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From tapas and wine, to the world's most famous restaurant
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Barcelona has been revolutionizing the culinary world for years, with creative chefs drawing gastronomic pilgrims from around the world to their restaurants. This means that while other big cities may offer an equally wide range of high quality dining options, no where else will you find a more inventive cuisine, not to mention the world's best restaurant nearby. To match the excitement over the food, many places feature attractive interiors, further establishing Barcelona as one of the "must taste" cities of the world.
Café Salambó
As one of Barcelona's classic spots, you may have to wait a while for a table (unless you book one in advance), but the wait is compensated with savory dishes. Try its famous crepes -- an especially good choice if you are vegetarian. Take advantage of the good Barcelona weather and sit on the terrace. Return at night for the cocktails and the pool table!
Escribà
Behind the attractive Modernista façade of this historic building is a café and pastry shop that's been making mouthwatering cakes for over a century. Wash them down with tea or coffee and buy the house brand of chocolate and Cava wine.
Tèxtil Cafè
Located in the medieval palace courtyard of the Textile Museum, this café is good for a light meal at any time of the day. The inexpensive Mediterranean menu is ideal for the health-conscious as well as vegetarians. You may also simply go for tapas or a drink.
Origens 99.9%
This restaurant in several locations in the city serves traditional Catalan cuisine. In addition to going for a quick salad or soup, pass by the store for the best Catalan products.
Dos Trece
This is a restaurant, bar, and club that hosts live music gigs and DJs. The food served is international fusion and well presented. After dinner hang out for the night drinking one or more of its cocktails.
Cal Pep
Cal Pep is not the cheapest tapas bar to eat in town, but it's always full. There is a dining room at the back, but everyone prefers the counter seats at the front. No matter where you sit the service is attentive, and the traditional tapas seem to meet everyone's taste.
Cinc Sentits
This cutting edge restaurant appeals to the five senses (as the name suggests). It uses fine ingredients to create fusion cuisine served by an attentive staff in an ambience that is as delightful as the food.
Comerç24
Innovative cooking (Spanish classics and tapas are given different combinations and flavors) and bold design await you at this restaurant, one of the most fashionable and talked about in the city.
Fernandez
This elegant yet informal restaurant pays as much attention to the art and design of the space, as much as it does to the cuisine. It serves classic Spanish dishes based on seafood and offers an extensive variety of exotic teas.
Els 4 Gats
Literally it means "the four cats", but the name is actually Catalan slang for "a few people." You'll see more than only a few dining by the tiled walls, just as Modernist and bohemian artists have done for over a century (apparently Picasso held his first exhibition here). If you're looking for a traditional or authentic Barcelona restaurant, this is your place.
Freixa Tradició
A minimalist space is the setting for serving classic and reinterpreted Spanish dishes. Expect a menu full of inventive surprises, but don't be surprised by the above-average prices.
Espai Sucre
This unusual restaurant has a modern sophisticated design, but what makes it stand out are the desserts. In fact, except for a few savory "salty" dishes, the menu is almost completely devoted to desserts. Everything listed is imaginative, but the sweet creations are the most original. No matter what you choose, the right wine will be recommended to accompany it.
El Bulli
Welcome to the world's most famous restaurant. It's not exactly in Barcelona, but the drive up north of the city is worth it when you can actually book a table. The waiting list is huge, so if you can make it for some time this year, it's like winning the lottery (especially when it's only open for two months out of the year). Sit on the dining room overlooking a bay, and wait for a culinary experience like no other. Waiters will instruct you on how to eat and how many bites to take to best savor each dish, an experience that costs in the hundreds of euros per person, but one that you sure won't forget.
Arola
A fine hotel like Hotel Arts could only have a restaurant like this. It's one of the city's hottest dining destinations and offers a varied contemporary menu.
Hisop
Chefs with experience at Michelin-starred restaurants create the contemporary cuisine of this restaurant. Everything served is delicious, presented as a piece of art on your plate. You may choose your own bread and oil, to add to the intense flavors.
Cuines Santa-Caterina
Located inside the Santa Catarina Market, this modern and dynamic space serves four types of cuisines, Mediterranean, Italian, Asian, and vegetarian ("cuines" means cuisines or kitchens in Catalan). This is one of the hottest and most original dining options in the city, with the food (whose ingredients are bought at the market) served on sleek counters and long wooden tables.
7 Portes
For a break from the city's modern restaurants, head to this classic establishment that serves traditional cuisine. It's one of Barcelona's oldest restaurants and the ambiance is a little more formal.
Moo
This fashionable gourmet restaurant is located on the ground floor of Hotel Omm. Just like the hotel, the space has a contemporary design and the traditional Mediterranean food is given modern interpretations. The young staff is efficient, and will help you choose the right wine to accompany the dish of your choice.
Casa Calvet
The interior of one of Gaudi's buildings was turned into a restaurant decorated with tiles and stained glass. The dishes are interesting combinations of flavors, and the desserts are especially good. You won't go wrong if you try a pudding.
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