From hilltop Montjuic to the beaches of Barceloneta, you’ll never go
thirsty in this Spanish city of tapas and champagne bars. Your favourite
bar might be just around the corner from your hotel, or tucked away in a
Gothic Quarter laneway. We found our Top 5 watering holes as we made
our way around the Catalan capital, but we have the feeling this is just
the beginning of a much longer list…
1. El Xampanyet
Seats (or should that be stools) were at a premium when we squeezed our way into El Xampanyet, one of Barcelona’s
most legendary champagne bars. It’s in the Gothic Quarter, a few doors
down from the Picasso Museum (just look for the queues). Although it’s
extremely popular with visitors, the family-run bar still feels
authentic, with its tiled walls, tapas counter and walls lined with
bottles. In fact it’s been run by the same family since 1921.
The specialty here is the house cava, served in old-style
breast-shaped coupes rather than flutes. The staff are helpful (and
patient), and you can get by with very little Spanish – just point as
you stand and eat and drink at the bar (or grab one of those stools if
you see one come free).
To accompany your champagne, a steady stream of tapas dishes appears
from the kitchen. Will it be red pepper and ham toasts, fresh asparagus
spears, artichoke hearts, sardines, anchovies or croquettes?
2. Barceloneta Beach Bar
No holiday to Barcelona is complete without a stroll beside the long
stretch of Barceloneta seaside. One of the world’s longest urban
beaches, it’s quite a scene, with sun worshipers, kite boarders,
volleyball competitions and wandering beer vendors.
And no Barceloneta seaside stroll is complete without a drink at one
of the many waterfront beach bars (‘chiringuitos’) and cafes. There are
bars right on the sand, with outdoor tables and umbrellas. Above the
beach, tablecloth-covered tables spill onto the promenade, with waiter
service if you’d like a meal.
We made ourselves at home at an outdoor restaurant table under the
palm trees and ordered a plate of patatas bravas, fried potatoes with a
creamy red pepper sauce. And as the sun was shining, a bottle of rosé
was the ideal accompaniment as we watched the passing parade.
3. La Ramblas classic
Of course, when in Barcelona you’ve got to have a drink in a
Modernista classic, and they don’t come much more classic than El Quatre
Gats, just off La Ramblas.
From the terracotta brick and stone of its 1897 facade with its
grilled doors and metal sculpture lanterns, to the geometric and floral
tiles, wooden beamed ceiling and circular candelabras, it’s no wonder 4
Gats is a major stop on Barcelona’s Modernista trail.
Table seating for a meal is in the main restaurant, and at tables for
two along the mezzanine gallery looking down from above. The restaurant
fare gets mixed reviews, so we decided to have a drink in the front bar
where you can still get a taste of 4 Gats’ atmosphere. We ordered a
couple of beers and some cava to wash down small platters of tortilla
omelette and chorizo.
4. Cheese Shop and Wine Bar
We were walking through the Gothic Quarter when we came across
something very unique: a gorgeous cheese shop run by a fabulously
wonderful Scottish woman called Katherine.
In the antique surroundings of a former butter-making factory,
Formatgeria la Seu is a great place to sample and buy cheeses to take
home. You can order a cheese ‘palette’ of three cheeses and a glass of
wine, enjoyed standing up, or visit on Friday and Saturday afternoons to
sit down with a cheese platter with olives, quince paste and a bottle
of Spanish wine in the tiny tasting room at the rear of the shop.
The handcrafted artisan cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk cheeses are
sourced from independent rural producers across Spain. They ranged from
creamy to hard, subtle to ripe, and the only one we’d even heard of was
the famous manchego. We also tasted the unusual formatgelat, combining
cow’s, goat’s or blue cheese with artisan ice cream. Strange but lovely
with dried fruit and honey.
Katherine also runs a tiny wine bar, a door or so down the alley.
Just a couple of stools in a stone-walled cellar, it oozes conviviality
and great ambiance.
5. El Born
El Born is a particularly atmospheric part of Barcelona, just outside
the Gothic Quarter and heading towards Barceloneta. The sailor’s
cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar, is here, just near the França railway
station, and the backstreets are lined with fortress-like tall medieval
stone buildings pierced with tiny windows.
There are also some lovely tree-filled squares, leafy avenue and the
main thoroughfare, Passeig de Born. El Born is a magnet for tapas bars,
tucked away in the area’s tiny alleys. One of the most famous is Cal
Pep, specialising in seafood. A recent addition to El Born’s tapas scene
is the bar at the refurbished Santa Caterina fresh food market – order
wine by the glass and share platters of cheese and ham croquettes at the
long communal tables.
If the thought of ordering tapas without having an in-depth knowledge
of Spanish or Catalan is just too scary, drop into one of the Taller de
Tapas restaurants – the menu and layout are traveller-friendly and not
the least bit intimidating. There are branches in El Born, the Ramblas,
Eixample and the Gothic Quarter.
No comments:
Post a Comment