For those of us heading to Barcelona (you are welcome):
Inspired Gastronomy
Tickets (Avinguda Paral.lel 164) Albert Adria’s superb creative tasting menu; reservations on line one month ahead; up and coming neighborhood
Pakta (C/Lleida, 5. Tel: 93-424-81-52. Online reservations only
info@riasdegalicias.com) also by Albert Adrià in Poble Sec artful blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines; drink pisco sour
Comerç 24 (Carrer Commerç, 24. Tel 93 319 21 02)
Saüc (now in the Hotel Ohla Barcelona, Via Laeitana, 49, 34-993-020-927) Also has a Gastronomic Bar opened for breakfast
Alkimia 79 Carrer Industria; 34-93-207-61-15
Igueldo (c/ Rosselló 186, 93-452-25-55) Basque cuisine and incredible selection of wines
Cinq Sentits (c/ Arribau 58, 93-323-9491)
Dos Palillos (C/Elisabets, 9. Tel: 93-304-05-13 next door to Casa Camper) former El Bulli chef de cuisine Albert Raurich,refined Asian tapas and tasting menu
Hisop (9 Passatge Marimon; 93-241-32-33)
Toc (Carrer Girona 59, 93-488-1148) brilliant modern Catalan cuisine with an outpost at the beach (sea below)…can be dull when the chef and his wife aren’t around
Coure Passatge Marimon 20, 932 007 532
Colibri has changed its name to Cesar Pastor, to reflect chef/ownership (Casanova, 212; 93 443 23 06)
Some people would add Hoffman to this list…I find it too old-fashioned
Bistro Catalan Cuisine
Fonda Gaig (c/Corsega 200. tel. 93-453-2020)
Gresca (c/Provença 230. tel. 93-4516193)
Bohemic (C/Manso, 42. Tel: 93-002-94-25) intimate bistro run by young chef with an El Bulli past
Vivanda in Saria, terrace, very local.
Classic Local Cuisine
Señor Parellada c/ Argenteria, 37 Tel.: 93 310 5094
Els Pescadors (Plaça Prim, 1. Tel 93 225 20 18) Expensive, delicious local seafood
El Merendero de la Mari (pl. Pau Vila 1. Tel. 93-221-31-41) relocated beach shack gone upscale
Kaiku (Pl/ del Mar 1, 34-932-219-082) A former beach shack overlooking the marina, great menu del dia in Spanish/Catalan; very limited hours; great for a Sunday lunch
Botafumeiro Gran de Gràcia, 81 very expensive classic Galician seafood house in Gracia
Cal Isidre Flors, 12 and Casa Leopoldo Sant Rafael, 24 both in the Raval
Taverna Can Roca (C/Gran de Sant Andreu, 290. Tel: 93-346-57-01. Easily reached by metro, famous traditional Catalan sit-down breakfasts from 9 a.m
Tapas
Tapaç 24 (c. Diputació 269, 93-488-0977) Open all day; great breakfast and progressively more touristic as the day goes, but quality stuff
Cal Pep (Plaça de les Olles, 8. Tel: 93-310-79-61
Estrella de Plata Pla de Palau 6, (34) 93 268 0635
Quimet I Quimet Poeta Cabanyes, 25 Tel: 934 423 142 Standing room only, in the Poble Sec
Agullers C/ Agullers, 8 Tel: 93 268 03 61
Bar Cañete (c/ de la Unió 17, 93-000-4494) within sight of the Rambla, chef-level tapas with locally sourced ingredients every day from noon to midnight.
Casa Lucio (c/ Vialadomat 59, 34-930-244-401) Deeply deeply traditional; no English spoken
Suculent (Rambla del Raval, 43. Tel: 93-443-65-79) partnership bet. Carles Abellan of Comerç 24 and young chef Toni Romero in spiffed-up tiny ancient eating establishment
Bar Celta (c/ de la Mercè 16, 34-933-150-006) A pulperia that specializes in octopus done in the Galician manner; serves albarino white wine in thick white bowls
Bar Seco Passeij de Montjuic 74 933 296 374
Vermut a gogo (some overlap with above)
Mam I Teca C. Lluna 4 934 413 335
Bodega del Poblet Sardenya 302 93 656 691 186
La Confiteria C. Sant Pau 128 (93 443 04 48) Old-fashioned décor, fun vibes very local
La Vermuteria del Tano C/ Bruniquer, 30
Casa Mariol c/Rosselló 442, tel: +34 93 436 7628 important owner
Bodega 1900 c/Tamarit 91, no phone Albert Adria’s new place
El Xampanyet c/Montcada 22, tel: +34 93 319 7003
Bodega Marín c/Milà i Fontanals 72, tel: +34 93 213 3079
Morro Fi c/Consell de Cent 171 (corner c/Comte Borrell), no phone
Taverna L’Espinaler c/Camí Ral 1, Vilassar de Mar, tel: +34 93 759 1589 accessible by local train
Wine and Cocktail Bars
41 Degree Chic spot attached to Tickets now is “tasting menu” only
Món Vínic (c/ Diputacio 249, 34-932-726-187) chichi and upscale but terrific choices from seven sommeliers
La Vinya del Señor Plaça Santa Maria 5 011-93-310-33-79
Calders Carrer del Parlament, 25 (933 299 349) Gin joint with fashionable crowd
Fun and inexpensive
La Paradeta (c/ Commercial, 12, along the Born Mercat. Tel 93 268 19 30 Fried seafood by the pound; no reservations, cash only
Granja Elena (Passaj Zona Franca 228. Tel. 93-332-0241), an immensely famous bar-cum-breakfast-joint beyond the Plaça d'Espanya
Xemei (Pasg. de l'Expositió 85, 34-935-535-140)fun Venetian restaurant on a steep street just below Monjuic's Greek Theater
For the location/the atmosphere
La Boquería produce market off La Rambla; Quim and Bar Pinoxto
Can Majo strategic location overlooking the manrina; ok paella for a Sunday lunch?
Restaurante Somorrostro C/ de Sant Carles, 11 Cute, cramped young bistro in the Barceloneta away from the tourist drag but disappointing save for the appetizers and the inexpensive wine
Cafè de l'Acadèmia (C/ Lledo, 1. Tel: 93-319-82-53)
L'Orangerie in Gran Hotel La Florida (Ctra. Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, 83-93. Tel 93 259 30 00) Sunday brunch with a view
Las Arenas, historic bullfighting ring transformed into flashy shopping mall with great views of the city; fun food court and casual restaurants a gogo
Casa Delfin Passeig del Born, 36 (Born-Ribera) Sidewalk café with good menu del dia; popular with the locals
BarRaval Hospital, 104 decent menu del dia on the Rambla del Raval
Cafè Salambó Torrijjos, 51 Popular institution in Gràcia, great after a movie on c. Verdi?
Birreria St Moritz Ronda de Sant Antoni 41 Interior by Jean Nouvel
La Cantina de la Marnina Seca Puerto del Forum Menu del dia and yatchmen?
Boutiques Gastronomiques
Jamonísimo (c/ Provença 85, 93-493-08-47)
Vila Viniteca (Carrer dels Agullers, 7. 93-902-327-777
La Botifarrareria Santa Maria (c/ Santa Maria 4, 93-319-91-23)
Can Ravel Aragó, 313 in the Eixample Dret;: cheese and delicacies; also popular at lunch (very expensive) with local toffs
Desserts
Espai Sucre (C/ Princesa, 53. Tel: 93-268-16-30)
Caelum (Palla 8, 93-302-69-93) Everything is made in various convents
Pasteleria Escriba (Gran Via 546. 93-454-75-35 and on the Rambla, near the Boqueria)
Worth the Trip
El Celler de Can Roca in Girona
Restaurant Sant Pau (C/ Nou, 10. in San Pol del Mar Tel: 93-760-0662)
La Cuina de Can Pipes (Barri Canyelles in Mont-Ras, Tel: 972-30-66-77
Toc al Mar Platje Aiguablava, 6, Begur 972 113 232