Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
With a contemporary feel and open kitchens, this multifaceted eatery inside the Mercat de
Santa Caterina offers all sorts of food. Peck at the sushi bar, tuck into classic rice dishes or
go vegetarian. It does some things better than others, so skip the hummus and
tarte Tatin.
A
drawback is the speed with which barely finished plates are whisked away from you, but the
range of dishes and bustling atmosphere are fun. Reservations aren't taken, so it's first
come, first served.
INTERNATIONAL
COMERÇ 24
1.30-3.30pm & 8.30-11pm Tue-Sat; Barceloneta)
Michelin-starred chef Carles Abellan playfully reinterprets the traditional (suckling pig
'Hanoi style'), as well as more international classics, such as the bite-sized mini-pizza
sashimi with tuna;
melón con jamón,
a
millefeuille
of layered caramelised Iberian ham and
thinly sliced melon, or oxtail with cauliflower purée. If your budget will stretch to it, try a
little of almost everything with the 'Menú del Gran Festival' (€116).
SEAFOOD
PASSADÍS DEL PEP
1.15-3.45pm Mon-Sat; Barceloneta)
There's no sign, but locals know where to head for a seafood feast. They say the restaurant's
raw materials are delivered daily from fishing ports along the Catalan coast. There is no
menu - what's on offer depends on what the sea has surrendered on the day - but you can
count on something along the lines of fresh seafood and/or fish, a bit of
jamón
(cured ham),
tomato bread and grilled vegetables. Just head down the long, ill-lit corridor and entrust
yourself to its care.
MASTERS OF WINE
One of the best wine stores in Barcelona (and Lord knows, there are a few),
Vila Vin-
8.30am-8.30pm Mon-Sat; Jaume I)
has been searching out the best in local and imported
wines since 1932. On a couple of November evenings it organises what has by now be-
come an almost riotous wine-tasting event in Carrer dels Agullers and surrounding
lanes, at which cellars from around Spain present their young new wines. At No 9 it
has another store devoted to gourmet food products.
