Daily meal in Barcelona
Basically I only heard odes of the Catalan capital before: the legend of hospitality, the coast, the mountains and the architecture porn. Barcelona is really magical, perfect in mid-june with daytime 28 degrees and nighttime 20 degrees. Four days filled with beach, walks, culture and of course excellent food. Here's our subjective daily menu.
I recomend two breakfast places at once. For the modern souls Satan's Coffee Corner is the perfect choice. Cool environment, full of beautiful people and a great coffee, which is supposedly very rare in Barcelona.
The owner Marcos Bartolome opened the place in June 2012, which is more than a café. It's a popular for a meeting point and for art events as well. The food is homemade so as the ginger apricot jam what I had beside my croissant.
Satan's Coffee Corner - Carrer de l'Arc de Sant Ramon del Call 11, Barcelona
For all those who prefer traditional, Bar Mendizabal is highly recommended. It is active from the eighties and serving the locals. The baked Jamon Serrano sandwich with brie cheese and mango is a must try. We can see the city waking up while standing in line and enjoy the sunshine on the terrace until we wish. Note that there is an extra charge if you actually decide to sit rather than taking your breakfast away.
Bar Mendizabal - Carrer de la Junta de Comerç 2., 08001 Barcelona, corner of Carrer de l'Hospital
Locals have their lunch typically around 13-14. I would recommend the restaurant La Pepita. It was an incredibly friendly restaurant with delicious meals.
The owner Sofia Boixet and chef Sergio Andrev started the restaurant as a family business almost five years ago. Sofia greeted us in a friendly way, kindly answered our questions and offered her favorites. I think the most brilliant dish is the marinated sea bass with strawberries, spinach, basil and pine nuts.
La Pepita - Carrer de Còrsega 343, 08037 Barcelona
Last night we wanted to eat a big seafood plate on the big market, but we got into some trouble when we actually discovered that the market is closed on Sundays. So after some planning, on Saturday night we finally visited a recommended bar, the Ramblero.
I wouldn't actually call it a restaurant, it's a dining place in the middle of the market. It's absolutely perfect, just what you want on your last day. All the fresh seafood, the crabs, shells, fish lined up there right in front of you, so you can easily choose.
If can't choose, do let the headwaiter recommend something! And don't forget the fact that you are actually on a market where haggling is allowed! Especially if you arrive before closing time, and live lobsters still lined up on the bench.
The four of us shared a double seafood plate, a whole fresh lobster and some crayfish. We didn't regret it. Every bite was brilliant!
Ramblero - La Rambles 91, 08001 Barcelona (La Mercat Boquerio)
I suggest the La esquinita De Blai for a farewell dinner. This is actually a pinxtos (tapas) bar. The uniqueness of the place is in the small Spanish snacks, which are in addition to being superb are also very cheap.
You just choose the ones whichever you feel like. There are almost twenty sorts to choose from, all prickled with a toothpick and you have to pay after the number of toothpicks in the end. The normal ones are 1 EUR, ones with red dots are 1.80 EUR. The best one in our group stopped after twelve, I finished with ten, but I also slipped a chocolate soufflé - so I guess I was the winner.
I think the most brilliant snack was with goat cheese and sweet blueberry sauce. But the best thing is that you can't really make bad decisions. Perhaps it is also worth to keep the "fish-meat-vegetable" order, and chatting with locals of course recommended too.
La esquinita De Blai - Calle Blai 16, 08004 Barcelona