly original and stylish gift to take back for the descerning chocolate-lover (actually, I can take or leave chocolate, but these are special).
The ladies behind the counter even gift-wrap their cheapest bars of chocolate for you without the sort of attitude one might expaect from such an institution. Shopping the old-fashioned way. Not cheap, but what do you expect?
Carrer del Pi, 16 in the heart of the Barri Gotic
Amazing food, cooked in front of you. All ingredients sourced a few feet away as it is in the heart of the Mercat Bocceria. Quite intimidating having to wait behind someone sitting and eating - you have to 'bags' your seat in this very un-English way! But the food was gorgeous.
The prices are high - we had two beers (on tap, San Miguel) a basket of lovely bread, one plate of gambas in burnt garlic and chilli and four tiny but exquisite croquettas and it came to 25 euros...considering our dismal experience at Les Quinze Nits, worth every penny and the five euro tip! Real Catalan through-and-through.
Mercat Bocceria, just off La Rambla
So-called restaurant in Placa Reial. Rude service, hardly any Spanish staff or proper food, below-average food quality (pork undercooked, veg swimming in grease), not worth the minimum 40-minute wait. Such a shame as a great location. Avoid this place if you want service with a smile and decent Spanish/Catalan food. Never before not left a tip anywhere. Here was a very sad first, but well-deserved.
6 Placa Reial, Barri Gotic
Very near MACBA (which is a must-visit). Simply fantastic food. Mains of cod poached in mint and grapefuit oil and seared tuna in wasabi and sesame were both gorgeous. Very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Carrer dels Angels, 8
08001 Barcelona
Another ridiculously well designed restaurant in L'Eixample serving a Spanish/Chinese hybrid, which is actually a lot better than it sounds.
Muntaner, 100
08036 Barcelona
www.outofchinabarcelona.com
A 70s-designed Tortilleria in Gracia straight out of a film set (think the milk bar in A Clockwork Orange and you are close).
All-white leather and black wall paintings with ridiculous variations on the humble tortilla. Fantastic place full of the pretty people.
C. La Granada del Penedès, 25
08006 Barcelona
www.flashflashtortilleria.com
It's a guide to vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Barcelona. It has information about shops, restaurants, bars, cafes - what to buy and where to buy it. Very user friendly. Indispensible for vegetarians living in and visiting Barcelona
The Hard Rock Cafe in the centre of Barcelona is fab for food, if you like grills like steak etc then this place is for you, its decor is fab too, with all the artefacts from various rock stars, and the bar has a 1950s car on it. A must visit if you go to Barcelona.
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