Barcelona
- Thread starter an capall
- Start date
BrianH
At the Start
I've stayed at Le Meridien, which was fine if a little pricey
BrianH
At the Start
My holiday director passes on a good word for the Melia
A
Ardross
Guest
The 4 star Best WEstern was good when I went for a wedding in 2002 - not overly pricey either can't remember the name though .
I have friends who live in Barca and their parents always stay nearby not far off the top of Las Ramblas in a nice and not overpriced hotel . i will try and find out what it is called .
I have friends who live in Barca and their parents always stay nearby not far off the top of Las Ramblas in a nice and not overpriced hotel . i will try and find out what it is called .
A
Ardross
Guest
I recommend the Gaudi buildings ,hardly original I know . A sensational tapas bar called Cal Pep near the old market just past Santa maria del Mar , Los Caracoles etc
Shadow Leader
At the Start
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2003
- Messages
- 9,884
To be fair, AC, it's not often you'll come across a poor standard of hotel in Spain. The Sol-Melia and Tryp hotels are usually a high standard & not too expensive either. Their website is quite good, you can book online & they often have offers on. Sol Melia website
A
Ardross
Guest
You should not have much problem booking in February - I am off to barca at New Year to visit some friends who live there now and will post some up to date recommendations when i get back DV
A
Ardross
Guest
Yes - I think it is called the Hotel Cortes on Carrer Santa Anna - I'll check - update with terrific and very good value restaurant on Barceloneta called Agua sister of the more expensive but probably better Tragaluz on Passeig del Gracia
An - found this useful site tonight: http://www.freehotelsearch.com which lists hotels for cities worldwide, giving rates, details, and AVAILABILITY in realtime, so you can check before you e-mail if the dates you want are okay. Barcelona's listed, so it may help you.
Diamond Geezer
Gone But Not Forgotten
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
- Messages
- 13,884
Afraid they are away to Zaragoza
A
Ardross
Guest
an capall
Some food and drink recommendations from Jancis Robinson's website
Cincsentits (Aribau 58, tel: 93 323 94 90) – very new and very smart, amazing tasting menus with different wines at each course www.cincsentits.com vvv highly recommended. Like most places mentioned below, absurdly cheap by London/NYC standards. The 10-course tasting menu including wine was €65/£46/$82.
Others in El Born
Abac (Carrer Rec 78-89) - looks wonderful and comes highly recommended by Conde Nast Traveller as ‘best restaurant in the city’
Senyor Parrellada (Argenteria 37, tel: 93 310 50 94) - for some of the best Catalan specialities in a beautiful colonial-style building. Long queues if you don’t book
La Vinya del Sinyor (Placa Santa Maria 5) - great wine bar run by same family as Parrellada on the most attractive small square in the city
El Xampanyet (Carrer Montcada 22) a legendary bar - very small and snug family-run hostelry – Barcelona’s equivalent of the Bar Italia in Soho
Eusakal Etxea (Carrer Montcada) right opposite Xampanyet. As even Barcelona’s residents would admit, the best tapas bars in town are Basquais. This is a prime example where the food tastes even better washed down with Txakolin, the dry fizzy Basquais wine poured from a great height by the bar staff. Restaurant in back
And talking of Txakolin, that’s the name of the best tapas bar in the City, just around the corner (Carrer Marques de l’Argentera 19). Huge horse shoe shaped bar where they cunningly bring out fresh tapas every five minutes just when you think you have had enough and must go
Elsewhere
Agua - best restaurant by far on the beach by Hotel Arts (Pg Maritm de la Barceloneta, 30 Tel: 932251272). Eat outside [yes, we know you ate outside and got sunburnt while we shivered in London last weekend] except on very hot days. Booking essential at weekends.
El Quim in Boqueria market – best market stall food. Closed Monday. Food cooked in front of your eyes in tiny kitchen to fill up the market workers. Can’t book so det there early or you will wait for a lunch seat. Great boudin noir and fried eggs with grated fish
Boadas (Tallers 1) – best cocktail bar, just off the Ramblas near Plaza Catalunya. Art deco bar opened in 1930s by Cuban émigrés with the feel of the Savoy American bar. Very crowded and smoky but one on its own.
Cafe de l'Opera (La Ramblas 74, right opposite Liceu theatre/metro) - best café by far among the many tatty venues on this street, with more than a hint of La Coupole in Paris. Sink into Atkins-free heaven with churros (donut type things) dipped into hot chocolate.
Would add to those the above mentioned Tragaluz which is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to . El Xampanyet is great fun and round the corner in El Born is the brilliant tapas bar Cal Pep where they preapre and cook the fish in front of your eyes . The chiperones,gambas and mussels there were stupendous
Some food and drink recommendations from Jancis Robinson's website
Cincsentits (Aribau 58, tel: 93 323 94 90) – very new and very smart, amazing tasting menus with different wines at each course www.cincsentits.com vvv highly recommended. Like most places mentioned below, absurdly cheap by London/NYC standards. The 10-course tasting menu including wine was €65/£46/$82.
Others in El Born
Abac (Carrer Rec 78-89) - looks wonderful and comes highly recommended by Conde Nast Traveller as ‘best restaurant in the city’
Senyor Parrellada (Argenteria 37, tel: 93 310 50 94) - for some of the best Catalan specialities in a beautiful colonial-style building. Long queues if you don’t book
La Vinya del Sinyor (Placa Santa Maria 5) - great wine bar run by same family as Parrellada on the most attractive small square in the city
El Xampanyet (Carrer Montcada 22) a legendary bar - very small and snug family-run hostelry – Barcelona’s equivalent of the Bar Italia in Soho
Eusakal Etxea (Carrer Montcada) right opposite Xampanyet. As even Barcelona’s residents would admit, the best tapas bars in town are Basquais. This is a prime example where the food tastes even better washed down with Txakolin, the dry fizzy Basquais wine poured from a great height by the bar staff. Restaurant in back
And talking of Txakolin, that’s the name of the best tapas bar in the City, just around the corner (Carrer Marques de l’Argentera 19). Huge horse shoe shaped bar where they cunningly bring out fresh tapas every five minutes just when you think you have had enough and must go
Elsewhere
Agua - best restaurant by far on the beach by Hotel Arts (Pg Maritm de la Barceloneta, 30 Tel: 932251272). Eat outside [yes, we know you ate outside and got sunburnt while we shivered in London last weekend] except on very hot days. Booking essential at weekends.
El Quim in Boqueria market – best market stall food. Closed Monday. Food cooked in front of your eyes in tiny kitchen to fill up the market workers. Can’t book so det there early or you will wait for a lunch seat. Great boudin noir and fried eggs with grated fish
Boadas (Tallers 1) – best cocktail bar, just off the Ramblas near Plaza Catalunya. Art deco bar opened in 1930s by Cuban émigrés with the feel of the Savoy American bar. Very crowded and smoky but one on its own.
Cafe de l'Opera (La Ramblas 74, right opposite Liceu theatre/metro) - best café by far among the many tatty venues on this street, with more than a hint of La Coupole in Paris. Sink into Atkins-free heaven with churros (donut type things) dipped into hot chocolate.
Would add to those the above mentioned Tragaluz which is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to . El Xampanyet is great fun and round the corner in El Born is the brilliant tapas bar Cal Pep where they preapre and cook the fish in front of your eyes . The chiperones,gambas and mussels there were stupendous
BrianH
At the Start
I can recommend Txakolin