These aren't for Easter, but for lunches, you can't go wrong heading for the big outdoor markets at lunchtime. They are dotted all over Barcelona and in addition to stands filled with fresh produce, sausages, meats, cheeses . . . , almost all have small bars where you can sit down and order lunch and a glass of cava. I loved eating at these places--lots of opportunity to talk to the guys behind the bar and people sitting around you.
Dinner is served so late and I was always ravenous by 7, so this is where tapas enters the picture. Very near to my hotel, which was on the waterfront, not too far from the Gothic Quarter, was La Plata. It looks a bit rundown during the day when the grates are down, but in the evening, it is a delight. The tiny tables are always crowded and noisy, but you can get a glass of wine, plate of olives, and a mound of fried sardines--maybe they were anchovies--for a very reasonable price. The website: http://barlaplata.com
On non-food topics, be sure to see as many of Gaudi's buildings as you can and under no circumstances should you fail to see his cathedral, Sagrada Familia--my spelling is most likely wrong, but you get the idea. And one more must-see: the Palau de la Musica Catalana. The building is Art Noveau, not designed by Gaudi, but what a fantastic architectural gem. I'd love to go to a concert there, but when I was in town, they were doing lots of Wagner's music--and since I spend much time in Germany where Wagner-mania reigns, I couldn't face it in Barcelona. Next time!
3 Comments
Around the perimeter of the market are numerous places to eat (lunch). Not fancy dinner but terrific lunch foods.
Dinner is served so late and I was always ravenous by 7, so this is where tapas enters the picture. Very near to my hotel, which was on the waterfront, not too far from the Gothic Quarter, was La Plata. It looks a bit rundown during the day when the grates are down, but in the evening, it is a delight. The tiny tables are always crowded and noisy, but you can get a glass of wine, plate of olives, and a mound of fried sardines--maybe they were anchovies--for a very reasonable price. The website: http://barlaplata.com
On non-food topics, be sure to see as many of Gaudi's buildings as you can and under no circumstances should you fail to see his cathedral, Sagrada Familia--my spelling is most likely wrong, but you get the idea. And one more must-see: the Palau de la Musica Catalana. The building is Art Noveau, not designed by Gaudi, but what a fantastic architectural gem. I'd love to go to a concert there, but when I was in town, they were doing lots of Wagner's music--and since I spend much time in Germany where Wagner-mania reigns, I couldn't face it in Barcelona. Next time!