We’re not supposed to tell you about Bambarol – sworn to secrecy and all that. Very well executed Seasonal Catalan specialties, in a slightly off-the-beaten-track spot (over Diagonal, anyway). Just don’t tell everyone, okay?
C/ Santaló, 21
Palo Cortao Restaurante y Bar
You’d think in the wilds of Poble Sec that you’d be a bit away from the tourist hoardes, but you’d be wrong. But at least this tiny restaurant and bar – I’d reckon it has seating for about 30 max – is never going to be on the group tour schedule. It won’t be on yours either, unless you book ahead. Do so – this place is a gem, if a discovered one. With excellent service and food can turn a pig’s ear into a…delicious dish. A new favourite, and another string in Poble Sec’s impressive bow.
C/ Nou de la Rambla, 146
1881 per Sagardi
Okay. You’re in tourist central in Port Vell. But that doesn’t mean you need to suffer through a sub-par tourist meal. On the rooftop of the Museu d’Història de Catalunya,1881 per Sagardi rises above the tourist traps below, offering stunning views across the marina and superyachts (well, from the terrace out front, if not the dining room), and serving some of the best seafood dishes in town. You pay for the privilege (we spent around €50 a head with limited wine consumption), but in this instance you get what you pay for. We’re definitely going back.
Bar Brutal/Can Cisa
Not a destination for masochists, necessarily. Some smartly prepared dishes with fresh produce, but the schtick here is the massive list of brutal (or natural) wines from across the globe. Unless you’re an anorak you’re probably not going to recognise any labels here – and you’ll be challenged by them too. A lack of sulphites means no next-morning headaches, but it may be a headache to find the right one for you. We went by the glass and tried a few – a safe choice, to be sure. If you’re a fan of natural wines, you may feel you’ve reached Nirvana, if not, you may wonder what the fuss is all about.
C/Barra de Ferro, 1 – enter through Can Cisa C/Princesa, 14
Arume
A bit of a favourite this one, and not just because it is close to home. Every dish on the menu delivers on its promise, and most are fairly imaginative too, without going over the top. We have pretty much tried everything on the menu and have no complaints whatsoever. The service is spot-on, and the pricing is too low for what they deliver too. No wonder it is always full from ‘tourist hour’ at 7pm until late. Book ahead.
Carrer Botella, 11-13
Cera 23
Tragaluz
By the same group as the crowd-pleasing Cuines Santa Catarina and Bar Lobo, and the flagship too, so Tragaluz should be a winner. Certainly the space is right – with its opening roof that should be spectacular on a warm summer evening – and the food presentation is what you’d expect from a place looking for Michelin stars.
But.
We got a bit of attitude from the wait staff on our last visit; some of the dishes were missing promised ingredients (a tomato salad didn’t seem to contain any tomatoes, for instance); and the wine list is quite short.
Almost there, but needs to do better.
Pasaje de la Concepción, 5