(6) Walking Tapas Tour
Within the Gothic Quarter you can not only soak in the historical sights but get on a food & wine tour to satisfy the hungry traveler in you. We specifically went on a walking tapas tour by www.foodwinetours.com in these magical streets full of antique shops, art galleries & restaurants.
The word tapas comes from the Spanish word “tapar” which means to cover. In the olden times tapas were pieces of bread or meat used to keep the flies away from wine. Something to cover in between drinks. Now it has evolved into a style of food that is eaten in small portions, also called pintxos, which in Spain is eaten in between finishing work and having dinner, or weekends around noon before lunch.
The tour will walk you through the Gothic quarter where shops and cafes line the streets. This is the Four Cats Cafe (El Quatre Gats) where one of Spain’s greatest artist, Pablo Picasso frequented with other artists. He staged his first individual exhibition in 1900 here.
We went to Xaloc and Orio, tapas restaurants that gave us a good dose of the famous Spanish dish along with some great wines.
At Orio you just might be able to eat more tapas than you need because of its delectable selection. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing, especially if you have a glass of wine at hand.
(7) L’eggs & Doble Restaurant by Paco Perez
This is the first gastronomic restaurant in Barcelona that features eggs as its star dish located in Passeig de Gracia. It is a fun and casual restaurant offering eggs in countless formats. It is a project by 5-star Michelin Chef Paco Perez. In the culinary world, the “Michelin Star” is a hallmark of fine dining quality and is brag-worthy to any chef holding that status.
Paco Perez is the chef who has made a superstar out of Miramar, a restaurant in Miramar Hotel in Llanca, Girona which is a place of pilgrimage for contemporary gourmets worldwide. In what has always been a family business, Paco currently boasts two Michelin stars on this, focusing on a cuisine with roots and proximity in which creativity and the search for unknown horizons flood every dish.
Some inspirations from Miramar. Twenty five years ago, people said he was crazy to make it big with Miramar but he believed in his dreams and put in a lot of work.
We were lucky enough to get up close and personal with this extraodinary chef. Here’s a little bit of what he shared that one afternoon in Barcelona.
- He draws inspiration from everyday walks, research and his dreams
- Always believe in your dreams
- Be modest in what you achieve
- You should always be constantly working towards your dream
- Experience is one of the most important things, the things that leave an impression are the memories that you have that is why he creates an emotional experience in his dishes
- He chose eggs of L’eggs because its so common and one of the simplest ingredients in the world
- Paco has other projects like L’eggs, La Royale and Black Restuarant aside from Miaramar because its more fun, can reach more people
- Even if he has achieved a lot already, what drives him are not the achievements but the people that visit Miramar and tell him it was a very nice experience
- As for the Philippines, he loves our fermented products very much
(8) Barceloneta Beach
Barcelona has a number of beaches that one can go to but the Barceloneta Beach is the most popular because it is the neighborhood beach. We went here in July and the beach was just bursting with people enjoying the summer sun. This is the beach, at 8pm.
Summers here, July-August average 29 degrees celsius, cooling down in November – March to 14 – 15 degrees celsius. The summer vibe runs across Barcelona with everyone in shorts, tshirts and comfy clothes for the heat.
(9) W Barcelona
Just beside Barceloneta Beach is W Barcelona. A Mediterranean inspiration, the avant-garde design icon stands proudly on Barcelona’s beachfront boasting a 360 degree panoramic view. It is designed by the world-renowned architect Ricardo Bofill.
W Barcelona sets the scene for a spectacular stay with 473 fabulous guestrooms, SALT restaurant, a Wet Deck, Event Spaces and Bliss Spa.
The wet deck lets you lounge in the sun beds along the terrace and take in some Mediterranean sun by the poolside. You get cocktails and DJ mixes, and is the ultimate insider destination. There’s one for everyone, even families with kids.
Salt Restaurant lets you sip on the sand with an ala carte terrace restaurant. Its also a relaxed beach club so you can sip summer cocktails with your toes in the sand and DJ tunes in the air. We dined on fresh, sea-inspired Californian gastronomy and allowed the endlessly clear blue Mediterranean to set the backdrop for an unforgettable day.
(10) Escriba
From the grandiose we go to the little gems of places. Escriba is one of the loved bakeries in town established in 1906. Antoni Escribà i Serra opened the cake shop and pioneered the art of chocolate figurines. If you go up on their second floor, you will see how he transformed his house into a dream – because he dreamt of living inside a cake! Antoni Escribà i Serra was also described as the Mozart of chocolate.
So, is anybody’s sweet tooth starting to fire up?
Mine is. Also on the second floor is the office and a workshop place for those who want to learn pastry / chocolate making.
Yummy isn’t it?
(11) Mandarin Oriental
At the city’s most exclusive address is the avant-garde luxury of Mandarin Oriental. Contemporary yet timeless in design, Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona is an intimate 120-room luxury hotel with highly stylised, spectacularly creative interiors by Spanish-born designer Patricia Urquiola.
This innovative hotel pairs the legendary hospitality of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group with the inimatable character that has made Barcelona one of Europe’s foremost travel destinations. The garden outside provides for a quiet escape from the hustle & bustle of the city.
The dipping pool at the rooftop lets you admire a 360 degree view of the city which includes Gaudi’s most famous facades across the street, spires of Sagrada Familia, mountains and the Mediterranean sea.
The spa is a destination in itself where guests and city residents alike find relaxation & harmony. The serene interiors include spa suites for Thai massage or for couples. The waters in this pool are so still it makes you feel you’re in a lake. Getting into an oriental steam room and enjoying one of their holistic treatments – could just spell heaven in Barcelona.
What I loved most about Mandarin Oriental was the BistrEau which is a double height restaurant and lounge in the heart of the hotel. It sets the tone of one of the most stylish experiences in the city.
The restaurants mirror Barcelona’s artistic spirit. Mimosa is a garden oasis for alfresco dining or evening drinks. BistrEau by Angel Leon, is a casual sea bistro, while Moments is a true Catalan gastronomic dining experience by the family team of Raul Balam and Michelin starred Carme Ruscalleda. You will hear a lot, the word gastronomy in Barcelona, and it may conjure up images of eating tons of food, but in this case – its all about the taste. Which just filled us up perfectly for lunch.
Click on Page 3 for a place where football fans dream to be at!