Category: Top » Recreation-and-leisure » Travel » Destinations »

Author: bcndave | Total views: 23 Comments: 0
Word Count: 829 Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 8:22 PM

Popular Restaurants in Barcelona

Barcelona has some great restaurants; too many to detail in this article, and some of my personal favourites (which I'll save for another article) are the most humble and hearty local places that most of you will all know in your won home town. However, I wanted to chalk up a list of some of the best places to create an impression when visiting Barcelona, or those kind of special places that the city has to offer.

The first is a spawn from the kitchen of Adrià and is the Michelin-starred "Comerç 24" located in the Borne area of Barcelona, on Carrer Comerç, number 24 (funnily enough). Here Carles Abellan combines tastes and flavours from all around the world; America (with a foia and truffle burger, no less) Asia, Andalusia, Italy and of course Catalonia. It's common to see crowds around the entrance of the restaurant next to the Chocolate Museum in Barcelona and the Tapas tasting Menu has become as famous as the restaurant itself.

The second addition to the Michelin list is Lluçanés which moved to the Barcelona Market in the historic fisherman's quarter of Barceloneta, earning itself a star in the process. Here Angel Pascual does what he has been doing best for 16 years at the other location, providing hearty, earthy ingredients in interesting combinations.

ABaC restaurant has 2 Michelin stars and joins some of the most beautiful buildings up on Avenida Tibidabo, just below the Tibidabo Mountain. This is the same location as the famous house in Carlos Ruiz Zafon's "Shadow of the Wind" International bestseller, and also has the last working tram in Barcelona. Xavier Pellicer and his team have some of the most creative ideas in modern gastronomy and the location and building itself could not be better, with fantastic decoration including additions from Versace. Tibidabo also has the amazing "El Asador de Aranda" which specialises in milk-fed suckling piglet and the best lamb in town, coupled with the amazing edifice of the famous house mentioned just now in Zafon's novel.

If you're looking for the best view while you dine, then you ca go no further than El Xalet. This is located up on the mountain of Montjüic, right next to the Olympic Diving boards, and is one of the only restaurants in the city with valet parking, too. The views inside the restaurant offer a panorama of the city lights at night, and the food is impeccably presented - deserts are made to order, and if you decide on one (which I highly recommend) then it's the first thing you order when you arrive!

Los Caracoles is a downtown restaurant, located in the city's famous Gothic quarter, in the old Roman citadel of Barcino. This restaurant is one of the oldest in Barcelona, and each table (accessed though the kitchen) is adorned on the adjacent wall with polaroids of signed menus of famous people through the ages who have dined at the same table as you. You can also smell this restaurant before you get there, as they have chickens roasting on a spit outside the restaurant on the corner!

Set Ports is another institution in Barcelona, and fills most pages of the guide books. This follows in the vein of Los Caracoles, with framed napkins of the famous visitors, including Picasso, Michael Douglas and Elizabeth Taylor to name but a few. Aside the port, their signature dishes are typically seafood, and it's wise to call ahead and book.

Sticking with seafood, El Merendero de la Mari has pride of place below the Catalan History Museum and is one of the oldest restaurants form the old fisherman's quarters of Barceloneta. The old restaurant was a real authentic haunt, with sawdust on the floor, and the freshest catch of the day going directly to Mari (one of my best friend's grandmother was best friends with Mari!). So when the new building along Plaça Pau Vila was built, Mari had first choice as to the relocation of the restaurant. El Merendero has just got everything right, but without making an effort. The tables, the décor, the waiters, the menu and for me, it's still the best Paella in Barcelona (and I've tried a fair few places in 9 years!).

Finally, and by no means last in any kind of order, I must give a mention to Botafumeiro, located on Gran de Gracia and with crazy and dedicated chef, Moncho Neira.

For almost 30 years, Moncho's team have been serving some of the best seafood in Barceona, proving that you don't need to be next to the port to have the best seafood in town. Again, many famous faces have passed through Botafumeiro's doors, but Moncho's intention has always been to treat each customer as equal, so you can expect the e star treatment here, too, even if it's just you and your partner!