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

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you’ll love the original white leatherette
booths and monotone “models-with-
cameras” cutouts – very Austin Powers.
Daily 1pm–1.30am, bar open 11am–2am.
Habibi c/Gran de Gràcia 7 T 932 179 545;
M Diagonal. At this cheery Lebanese diner,
the Plat Habibi gives you a taste of all the
house specials – from a minty tabbouleh to
lamb and chicken schawarma – and the
maghmour (chickpeas with aubergine and
mint) is excellent. Add a fresh-squeezed
juice (there’s no alcohol served), a home-
made dessert and a mint tea and you’re still
only in for around €15. Mon–Fri 1pm–1am,
Sat 2–4.30pm & 8pm–1am.
Himali c/Milà i Fontanals 60 T932 851 568;
M Joanic. There’s not much to suggest
Barcelona’s only Nepalese restaurant will be
worth the trip – a few Nepalese flags and
pictures adorn an otherwise unassuming
neighbourhood restaurant, with stainless
steel bar and TV to the fore. But the food
differs from the downtown curry-house
offerings, with momo (stuffed dumplings),
grilled chicken with fragrant walnut curry
sauce, and slow-cooked mutton and potato
typical of the specialities spelled out in
English on the menu, or explained by
friendly English-speaking staff. Prices are
really good value too, with most mains
around €8–10, which includes rice and naan
bread. Tues–Sun noon–4.30pm &
8pm–midnight.
Nou Candanchu Pl. Rius i Taulet 9
T932 377 362; M Fontana. Sit
beneath the clock tower in summer and
choose from the wide selection of local
dishes – tapas and hot sandwiches but
also steak and eggs, steamed clams and
mussels, or cod and hake cooked plenty
of different ways. It’s managed by an
affable bunch of young guys, and there’s
lots of choice for €8–12. Daily except Tues
7am–1am, Fri & Sat until 3am.
Moderate
La Singular c/Francesc Giner 50 T932
375 098; M Diagonal. The tiniest of
kitchens turns out refined Mediterranean
food at moderate prices – say, aubergine
and smoked fish salad, or chicken stuffed
with dates and ham, with most dishes
costing €8–14. There’s always something
appealing on the menu for veggies too. It’s
a cornerstone of the neighbourhood, with a
friendly atmosphere, but there are only nine
tables, so go early or reserve. Mon–Thurs
1.30–4pm & 9pm–midnight, Fri 1.30–4pm &
9pm–1am, Sat 9pm–1am.
Taverna El Glop c/Sant Lluís 24 T 932
137 058, W
M Joanic. The rusticity (stone-flagged
floors, beams, baskets of garlic) stops just
the right side of parody and the lunch
menú is one of the city’s best deals;
otherwise expect to spend €15–25 a head
for grills and other tavern specials,
prepared in front of you on the open
kitchen ranges. At the weekend you may
have to wait for a table. There are other
branches downtown in the Eixample (at
Rambla de Catalunya 65 and c/de Casp
21) but this is the original and the best.
Daily 1–4pm & 8pm–1am.
Sant-Gervasi
For locations, see map, p.140–141.
Moderate
Bar Turó c/del Tenor Viñas 1 T 932 006 953,
W ; FGC Muntaner. A
reliable place for tapas, fresh pasta and
home-made pizzas, right by pretty Turó
park. It’s a contemporary place, with big
windows that overlook a year-round street
terrassa, and the food is pretty good value
for uptown. Mon–Sat 9am–midnight, Sun
9am–4.30pm.
Can Punyetes c/Marià Cubì 189 T 932 009
159, W FGC Gràcia.
Traditional grillhouse-tavern – well, since
1981 anyway – that offers slick city diners
a taste of older times. There are simple
salads and tapas, and open grills turning
out sausage, lamb chops, chicken and
pork, accompanied by grilled country
bread, white beans and char-grilled potato
halves. Prices are very reasonable (every-
thing under €10) and locals love it. Daily
1–4pm & 8pm–midnight.
Casa Fernandez c/Santaló 46 T 932 019 308,
W FGC Gràcia. The
long kitchen hours are a boon for the bar-
crawlers in this neck of the woods. It’s a
contemporary place featuring market
cuisine, though they are specialists in – of all
things – fried eggs, either served straight
with chips or add Catalan sausage, foie
gras or other variations. Daily 1pm–1am.
CAFÉS, TAPAS BARS AND RESTAURANTS
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Restaurants