5 days in Barcelona

[Ziontrain420]

Hello all,

My wife and I are going to be in Barcelona the beginning of October, 5 days total. Looking for suggestions on food, beer and wine spots in the city. NIce local spots. We are both adventurous eaters, so we are looking for all types of food, as well as great little bars to hang at. Thanks in advance for any help.

[ronp_sf]

My wife and I just got back from 6 days in Barcelona. I went off recommendations from here, blogs, articles and guidebooks.

Whatever you do, do not plan to get "in and out" for lunch anywhere. Plan a before lunch activity and an after/after lunch activity - meaning don't "schedule" after lunch, just have something loose on the agenda.

Highlights: Can Ravell and Comerc 24. We had lunch at both places.

At Ravell, there is a 30E menu of the day that was 5/6 apps and 6/7 mains, 4 desserts. It was an insane amount of food, but totally enjoyable. Great to sample everything they have and it seemed just about everyone there ordered it. Everyone but us was speaking Catalan, but if you voiced over English, you could've easily been at a bistro on the upper east side. Everything was good, although I'd say the albondigas were amazing as was the foie/lentils.

Comerc 24. We did 4 dishes and 1 dessert. They tried to convince us to do the 7 course chefs menu but it seemed a bit much. Glad we didn't do it because we were stuffed. I just think food of this caliber is so filling. Highlight was the farmers chicken - so rich and gelatinous. The Sea Infusion, way good. Definitely worth it. We just walked in, no reservation and sat at the bar, but we were the last people they sat as they turned away 2 couples who came in after us. Oddly, we were some of the first to leave. Im very jealous of the lifestyle...

Bar Pinoxto. I not only grew up eating tripe but actually loved helping my Mom clean it for menudo around New Years Eve. Simply, the best tripe I've ever had and could ever imagine. It's called Callos or Tripas del Vendrell. It has just the right amount of sweet pepper flavor and dried herbs. I asked a chef at a later restaurant for his favorite Callos. He said Bar Pinotxo at Boqueria. It was so good that at 10 am the day we checked out (at 11), we "ran" about 3/4 of a mile so I could have one more dish before I left. 5 days later, I am still thinking about.

One tourist place that was pretty good was Cal Pep. Oddly a slight majority of people inside were English speakers. Pep himself ordered for us. Overall it was ok, the highlight FOR SURE were his version of baby clams. Great herb flavor with just the right amount of jamon bits floating.

Cuines Sta. Caterina was a bit disappointing other than the suckling pig. Yum.

Nou Celler was a great little place that I went to solo on the latish side as my wife was done for the night and I was still hungry. I read about it on StarChefs.org (like to go to places chefs recommend). The albondigas and botfiarra were just right. Exactly what you'd expect.

The 2 places we ate at the beach (Barceloneta) were Can Majo and La Mar Salada. Neither place blew us away, honestly. Serviceable, for sure and great locations.

We had great tapas at Santa Maria - across from Comerc 24.

If you plan to stay in the Born or Barri Goti, read the book Cathedral of the Sea before or while you are there. Then, make sure you grab a glass of wine in the late afternoon in the plaza in front of the Catedral Sta. Mar del Mar at Vinya del Senor.

Oh yea, if you are staying in an aparment, don't mess with buying meat from anywhere but Botifaria Sta. Maria. I kinda went crazy the night we cooked at home and was most impressed with what I got from that store.

[yankeefan]

I will jump on this thread as well. I will be heading to Barcelona for the first time for the rest of this week. I really hope to get some of the culture with two or three of the meals.

Will be staying on Las Rambla I believe it is called, looking forward to some great ideas and will report back

[Grelos]

It's hard to get more authentic than both of these places:

Can Paixano is an informal and lively little bar in the heart of Barceloneta specializing in bocatas (small sandwiches) and cava. Bocatas cost roughly 1.50 euros and a bottle of cava 1.80 euros. The latter is surprisingly good and pairs excellently with the bocatas. I recommend the zorza, a spicy sausage. Depending on at what hour you go this place will either be super-packed or dead but either way I think you'll enjoy yourself.

Cala del Vermut is a small standing-room only bar in the Gothic Quarter. Speciality is draft vermouth. It's very Catalan to go and have a glass of vermouth in the late morning before lunch. If you must sit, there is a sister restaurant also called Cala del Vermut right around the corner from this place with seating. Recommended.

Can Paixano
Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 7
Barceloneta

Cala del Vermut
Carrer Magdalenes 6
Barrio Gotico

[Ziontrain420]

Thank you Grelos, those places both sound great. We are staying a few side streets over from the Placa de Catalunya so it should be easy to get to. I have also heard of a little place in La Boqueria that serves up a great breakfast, any thoughts anyone?

[chowtimes]

We had breakfast in La Boqueria too (see http://chowtimes.com/2009/08/16/2nd-s...). There are several breakfast places at the market.

[Grelos]

Pinotxo is supposed to be legendary. You walk right into it if you enter La Boqueria from Las Ramblas. It does't hurt that Ferran Adrià also gave it his blessing. And Quim de la Boqueria is also noteworthy.

[chowtimes]

We just got back from spending 6 days in Barcelona. Had a fabulous time. We had blogged about it here: http://chowtimes.com/category/travel/...

We love Alkimia particularly. Ben

[PBSF]

There are no shortage of food and drinking places in Barcelona. Just wonder around central Barcelona: El Ravel, Barri Gotic, El Born/Ribera and the Eixample and one can't help but run into them at every turn. Search this board as the topic of tapas/pintxos places have been covered extensively; also restaurants, from the simple to the high-end. I am sure you will get some excellent replies from this board if you can be more specific.

[Ziontrain420]

One of my favorite things to do while traveling is culinary exploration. I am looking for small local places that are not overrun by tourists. Mom and Pop joints really. It is easy to find high-end stuff, but while in Barcelona I am looking for places off the beaten path, places without web sites that just serve great Catalan dishes, wonderful seafood, etc...

[PBSF]

Below is a thread that listed some of my favorites.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/625432
Can Mano, La Cova Fumada,Foxos, Goliard, El Barkito. Can Pinxo
Tapas: Vaso de Oro, El Tropezon, Bar Celta la Pulperia, Bar Mandri, El Tomas, head down to c/Merce and c/Ample for old-style tapas places and the Asturian cider bars; the Sarria neighborhood for a lively scene away from the center; or get up to the Gracia neighborhood, beyond the Pg de Gracia.
Pintxos: Ondoa Berri
Don't expect great food at most of these places but just what locals eat everyday. It might be easy to find high-end stuff but finding great high-end places isn't so easy. One thing about Spain is there is a correlation between price and great ingredients. Great fresh seafood, suckling pig, baby lamb, cured pork product etc, are never cheap and of course paying high prices does not always guarantee great ingredients.

[Ziontrain420]

Thank you for the link and your insight. We are really looking forward to the trip.