SATAN's Restaurant and coffee shop
Carrer de l'Arc de Sant Ramon del Call, 11, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

Open Google Maps and let yourself be guided through the streets of the Gothic Quarter. After a few intersections you will arrive at your destination: a highly unusual restaurant which is part of any sightseeing tour. Here, since the kitchen is open-plan, the young, tattooed chefs follow their instincts and break all the rules, not caring what anyone thinks. We associate it with great coffee, roasted house blends and Japanese dishes... and why not? 

BOO Concept store
​C/ BONAVISTA, 2, 08012 BarcelonaAn iconic boutique for those interested in up-and-coming labels, Boo has been supporting independent European designers for nine years now, by offering them exposure in Barcelona. Between the many deer, which have mostly come from the owner's own childhood collection and which give the shop that unique touch, you will find, among other things, limited series of Blue de Paname, Portugese Flannel and Norse Projects.

QUIMET & QUIMET Restaurant
Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes, 25, 08004 Barcelona, Spain
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If Barcelona is so well-known for its tapas, then one of its variants, 'Montados', bite-sized portions of stacked ingredients, is much lesser known among the general public. Head to Poble Sec, to the timeless Quimet & Quimet, to discover them. Prepared within minutes right before your eyes, they are skillfully made by alternating condiments, fresh produce, and items from the family pantry. Savour them in two or three mouthfuls, in a décor unaffected by the passage of time, and where there is a stack of wine bottles to the ceiling, which the boss will dip into on demand.
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TWOTHIRDS 
Carrer del Rec, 34, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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If you suddenly feel the need to ride the waves then you should take a tour of Twothirds before taking the metro to Barceloneta Beach. This small Catalan brand offers a selection of hard-wearing clothing and accessories designed for surfing, or simply walks on the beach, made entirely out of recyclable and biodegradeable materials. Because when you feel the beauty and force of the natural elements so closely, you naturally want to protect them, too.

​NØMAD Coffee shop
Passatge Sert, 12, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

There are coffees which you drink out of habit, and those which, at first sip, transport you to the unknown. Nømad, without doubt, is in the second category. In this backyard of the El Born quarter, they have made coffee-making a science. Marco, together with his sidekick, both of them energetic and high on caffeine, measure the degree of extraction with a pipette as it comes out of the machine, comparing and analysing the different variations of their excellent coffees, which are roasted in house, of course.

IT REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING
Carrer Sagristans, 9, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

​On certain streets in the Plaça Nova, a popular tourist destination, you can find a little boutique of wonders. It Reminds Me of Something sells only original hand-made creations by the region's up-and-coming designers. Rubén is the creator of this project, which he runs alongside his digital agency. It was into this shop where he wanted to put all of his passion for beautiful objects with exceptional designs and functions. He will share with you the story behind each and every object with warmth and passion.

SABOC
C/ Fusina, 3, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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The Plaça Commercial, recently restored and now completely pedestrianised, offers a rare view which you don't often find in the narrow streets of Born. It's at the corner of this place where you can find a restaurant full of originality: the Saboc. From 11 o'clock, the sun reveals itself and lights up the terrace and restaurant's large bay windows. This is when you know it's lunchtime. Dishes on the menu are split into categories according to your desired cooking tempurature; ranging from cold and raw dishes, to dishes straight from the fire and grill. Tapas have been reinvented with talent and creativity. They keep coming one after another, leading you to surprising new discoveries.

Article courtesy of Grey Hours.
 https://www.greyhours.com/en/explore/24h-in-barcelona

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Barcelona has so many fabulous sights  to offer that you can easily spend several days making your way from one sight to the other. The city is best explored on foot, ambling along  the winding alleys of the emblematic Gothic Quarters, marvelling at the imagination of Gaudi’s fairytale buildings, or taking in a breath of fresh air in its many parks.

Museums beckon, as do art galleries, and trendy shops. One of my favourites is Las Arenas, a disused bull ring that was converted into a landmark shopping mall. There are also a wealth of designer boutiques to be found along Rambla de Cataluña or Paseo de Gracia.

After all that walking and sightseeing, you'll definitely be peckish, which is why you should do as the locals do and head for  El Nacional, one of the most sought-out eateries in the city. With its central location, great food and extraordinary décor, you'll be in for a treat!

El Nacional - A stunning restaurant that never fails to impress...

El Nacional is difficult to find if you don't know what you're looking for. Set back from the bustling Passeig de Gràcia, you'll find this gem of a restaurant at the end of a small alley. 

The first thing that will take you by surprise is its size. The restaurant is spread over a massive area, which helps lend a sense of grandeur. Dating from 1870, El Nacional has had many guises. Starting out as a café theatre, it subsequently served as a dye factory, a multi-brand car dealership, a textile factory , a centre for food distribution (during the Civil War) and  finally, a car park.

Since 2014 El Nacional has become one of Barcelona’s most coveted restaurants, with a decoration that reflects the past as well as the Catalan style with vaulted ceilings, fine wood and glass from Galicia and ceramics and tiles from Valencia.
Wrought iron sculptures and lamps hang from the ceiling, posters and mirrors decorate the walls and green plants are everywhere.

The food at El Nacional

El Nacional’s ambition is to offer the best of Spanish food in a relaxing, yet entertaining environment. The vast space is divided into sections or islands, each offering a different speciality. Within the space, you’ll find four restaurants and four tapas bars, yet no table seats more than four guests to help ensure an intimate atmosphere.

Whatever you do, arrive with an empty stomach, because you will be tempted to taste each and every one of the delicious foods on offer! Within El Nacional, you'll find dedicated food and drink stations offering a variety of specialities, including La Taperia, La Paradeta (designed to look like an old kitchen and self-service), La Llotja (sea food), La Braseria (meat) and an oyster bar.  I recommend that you start with the cocktail bar, then proceed to the fish and seafood counter, where you can enjoy five types of fresh oysters, if you so desire.

Next, head over to the meat bar, where meat is grilled in full sight and sliced to your specifications and accompanied with vegetables, rice or potatoes. Other options include hot and cold soups, hams, sausages and cheeses, mouth watering deserts and of course, a vast selection of the finest wines and beers.

After you've indulged in your meal, take time to view the artwork and the decorations within the restaurant. One of the things that makes El Nacional special is that it is meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, so you can fully enjoy the experience.

La Boqueria - Barcelona's oldest food market 

If you want to know where all the delicacies offered in El Nacional herald from, you only have to walk a bit further down the road to  La Boqueria, Barcelona’s oldest and most famous covered food market. Apart from the freshest produce brought here every day from all over the country, you'll also find exotic and tropical fruits and some Chinese, Indian and Turkish specialities. You'll also find a great variety of healthy and colourful smoothies, which are conveniently lined up at the entrance to get customers in the mood for some serious food shopping!

As if the fantastic foodie offering wasn't enough in itself, all this is grouped under and Art Deco wrought iron structure, in a similar style to El Nacional. 

After enjoying a foodie feast at El Nacional and La Boqueria, your strength will be restored, ensuring you'll be in the mood to enjoy all of the attractions Barcelona has to offer.

​For more information on Barcelona or Spain, visit: 
www.spain.info
www.barcelonaturisme.com
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If you enjoyed this feature, you might enjoy reading my other travel features:
Spotlight On: Bursa, Turkey
​Spotlight On: Salzburg, Austria

Inka Piegsa-Quischotte 
www.glamourgrannytravels.com
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