Cafés, tapas bars and restaurants - The Rough Guide to Barcelona - page 271

TAPAS BARS
Bar Central La Boqueria Mercat de la Boqueria, Ramblas 91 933 011 098; Liceu;
map . This gleaming, chrome stand-up bar in the market's central aisle is the venue for ultra-
fresh market produce, served by snazzy staff who work at a fair lick. Breakfast, snack or
lunch, it's all the same to them - salmon cutlets, sardines, calamari, razor clams, hake fillets,
sausages, pork steaks, asparagus spears and the rest, plunked on the griddle and sprinkled
with salt. Breakfast costs just a few euros or it's €5-15 for some tapas or a main dish and a
drink. Mon-Sat 6.30am-4pm.
Bar Pinotxo Mercat de la Boqueria, Ramblas 91 933 171 731, pinotxobar.com ;
Liceu; map . The market's most renowned refuelling stop - just inside the main entrance on
the right - attracts traders, chefs, tourists and celebs, who stand three deep at busy times. A
coffee, a grilled sandwich and a glass of cava (no, really) is the local breakfast of choice, or
let the cheery staff steer you towards the tapas and daily specials (€5-15) - anything from a
slice of tortilla to fried baby squid. Daily 7am-11pm.
RESTAURANTS
Amaya Ramblas 20-24 933 021 037, www.restauranteamaya.com ; Drassanes; map .
A Ramblas fixture since 1941, the restaurant serves Basque seafood specialities, from oc-
topus to anchovies. The lunch and tapas menus offer the cheapest and most enjoyable intro-
duction to the cuisine; otherwise, main dishes cost €14-20. Daily 1.30-4pm & 7-11.30pm.
CentOnze Ramblas 111 933 186 200, centonzerestaurant.com ; Liceu; map . Located
inthesleek LeMéridien ,thisrestaurantboastsgreatstreet-levelviewsofLasRamblas,andis
a perfect place to escape the hustle-and-bustle while dining on Boqueria-sourced dishes such
as salmon and monkfish carpaccio, strawberry gazpacho and arroz negro with fresh clams
and aioli (€17.50 lunch menu, €7-22 à la carte). Daily 1.30-4pm & 7-11.30pm.
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BARRI GÒTIC
CAFÉS
Bar del Pi Pl. de Sant Josep Oriol 1 933 022 123, www.bardelpi.com ; Liceu; map .
LocatedononeofBarcelona'sprettiestsquares, BardelPi isbestknownforitsterracetables.
Linger over drinks and sandwiches and let the old town reveal its charms, especially during
the weekend artists' market. Tues-Fri 9am-11pm, Sat 9.30am-11pm, Sun 10am-10pm.
Caelum c/de la Palla 8 933 026 993, caelumbarcelona.com ; Liceu; map . The lov-
ingly packaged confections in this upscale café-cum-deli (the name is Latin for “heaven”)
are made in convents and monasteries across Spain. Choose from frutas de almendra (mar-
zipan sweeties) from Seville, Benedictine preserves or Cistercian cookies - or hunker down
for cakes and coffee in the atmospheric basement crypt. Mon-Thurs 10.30am-8.30pm, Fri &
Sat 10.30am-11pm, Sun 10.30am-9pm.