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

213 / 344

207
renowned Galician seafood restaurant can
easily top €50, but arrive at lunch for the
cut-price menú del dia and you’ll get to
sample standards like thick, meaty broth or
botifarra (sausage) and potatoes; for more
choice (and for some fish), trade up to the
menú especial. It’s the sort of place where
the gruff, waistcoated waiters tend to know
the lunching locals by name. Mon–Sat
1–4pm & 8.30pm–midnight.
Tragaluz Ptge. de la Concepció 5 T934 870
621, W ;
M Diagonal. Attracts beautiful people by the
score, and the classy Mediterranean-with-
knobs-on cooking, served under a glass
roof (tragaluz means “skylight”), doesn’t
disappoint. Mains cost €16–25, though
cheaper eats are served downstairs
courtesy of the Tragarràpid menu (served
daily 1pm–midnight), where things like
fajitas or a club sandwich cater for those
fresh off the modernista trail (La Pedrera is
just across the way). Daily 1.30–4pm &
8.30pm–midnight, Thurs–Sat until 1am.
Sagrada Família and Glòries
For locations, see map, pp.122–123.
Moderate
Piazzenza Avgda. Gaudí 27–29 T934 363 817;
M Sagrada Família. A reliable standby just
5min walk from the Sagrada Família. There
are tapas, drink and pizzas, served
outdoors in summer, and you can eat for
around €15–20. It’s a pretty buzzy place at
night, just as popular with locals as with
tourists. Daily 1pm–1am; closed 2 weeks
in Aug.
Very expensive
Alkimia c/Indústria 79 T932 076 115;
M Sagrada Família. Ask Barcelona foodies
which is the best new-wave Catalan restau-
rant in town and once they’ve all stopped
bickering, this is the one they’ll probably
plump for. “Alchemy” is what’s promised by
the name, and that’s what chef Jordi Vilà
delivers in bitingly minimalist style – think pa
amb tomàquet (Catalan bread rubbed with
tomato and olive oil), only liquidized and
served in a shot glass. It’s a Michelin-
starred operation, so reservations are
vital and the bill might reach €100 a head.
Mon–Fri 1.30–3.30pm & 8.30–11pm;
closed 2 weeks in Aug & Easter.
Gorria c/de la Diputacio 421 T932 451 164,
; MMonumental.
This elegant family-owned restaurant serves
the finest seasonal Basque cuisine, like
pochas de Sanguesa (a sort of white-bean
stew), clams and hake in salsa verde, or
wood-grilled lamb and suckling pig. Prices are
on the high side (€50 a head and upwards),
but this is regional Spanish cooking of the
highest order. Mon 1–3.30pm, Tues–Sat 1–
3.30pm & 9–11.30pm; closed Aug & Easter.
Esquerra de l’Eixample
For locations, see map, pp.128–129.
Inexpensive
La Flauta c/d’Aribau 23 T933 237 038;
M Universitat. One of the city’s best-
value lunch menus sees potential diners
queueing for tables daily – get there before
2pm to avoid the rush. It’s a handsome bar-
restaurant of dark wood and deep colours,
and while the name recognizes the house
speciality gourmet sandwiches (a flauta is a
thin baguette), there’s also tapas served all
day and a really good menú del dia that
depends on what’s available at the market.
Mon–Sat 8am–1am.
O Pote Pl. del Dr. Letamendi 29 T 934 541 881,
M Passeig de Gràcia/Universitat. For a cheap
uptown meal in a convivial atmosphere this
family-run Galician bar-restaurant might just
do the trick. Fried and grilled fish and
seafood is the speciality, from baby squid to
garlic prawns, served on paper tablecloths
with absolutely no airs or graces. No credit
cards. Mon–Sat 1–4pm & 8–11pm.
Moderate
Hanoi Pl. Dr. Letamendi 27 T934 515
686, M Passeig de Gràcia/Universitat.
Ostensibly a Vietnamese restaurant, though
many of the tasty dishes – from little
baskets of dim sum to steamed bream with
soy and ginger – tell of wider Southeast
Asian sources. No matter, the daily weekday
lunch is widely recognized as a good deal
and the sleek restaurant fills quickly. There’s
another uptown branch, Hanoi II, further
out, at Avgda. Sarrià 37, with a similar
menu. Daily 12.30–4pm &
8.30pm–midnight.
Out of China c/Muntaner 100 T 934 515 555;
M Provença. Most Chinese restaurants in
Barcelona are pretty bland, which is not a
CAFÉS, TAPAS BARS AND RESTAURANTS
|
Restaurants