The Rough Guide to Barcelona 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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and drink, there’s often little difference between a bar and a café, but the places
detailed in this section have been chosen for their food or ambience.You might
be able to get a full meal, but they are more geared towards breakfast, snacks and
sightseeing stops. Most places are open long hours – from 7 or 8am until
midnight, or much later in some cases – so whether it’s coffee first thing or a
late-night nibble, you’ll find somewhere to cater for you.
Many establishments are classics of their kind – century-old cafés or unique
neighbourhood haunts – while others specialize in certain types of food and
drink.A forn is a bakery, a pastisseria a cake and pastry shop, both often with
cafés attached. A xocolateria specializes in chocolate, including the drinking
kind. In a granja or orxateria, more like milk bars than regular cafés, you’ll be
able to sample traditional delights like orxata (horchata, tiger-nut drink), ice
cream, and granissat (granizado, a crushed-ice drink flavoured with orange, lemon
or coffee).
Pizza, burger, felafel and kebab and cappuccino joints are ubiquitous,
especially around the Ramblas and on the main streets in the Eixample. Most
major international chains are represented, while local and Spanish chains
include Pans & Company and Bocatta, for hot and cold baguette-based
sandwiches and salads; Fresh and Ready for deli, sandwiches and juices; and the
coffee chains Il Caffe di Roma, Aroma and Café di Francesco .
Best for …
Al fresco dining Agua (p.205), El Cangrejo Loco (p.205), La Soleá (p.206).
Breakfast Ciudad Condal (p.196), Kasparo (p.190), Laie Llibreria Café (p.191).
Cheap eats Bar Salvador (p.203), L’Económic (p.201), Romesco (p.200).
Catch of the day Can Majo (p.204), Can Maño (p.204), Els Pescadors (p.205).
Classy café society Café d’Estiu (p.190), Café de l’Opera (p.189), Tèxtil Café (p.191).
Ethnic artistry Himali (p.209), Shunka (p.199), Wushu (p.203).
Fusion sensations Ànima (p.200), Biblioteca (p.201), Limbo (p.198).
Money no object Alkimia (p.207), Comerç 24 (p.202), Gaig (p.208).
Romantic assignations Café de l’Acadèmia (p.198), La Singular (p.209), Senyor
Parellada (p.203).
New-school tapas Sureny (p.96); Santa Maria (p.194); TapaÇ24 (p.195).
Old-school tapas Bodega La Plata (p.193), Cal Pep (p.194), Inopia (p.195).
Unique experiences Casa Fernandez (p.209), Espai Sucre (p.202), Flash, Flash
(p.208).
Ramblas
For locations, see map, p.46.
Antiga Casa Figueras Ramblas 83 T933 016
027, W M Liceu. Serves
glorious pastries from the renowned Escribà
family business in a modernista-designed
pastry shop, with a few tables inside and
out. Many people rate this as the best
bakery in Barcelona. Mon–Sat 9am–3pm &
5–8.30pm.
Café de l’Opera Ramblas 74 T933 177
585, W
M Liceu. If you’re going to pay through
the nose for a Ramblas seat, it may as
well be at this famous old café-bar
opposite the opera house, which retains
its late nineteenth-century decor as well
as a bank of sought-after pavement tables.
It’s not a complete tourist-fest, though –
locals pop in throughout the day and night
for coffee, cakes, snacks and tapas. Daily
8.30am–2am.
Café Zurich Pl. Catalunya 1 T 933 179 153,
W ; M Catalunya. The
most famous meet-and-greet café in town,
CAFÉS, TAPAS BARS AND RESTAURANTS
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Cafés and fast food