http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19084 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19084 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18406 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18406 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18266 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18266 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18187
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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18187 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17951 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17951 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17709 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17709 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17494 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17494 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17421 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17421 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17377
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!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17377 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16587 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16587 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15669 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15669 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15668 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15668 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15667
All-white leather and black wall paintings with ridiculous variations on the humble tortilla. Fantastic place full of the pretty people.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15667 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14388 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14388 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13544
Sardines are in season now and at their most delicious, and whats more, a plate of hot fish washed down with a glass of cold white won't cost you any more than 3 euros!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13544 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12254
The portions at Origen 99'9% are cheap and small, slightly larger than tapas. In a party of three, for instance, four or five main dishes would be recommended, so you can share and taste the different foods.

The dishes are cooked in a traditional, rustic way, and if you’ve got local friends and have eaten at their house you’ll recognise many of the dishes they may have cooked for you.
If you’ve never tried Catalan cuisine, you can be sure that at Origen you will get the real thing.

Amongst the favourites are toasted bread with tomato (pa amb tomàquet, similar to the Italian bruschetta), escalivada (roasted peppers and aubergine), meatballs with squid and stuffed calamari. There is a wide variety of dishes: meat, fish and seafood, and vegetarian. You will also have a wide choice of tasty desserts, these are of normal size.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12254 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12203 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12203 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10016 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10016 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9714
1. Abac: Rec 79-89 (opposite La Estació de Francia; near Barceloneta and El Born). One Michelin star. (www.epicurious.com/restaurants/erg/barcelona/highend)

2. Drolma: (in Hotel Majestic, Passeig de Gràcia 68; corner of Valencia). One Michelin star (www.frommers.com/destinations/barcelona/D55400.html)

3. Gaig: Aragon 214 www.epicurious.com/restaurants/erg/barcelona/highend)

4. Hofmann: Argenteria 74-78 (between Vía Laietana and Princesa; near El Born) One Michelin star (www.hofmann-bcn.com/

5. Neichel: Beltran i Rózpide 8 (in the most elegant part of Barcelona, near Avenida Pedralbes) 2 Michelin stars (www.dininginfrance.com/Neichel_Bown_review.htm)

6. El Racó dén Freixa: Sant Elies, 22/ C. Balmes. www.epicurious.com/restaurants/erg/barcelona/highend

7. Els Pescadors: Placa Prim 1 (in Poble Nou, near Port Olimpic) (www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/Article.aspx?TabID=2&MenuID=7&ArticleID=162)

8. Alkimia: Indústria 79 (between Sicilia and Sardenya in Gracia) (www.frommers.com/destinations/barcelona/D55401.html)

9. Jean Luc Figueras: Santa Teresa 10 (www.toptable.co.uk/details.cfm/qs/rid%7C2433/spos%7C5)

10. Caelis/ Hotel Palace: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 668 / Roger de Llúria
(www.toptable.co.uk/details.cfm?rid=2362)

I could easily make another Top 20 list, so enormous is the number of restaurants on offer in the city!

If you venture outside Barcelona, the three obvious choices (now that El Bulli is no more) are: Sant Pau in Sant Pol de Mar (three Michelin stars), El Raco de Can Fabes in San Celoni (three Michelin stars), and El Celler de Can Roca in Girona (two Michelin stars).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9714 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5318
El Born has amazing bars and restaurants. Calle Banys Vells houses a great Cuban called Vieja Havana, and a cosy, romantic wine bar called Va da Vie. During the daytime El Born is home to great boutique clothes and shoe shops, although be warned, they close on Mondays.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5318