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MY RECOMMENDATIONS Often out-of-towners appreciate a local’s advice about where to stay and where to eat. The following are just some of my personal favorites, although my suggestions don’t exclude other choices that can be also exciting! Hotels
Check out my Hotel
Googlemap to get a clearer idea of each hotel location, as well as my
newest recommendations.
-
Neri H&R ****. Romantic contemporary design in
the heart of the Jewish Quarter. -
1898****. Recently
opened hotel featuring colonial decoration, right off La Rambla. -
Colón ****. Old-fashioned and featuring
views of the Old Cathedral. -
Olivia Plaza ****. You won’t find anything more centric than this vanguardist
hotel. -
Petit
Opera Garden****. High
Tech design with a garden from the Romanticism times. -
Banys Orientals***. Comfort
and design in the trendy Born area. -
Duc de la Victòria ***. Nice and near La Rambla. -
Hotel Jazz***.
Modern and just one step from Plaza Catalunya, the gate to the Ramblas and
the Old Town. -
Hotel Chic & Basic. A new hostel
concept that combines affordable housing and design.
-
Claris *****GL. An hotel that is also
an art museum, in 2006 TrypAdvisor listed it as the 5th fanciest
hotels in the world. -
Majestic *****GL. Elegance in the heart of the shopping area. -
Casa Fuster *****GL. A recently restored modernist
palace. -
Palace *****.
Long-time known as Ritz, for legal problems they had to change their name. A
classic in the city. -
Condes de Barcelona ****. Just a couple of blocks from the Gaudí
buildings! -
Omm ****. A pilgrimage point for design
lovers! -
Axel ***. The only hotel in town aimed
at a gay and lesbian public (but hetero-friendly!). -
Continental Palacete***.
Affordable hotel with classic old-fashioned decoration. -
The 5 rooms. Cute and friendly, a new hospitality
concept inspired in the cocooning philosophy.
-
Arts Barcelona Ritz-Carlton *****GL. One of the best in town, right by
the beach in the Olympic Village. -
Gran Hotel La Florida (Stein Group)
*****GL. At the top of the Tibidabo hill, overlooking the city and surrounded
by nature. -
Relais d’Orsa ****. Family-run charming villa in Vallvidrera (Tibidabo hill).
-
In
this other website you’ll find hotel offers from 30 euro
per person per night! -
In
the City Spy
website they’ll find a list of the best hostels and many more good tips. |
In
the old town:Restaurants
à Remember most restaurants require a
reservation for dinner (call at least the day before). Instead, in most places you’ll
be able to get a table for lunch if you arrive around 1PM.
Check out my Restaurants
Googlemap to see an updated list of my favorite restaurants located on the
city map.
BY SPECIALTIES:
Local food:
o
Senyor
Parellada. Catalan
food in a beautiful traditional setting. Argenteria, 37. 93 310 50 94.
o
L’Olivé. Catalan food and design. Balmes,
47. 93 452 19 90.
o
Set
Portes. The best
paella in town. Passeig d’Isabel II,
14. 93 319 30 33.
o
Pla de la Garsa. Medieval-rooted Catalan food. Assaonadors, 13.
93 315 24 13.
o
La Tinaja. Ham, cured sausages and cheese in the Born area. Esparteria, 9. 93 310 22 50.
Mediterranean
food:
o
Citrus
Restaurantus. Fresh
and light food by the shopping area. Passeig de Grcia, 44. 93 487 23 45.
o
Textil
Café. Light food in
a medieval courtyard. Montcada, 12. 93 268 25 98.
o
Negro. Cosmopolitan and minimalist.
Avinguda Diagonal, 640. 93 405 92 21.
Fish and Seafood:
o
Botafumeiro. All Barcelonans agree to say that
it is the best seafood restaurant in town. Gran de Gràcia, 81. 93
218 42 30.
o
Barceloneta. Great seafood by the Old Port. L’Escar, 22 (Moll de Pescadors). 93 221 21 11.
o
Torre de Altamar. Fish and sea food from the top of an 100-year cable car tower. Passeig Joan de Borbó, 88. 93 221 00 07.
o
El Passadís del
Pep. They don’t have a menu: their offer changes
according what’s fresher at the Boqueria Market. Pla de Palau, 2. 93 310 10 21.
Meat:
o
Asador de Aranda. Great meats in a modernist mansion. Avinguda Tibidabo, 31. 93 417 01 15.
o
Tenorio. Trendy brasserie in the shopping area. Passeig de Gràcia, 37. 93 272 05 92.
Vegetarian:
o
Unicornius. Creative and welcoming.
Jovellanos, 2. 93 317 18 29.
o
Organic. All you can eat buffet and menu in
a trendy atmosphere. Junta de Comer,
11. 93 301 09 02.
o
La
Bàscula. Homemade
fresh dishes in a young ambiance. Flassaders, 30 bis. 93 319 98 66.
o
L’Hortet. Maybe the most well-known
vegetarian restaurant in town. Pintor Fortuny, 32. 93 317 61 89.
Kosher:
o
Maoz. Three falafel fast-food shops
owned by a Jewish man. Ferran, 13. Rambla, 95. Jaume, 17.
Tapas: Let me take you on a Tapas
Tour and you’ll discover the best spots!
OTHER REASONS TO CHOOSE A RESTAURANT:
Special
settings:
o
Casa
Calvet. Enjoy your meal in a building by
Antoni Gaudí. Casp, 48. 93 412 40 12.
o
El Xalet. Reserve a table in their turning dinning-room overviewing the city. Avinguda Miramar, 31. 93 329 12 34.
o
La Cúpula. For vintage cars lovers: admire their 7 genuine Hispano-Suiza. Sicília,
255. 93 208 20 61.
o
Quatre
Gats. Where Picasso
met the bohemian modernist artists. Montsió, 3 bis. 93 302 41 40.
o
Agua. Nice meals right by the beach. Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 30. 93 225 12 72.
With chef signature:
o
Alkimia. The latest discovery in High
Cuisine, one Michelin Star. Indústria, 79. 93 207 61 15.
o
Saüc. Traditional flavors with a modern
touch. Passatge de Lluís
Pellicer, 12 baixos. 93
321 01 89.
Young (dinning and nightlife):
o
El
Salón. Young
atmosphere in an antique decoration. Hostal del Sol, 6-8. 93
315 16 30.
o
Oven. Fusion gastronomy and cultural
shows in an old warehouse. Ramon
Turró, 126. 93 221 06 02.
o
Arcano. Dinner and drinks near the Born. Mercaders, 10.
93 310 21 79.
o
CDLC. After dinner it becomes the
hippest club of the night of Barcelona. Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 22. 93 224 04 70.
o
Buda
BARcelona. Meeting
point of models and local stars. Pau Claris, 92. 620 71 93 38.
When you don’t have much time… Good fast
food:
(Some
of them are chains, I’ll just indicate my favorite venue or the most convenient
location)
o
Sandwich
& Friends.
Design and sandwiches. Passeig del
Born, 27.
o
Buenas Migas. Italian focaccia, pasta and salads. Plaça Bonsuccés, 6.
o
Lactuca. All you can eat salads, pasta,
pizza and the day warm dish. Ronda Sant Pere, 17.
o
Viena. Artisan sausages and hamburgers. Rambla, 115.
o
Foodball. Owned by the shoe brand Camper,
offers a choice of rice balls. Elisabets, 9.
BARCELONA AND CATALONIA PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS
WITH OFFICIAL GUIDE