Tried and Trusted
in Barcelona

My take: A Greek coffee bar in the Eixample where the brothers roast their own beans. Get the freddo espresso and a bougatsa, the warm custard pastry, if they have one left. The room is small and warm, the kind of stop you sit at rather than grab to go. Good first thing before a morning of Gaudí or wandering the grid.

My take: A brunch spot in the Gothic Quarter that’s been at it since 2005. We had the eggs benedict and the pancakes. The room is small and a little retro, sofas and patterned walls, and it shifts to tapas and cocktails at night. It’s a few minutes off La Rambla, so an easy start before you lose the morning in the Gothic Quarter alleys.

My take: A tiny specialty coffee spot in the Gothic Quarter with only a handful of seats, so most people grab a cortado and go. We stopped here a couple times for cappuccinos and breakfast before we went to explore. It’s in the middle of the medieval streets, an easy stop before the Gothic Quarter or on the way over to El Born.

My take: Fonda Pepa felt like the kind of neighborhood spot I always hope to find when I travel. Warm room, good wine, small plates, and a menu that feels interesting without trying too hard. I’d come here when you want a slower dinner away from the busiest Barcelona streets. Order a few things to share, linger a bit, and let it be one of those meals that ends up being more memorable than you expected.

My take: A tiny neighborhood bistro in Sant Antoni, maybe seven tables inside and a few out on the pavement, so book ahead or get there early. The cooking is Mediterranean and the paella is what to order, the octopus and chorizo one stuck with us. The tuna ceviche and the veal cheeks are both worth a spot on the table too. It’s near the Sant Antoni market, so it pairs with a vermouth around there before or a slow walk through the neighborhood after.

My take: A small-plates spot with a cocktail bar attached. The food is mostly crudo and lightly cooked plates. We had the beef tartare, the grilled octopus, and a couple of the signature cocktails. The room is warm and dim with an open kitchen, and we were told they have live jazz some nights. It’s in the Eixample near Passeig de Gràcia, an easy late dinner after a day around Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.

My take: A small owner-run wine bar in Gràcia with around 150 natural bottles, a lot of them by the glass, so you can taste different styles and regions. Tell them what you like and let them pour. The plates are made to go with the wine, the tuna crudo with wasabi and the scallop ceviche were what we got, plus a cheese and charcuterie board. It’s near Plaça del Sol, so you can fold it into a night wandering the Gràcia squares.

My take: A tapas spot down a narrow Gothic Quarter street that looks like a wine cellar inside, brick walls and bottles stacked to the ceiling. The menu runs from classic to a few fusion plates, and we ordered the meat croquettes, the grilled cauliflower with romesco, and the monkfish soufflé. If you can’t get a table, you can eat at the bar and have them mix you a cocktail. They sent out a round of tequila at the end of the meal. It’s in the middle of the Gothic Quarter, so wander the alleys toward the cathedral after.

My take: Just off Plaça Reial, this one does Mediterranean cooking with a few global turns. We went with the scallops, the octopus croquette, and the Angus beef. They have great cocktails as well, the blackberry mojito especially. The room is small and stylish, a dinner that runs a couple of relaxed hours. It’s steps from Plaça Reial and La Rambla, an easy last stop before a walk through the square at night.