Mercat La Boqueria – All about fish – and croquetas

Posted on June 27, 2017 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona – If you are a fish and seafood lover this market is a must for you. You can see all the creatures from the sea – dead or alive – presented at the endless stalls. Besides there are also many stalls with “croquetas” (one of my favorite tapa in Spain, as it is very difficult to find any outside the country, made with fish, meat or vegetarian small balls and fried crispy).

If you haven’t tried a small sample at every food stall and are still hungry, there are loads of restaurants around the market. We chose Joel’s Oyster Bar (will follow in one of the next posts).

www.boqueria.info

One Ocean Club – Bar and restaurant at the harbor

Posted on June 8, 2017 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona – If you want to do some “people and yacht watching” while dining exquisitely, One Ocean club is your choice.

The atmosphere, view and food is very good, but not really a bargain budgetwise…

I recommend having a drink before dinner at around 8 or 9 pm and then enjoy the sunset at dinner. If you are a couple you will most probably get a table directly at the water on the terrace, as these are the only tables for two 😉

Reservation absolutely needed.

www.oneoceanclub.es

La Guingueta and Xiringuito Escriba

Posted on October 1, 2015 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona (Playa del Bogatell) – As we wanted to spend some time at the beach but also have a decent lunch, we chose La Guingueta/Xiringuito Escriba – actually two restaurants working together: one restaurant at the beach, the other just over the beach foot path.

The great thing is, everything you can eat in the restaurant can also be served at your beach space. The umbrella and the sunbeds cost some extra but it is so relaxing and therefore so very much worth it.

The food was very good, if you are a frequent reader of this blog you remember my post about the other “La Guingueta in Barceloneta“. The food quality was the same high standard. Escriba is also a bakery/shop in Barcelona…so desserts should be great as well, sadly, we were full and not able to try any more….

xiringuitoescriba.com/#guingueta

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Bar Mut – A must in Barcelona!

Posted on October 1, 2015 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona – This restaurant was recommended by a friend and he told me, even Robert de Niro was a visitor when in Barcelona. But the bar is really a must to visit in Barcelona.

The restaurant/bar is very small and has some high tables and some low tables but always packed with people. You need to reserve a table about 2 days in advance.

You can just order from the menu hanging on the wall or ask for small plates as a surprise….they will only stop serving when you say you had enough. The food is really good and the Spanish wines very selected.

www.barmut.com

La Guingueta – Catalan version of the chiringuito

Posted on September 30, 2015 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona – Barceloneta beach is just some 5 minutes walk from the city centre and actually really nice for a city beach.

If you become hungry after all the volleyball, swimming or just laying around – there are loads of restaurants, but the Guingueta caught our attention as it looked so open, friendly and modern. You can just have a freshly squeezed fruit juice or a wheat grass shot (….it felt like I just ate a whole golf green) or get a whole lunch.

The sandwiches and burgers are really tasty and the desserts looked great as well. This concept by Carles Abellan is the modern interpretation of a chiringuito “Guingueta” in Catalan (small restaurant with simple but good food at the beach). And I was so happy to find my very Spanish and favourite drink on the menu as well: Tinto de verano (but do not mix it up with Sangria!).

www.carlesabellan.es/la-guingueta-de-la-barceloneta

Fruit bar

Wheat grass shot

the bill

La Guingueta

the menu

sandwich and burger

Tinto de verano and guacamole with chips

Hostal Poblenou

Posted on September 26, 2015 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona – We found this cosy and simple bed and breakfast in Barcelona most adorable. Inhabitants are also 2 or 3 cats and probably a mouse named “Perez” ;-). They have double, single and family rooms for a really fair price.

The hostal is some 30 minutes to walk (by the seaside) or 5 mins by taxi from the city centre.

Breakfast (small but nice buffet) is served on the patio terrace and you can order almost everything for breakfast you wish for a small extra money.
Towels and umbrellas for the beach can be rented for free. The area has its own smaller version of the Rambla and is really nice to do a little walk.

www.hostalpoblenou.com

Passadis del Pep – From the sea to the table

Posted on September 26, 2015 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona – If you like sea food as calamari, lobster, mussels and shrimps then you have to go to Passadis del Pep. You will get everything you see on the local market stalls. You will probably have asked yourself if people really do eat it – yes they do!

The restaurant has no menu card. You will receive several platters of mussels, sea snails, octopus, rice in calamari ink and so on. If you think you had enough, the waiter will ask you if you want meat or fish for your main course…so keep some space in your stomach.

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Sea snails

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The wine list is very good as well.

Ask to be seated in the main room of the restaurant when you do your reservation.

Note, there is no sign that tells you where the entry of the restaurant is…but there is an open door that leads you inside the building.

www.passadis.com

Disfrutar – Enjoy with the former El Bulli team

Posted on September 26, 2015 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona – When in Barcelona the challenge is to make your selection of the restaurants during your stay….as there are just too many good ones. 20150906_141114

Actually we went to Barcelona to see Manà, the mexican rock band, as they not seem to ever come to Switzerland 😉 But it was a great excuse to spend 3 splendid days in Barcelona anyway.

Now back to food:
Disfrutar restaurant was an experience! We went there for lunch as the evenings were already booked.

We enjoyed a lunch with countless courses that were all very good but we specially liked the egg in its shell. The dishes are quite experimental and a treat for people that like to enjoy various tastes and textures combined – the look of the food sometime cheated and felt or tasted differently once in your mouth.