Discover our Neighbourhood – Restaurants
There are lots of websites that cover the “Best of Barcelona” like Time Out, and Trip Advisor, but exploring our neighbourhood of Tetuan/Fort Pienc/Monumental via the internet is more difficult. To make it easy, we’ve compiled some of our favourites (food, drink) all within a ten minute walk of the flat.
Vic Braseria – Grilled meat lovers dream
This delicious carnivore spot is only a block down Sicilia. It is popular with locals and offers a delicious Menu del dia for under 10 euros. The daily lunch feature consists of an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Be sure to try the black rice with seafood – a tasty Catalan favorite and usually the most popular dish on the menu. The menu completely changes for dinner, and the Catalan Grill sharing platter is a must.
Carrer de Sicilia, 202
Las Mañanitas – Casual and tasty TexMex fare
Need a break from Spanish food? Try this Mexican place literally around the corner. We love the tacos and the margaritas at this cheap and cheerful spot. And, if you really want some fun, go to their Live Music Thursdays. It’s very popular so better get there muy temprano (early).
Gran Via, 715
Il Birino – Awesome place for Italian
Stroll past Gran Via on Sicilia and make a left in front of the bus station to find our favourite place in Barcelona for pasta. You’ve got to order the spaghetti made in house and boiled in a big wheel of parmesan cheese. Wow!!! We also strongly recommend the lasagna. Both dishes go down even better with one of their local craft beers.
Carrer d’Ali Bei, 123
Zed – Cozy and delicious. OPEN SUNDAY
You’ll find this inviting and airy place for delicious Spanish cuisine up Carrer de Sicilia near Sagrada Familia. From fish to meat, you’ll find a lot to love on the menu. Plus, it’s open on Sunday which is hard to find in our neighbourhood, especially if you want a better restaurant experience.
Carrer de Valencia, 399
Bicos – The best of Galicia
You’ll find tasty Galician tapas served in a warm atmosphere just up Caller de Sicilia at Avinguda Diagonal. There are a lot of must have dishes for sharing, like the croquettes, scallops, octopus, and Padron peppers if in season. Open for lunch on Sundays!
Avinguda Diagonal, 287
Parking Pizza – Pizza family style
This is an extremely popular and lively spot for a pizza party in a renovated parking garage. This is not a place for lingering, but instead a spot to soak up the fun vibe. Expect a line.
Passeig de Sant Joan, 56
Granja Petitbo – Top place for a local’s brunch
Follow Arago to Passeig Sant Joan and you’ll find our favourite place for breakfast and lunch. It’s also many other people’s first choice, so get there early or be patient. All you fellow Canadians, check out the old Toronto CFRB radio station map on the wall that shows where all the major allied bombing occurred during WWII.
Passeig de Sant Joan, 82
Eat My Trip – The Taste of Brunch Creativity
Here’s another very popular spot or brunch with a host of Instagram-worthy dishes, like the “Pancake Party” that is served with a tower of cotton candy or the “Guacascramble” for something more savoury.
Carrer del Consell de Cent, 378
Others – A bit further away, or not for everyone!
Betlem – Tapas Tapas Tapas
This is a popular place for tapas and late night noshing. It is small, lively and filled with locals. There is a creepy puppet in the upper bookshelves with eyes that seem to stare only at you. It doesn’t take reservations, so go early or be patient.
Carrer de Girona, 70
Gorria– Traditional Spanish White Cloth
It couldn’t be closer and the food is good. The atmosphere is very old world and the waiters are all men wearing black suit jackets. The restaurant has been a fixture in Barcelona for a long time, and you’ll note a number of celebrities have their pictures framed on the wall. The cuisine features the best in authentic Basque fare. Reservations are recommended, and the prices are moderate to high.
Carrer de Diputaciòn, 421
Cotton House –
This it the beautiful place to blow the budget! The restaurant is part of a hotel that recently refurbished a building that once housed the cotton industry in Spain. The surroundings are a gorgeous mix of old world elegance and modern style. The service is very attentive and the food beautifully prepared and plated. The paté bon bons were particularly memorable. There is an indoor restaurant open for lunch, tapas and dinner. On a beautiful day though, you should head out to the terrace and savour the tropical flowers. Be sure to stop into the library during the day and grab free, homemade marshmallows. At night, they also stock cookies by the reception desk.
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 670
CHICHALimona – Coffee, lunch or dinner
This is like two restaurants in one. If you get tired of waiting to eat at Granje Petibo next door, Limona is a solid option for pastries and café con leche. The Chicha side is an excellent choice for lunch and dinner, with a fun menu and great drinks. We especially liked the well designed tinned seafood that is available to purchase and enjoy at home.
Passeig Sant Joan, 80
El 58 – Walk on the Wild Side
This isn’t that close but it’s well worth the trip away from the touristy part of downtown. It’s the opposite direction in Poble Nou and is a fabulous tapas restaurant right on the neighbourhood ramblas. Unlike more traditional looking Spanish eateries, this one is very arty in a Keith Haring kind of way. Most importantly, the tapas are creative and taste fantastic. This place only reinforces our opinion of Poble Nou as the new coolest barrio in town. Sant Antoni is a close second.
Discover our Neighbourhood – Bars
La Higuera– Fancy a fancy cocktail?
This bar just down Carrer de Sicilia is an unlikely combination of popular sports watching venue and one of the best places in Barcelona for cocktails. Sit at the bar and invite “Hector” (the mixologist) to make you something special.
Carrer de Sicilia, 101
La Bona Pinta – Beer, beer, beer
Just around the corner is a small place with a very large selection of craft beers from around the world.
Carrer de la Diputació, 433
Gigi Von Tapas – What’s a Vermuteria?
This a popular spot for people to sip cocktails and eat tapas with a view of the old Monumental bull fighting area (the last one to stage fights in Barcelona). Up until recently it was an old-school vermut bar, and though the atmosphere is now more fun, it still serves a tasty house blend.
Carrer de la Marina, 189