Cafés, tapas bars and restaurants - The Rough Guide to Barcelona - page 285

TOP 5 PLACES FOR BRUNCH
Agua
El Atril
Café del Born
Federal
La Soleá
RESTAURANTS
El Atril c/dels Carders 23, Sant Pere 933 101 220, atrilbarcelona.com ; Jaume I;
map . Chill out in this fine Aussie-owned bistro-bar, which has a popular terrassa in a re-
vamped neighbourhood square. Lunch is always a steal, with tapas served at other times, and
dinner from 7pm, from a menu that ranges from moules frites to lamb skewers with spicy
peanut sauce (mains €10-15). The long (11.30am until 5pm), lazy Sunday brunch is good,
too,whilethere'sagreatselection ofwinesavailable attheowner'sVinowinestoreopposite
(c/dels Carders 22, opens 5pm, Thurs-Sun 4pm), which you can take as BYO into the res-
taurant for a small corkage charge. On Fri and Sat, there is live music and wine tastings by
the glass. Mon 6pm-midnight, Tues-Sun noon-midnight.
CasaDelfín Pg. del Born 36, La Ribera 933 195 088; Jaume I; map . There are many
reasons to like this bubbly, updated taverna, not least its sunny terrassa outside the old mar-
ket. It's a slick operation, inside and out, with a long menu that takes a loving look at tra-
ditional Catalan dishes, from grilled farmhouse sausage and white beans to crispy artichoke
hearts with romesco sauce. It's served tapas-style, so you don't have to come for a full meal
(dishes €5-20), but if you've got room don't miss English owner Kate's signature pud, Eton
Mess. Mon-Fri 8am-midnight (Thurs & Fri till 1am), Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-midnight.
CasaMariyRufo c/de les Freixures 11, Sant Pere 933 197 302; Jaume I; map . A great
place for no-frills market cooking, with a busy family at a smoky range turning out quick-
fried sardines, grilled Catalan sausage, stewed oxtail, steak and chips and the like - or ask
what's good from the Mercat Santa Caterina fish stalls that day. Expect whitewashed walls,
barelightbulbsandchippedtiles,butwithlunchforanunbeatable€12anddinnerforaround
€30, the locals know a good deal when they see one. Mon-Wed 8am-6pm, Thurs & Fri
8am-2am, Sat noon-2am.
Comerç24 c/delComerc24,SantPere 933192102, carlesabellan.com ; JaumeI/Arc
deTriomf; map . Chef Carles Abellan calls hiscutting-edge cuisine “glocal” (ie, global +loc-
al) and in the oh-so-cool interior you're presented with tapas-style dishes, mixing flavours
and textures (such as sardines marinaded in orange and wasabi, shot glasses of frothy soup
and tuna sashimi on pizza) with seeming abandon but to calculated effect. Prices are high
(around €80-100 a head), although you can have a cheaper, less formal meal at Abellan's