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Coffee and tea
Coffee
is invariably espresso – ask for a
café sol
(
café solo
) or simply
un café
. A
slightly weaker large black coffee is called a
café americano
. A
tallat
(
cortado
) is a
small strong black coffee with a dash of steamed milk; a larger cup with more hot
milk is a
café amb llet
(
café con leche
). Black coffee is also frequently mixed with
brandy, cognac or whisky, all such concoctions being called
cigaló
(
carajillo
); liqueur
mixed with white coffee is a
trifásico
. Decaffeinated coffee (
descafeinat
,
descafei-
nado
) is available, usually in sachet form, though increasingly you can get the real
thing – ask for it
de màquina
(from the machine).
Tea
comes without milk unless you ask for it, and is often insipid (often just a
teabag in a cup of hot water). If you do ask for milk, chances are it’ll be hot and UHT.
Better are the infusions that you can get in most bars, like mint
(menta),
camomile
(
camomila
) and lime
(tila
).
one. This cheery stand-up counter opposite
the Hospital de la Santa Creu dispenses
juices, shakes, beer and sandwiches to
passing punters. The lucky ones grab a
table over the road in the shady little square.
Daily 10am–midnight, June–Sept until 1am.
La Ribera
For locations, see map, p.78.
Café del Born
Pl. Comercial 10
T
932 683 272;
M
Jaume I.
No gimmicks, no fusion food,
and dodgy local art kept at a bare minimum
– this is the recipe for success at this
always popular neighbourhood café-bar.
There’s a simple Mediterranean menu on
offer, while Sunday brunch is the big draw.
Mon–Thurs & Sun 9am–1am, Fri & Sat
9am–3.30am.
Rosal
Pg. del Born 27, no phone;
M
Jaume I.
The
terrassa
at the end of the Born gets the
sun all day, making it a popular meeting
place, though it’s also packed on summer
nights. Menu specials here are couscous or
curry combinations, and if you can raise a
smile from the staff you’re on a roll. Daily
9am–2am.
Tèxtil Café
c/de Montcada 12–14
T
932
682 598,
W
www.textilcafe.com;
M
Jaume I.
Everyone loves this relaxed boho
café, set inside a shady, cobbled medieval
courtyard on the neighbourhood’s most
visited street (the Picasso museum is just up
the road). The food’s great for sharing –
there’s hummus, guacamole, baba ganoush
and tapenade, as well as things like quiche,
salads, chilli, lasagne and big sandwiches.
And there’s also a lunchtime and evening
menú del dia
, and live swing and jazz most
Sun nights. Tues & Wed 10am–8.30pm,
Thurs 10am–midnight, Fri & Sat 10am–1am,
Sun 10am–midnight; Tues–Thurs in winter
daytime only.
Poble Nou
For location, see map, p.85.
El Tío Ché
Rambla Poble Nou 44–46
T
933 091
872,
W
www.eltioche.com;M
Poble Nou, or bus
#36 from
M
Barceloneta.
A down-to-earth
café in a down-to-earth neighbourhood, run
by the same family for four generations. The
specialities are orange or lemon
granissat
(crushed ice) and their famous
orxata
(tiger-
nut drink), but there are also
torrons
(almond fudge), hot chocolate, coffee,
croissants and sandwiches. It’s a bit off the
beaten track, though you can stroll up easily
enough from Bogatell beach (15min) or
down the
rambla
from Poble Nou metro
(10min). Daily 10am–midnight; reduced
hours in winter.
Dreta de l’Eixample
For locations, see map, p.115.
Café del Centre
c/Girona 69
T
934 881 101;
M
Girona.
Formerly a casino, later converted
into a café, but retaining its elegant
modernista
decor, which is the main reason
for a visit. It’s only three blocks from the
tourist sights on the Passeig de Gràcia, but
largely invisible as far as most visitors are
concerned, so good to know about for a
quiet coffee or lunch. Mon–Fri noon–2am,
Sat 7.30pm–2am.
Laie Llibreria Café
c/Pau Claris 85
T
933 027 310,
W
www.laie.es;
M
Urquinaona.
The city’s first and best
bookshop café, and a great place to drop
CAFÉS, TAPAS BARS AND RESTAURANTS
|
Cafés and fast food