24 hours of Eats: where to eat and drink in Barcelona
24 HOURS OF EATS:
WHERE TO EAT IN BARCELONA AND GO OUT FOR A DRINK
Barcelona and Catalonia have become synonymous with good food. With a market in every neighbourhood and over 7000 bars and restaurants to choose from, Barcelona is inextricably linked with gastronomy.
Here’s where to eat in Barcelona and how to enjoy 24 hours full of flavour, and some of the places where you can drink the best coffees, wines, vermouth and beers.
8am: Barcelonins aren’t big on breakfast but they do take their coffee seriously. Head to Morrow Coffee on Gran Vía for a cup of the strong stuff before joining the locals at the impressively renovated cast iron Mercat de Sant Antoni.
12pm: L’hora del vermut is almost sacred, especially on weekends. Go early for a space in Quimet i Quimet in Poble Sec for their world famous montaditos or Senyor Vermut to sample one of their 40 varieties of vermouth washed down with a couple of tapas. It is worth mentioning that their patatas bravas are rated as the TOP 1 in Barcelona.
2pm: Lunch is late and leisurely in Barcelona. If it’s paella you’re hankering for Can Ros in Barceloneta has been perfecting their rice dishes for over 100 years and buy their seafood fresh from the fisherman every day. It’s also ideally positioned for a post lunch stroll along the beach. If elegant dining in AD approved interiors is more your scene, head to Fiske Bar in Port Vell for a menu focused on fresh local seafood and stunning views of the marina.
5pm: If another caffeine hit is in order head to El Magnifico in El Born where the same family has roasted coffee for over a hundred years or grab and go at News & Coffee – former newspaper kiosks turned coffee shops with a side of curated reads. Still not quite full after lunch? Try the every-flavour-under-the-sun ice cream at De La Crem or warm up with chocolate & churros at the granjas on Carrer Petritxol.
7pm: After all that eating it’s time for a drink. Wine lovers are spoilt for choice, but our tips are if the tables are full at La Vinya del Senyor, head to Bar Zim, a tiny bar with a maximum capacity of 12 in the Gothic Quarter for a carefully selected list of local wine and cava. If you’re more into hops the streets behind Plaça Universitat have become an unofficial beer quarter. Garage Beer has a microbrewery in the back and BeirCaB have 30 taps of the good stuff.
9pm: Where to eat dinner is the eternal question in a city with over 800 restaurants. Keep it casual at Parking Pizza or Sartoria Panatieri or sample elevated tapas and small plates at Mediamanga, Gresca or La Mundanda. If you’re in Gràcia grab one of the tables at Berbena for seasonal ingredients with dashes of international flavours, washed down with natural wine or locally brewed craft beer, and if it’s simple local cheese and cured meats you’re after, Can Recasens in Poble Nou is the home from home you’re looking for. For those who prefer upscale japanese gastronomy, Nobu Restaurant offers the opportunity to savor the world-renowned cuisine of Nobu-san, elevated to new heights.
11pm: The night is still young and in Barcelona cocktail hour is usually reserved for after dinner. Sips was recently acclaimed as the world’s premier bar by 50 best bars in the world and serves the pinnacle of mixology in a social and fun atmosphere. If you prefer your cocktails more Mad Men in style, head to Solange where elegant surrounding meet delicately balanced combinations. The reign of the gin and tonic shows no sign of abating and if classic refreshment is more your thing Bobby Gin is the place to be. With over 50 references the bar’s motto of ‘God Save the Gin’ has never been more apt.
Barcelona and Catalonia offer an incomparable culinary experience, where the richness of its gastronomy merges with the vibrant city life. With a wide variety of options ranging from centuries-old cafés to innovative tapas bars and haute cuisine restaurants, every corner of Barcelona invites you to discover new flavours and gastronomic pleasures.
