Café restaurante GATS: refugio gastronómico

De droguería a restaurante-café, a tan solo 5 minutos de las Ramblas, el GATS es un espacio en el que se combina una cocina delicada con un entorno en el que la luz tiene su protagonista. Recuerdo haber venido tantas veces a aquella droguería en la que, años después, descubrí que Ferrán Adrià se iniciaba en la alquimia de la cocina. Los dos abuelitos que yo conocí te daban clases maestras de cómo utilizar éste u otro producto y siempre encontrabas aquello con lo que limpiaban nuestras abuelas. Hemos perdido una tienda clásica pero, por otro lado, ganado un restaurante con productos de calidad.

La opción vegetariana está muy limitada pero ofrecen unas croquetas de puerros, berros y nueces exquisitas, así como babaganoush, gazpacho, tortilla de patatas y bravas. Para un tapeo tienen una gran variedad de platillos y ensaladas y, para comer o cenar, un buen surtido de arroces. Sin resistir a la tentación, el pastel de chocolate, mezcla de mousse, bizcocho y crujiente, me recuerda al que he probado varias veces en Madrid, conocido como "la mejor tarta de chocolate del mundo".

Precio-calidad perfecta y un gran lugar en el que refugiarse de las Ramblas sin perder luz y rodeados de verde y madera. Un lujo en el centro de Barcelona!

Restaurante GATS
C/Xuclà, 7
Tel. +34 931 440 044

La pastelería Pujol-La Estrella ya tiene mesas para desayunar y merendar!

Cada vez que paso por la Pastelería Pujol-La Estrella, en la calle Nou de la Rambla, 32, a 5 minutos de La Rambla de Barcelona, no puedo dejar de recordar la película Chocolat en la que Juliette Binoche hace unos dulces que sobrepasan la pantalla.

La decoración, los espejos, la lámpara decimonónica, los botes de cristal para los caramelos...entrar en esta pastelería, que endulza Barcelona desde 1825, y encontrarte a la gente del barrio que compran su brazo de gitano los domingos, su croissant recién horneado, sus galletas de anís o las castañas de mazapán y chocolate, es algo que te transporta a algún recuerdo que todos tenemos de nuestra infancia.

Desde hace unos días, también dispone de 3 mesitas fabulosas para desayunar o merendar productos de calidad, no industriales, y hechos por una familia que lleva décadas salvando uno de los locales considerados entre las "32 tiendas emblemáticas de Barcelona que quedarán blindadas" para preservar su futuro y conservación.

Os animamos a que os paséis por aquí, un sábado o domingo por la mañana, donde encontraréis un buen café, unos croissant de los que ya no se hacen y ¡un pedacito de historia de nuestra ciudad!

The toy shop Monforte becomes a Chocolate bar

Remember the two centuries old toy shop named Monforte? As by the end of this year 2014 most of the oldest shops in the city will observe an increase of the renting premises and, furthermore, the big commercial stores around the city are a great competition for small traditional shops, the City hall has launched a plan to, at least, obly the newcomers to preserve the old structure of the shops, furniture and whatever that distinguishes its tradition.

Monforte was the oldest toy shop in Barcelona which closed doors only some months ago to re-open as a bar with traditional catalan sweets, chocolates and cakes. In a square were "chocolateries" have been an old times tradition, it's a good news to have a new one that preserves the ambience of Plaça del Pi and Petritxol street.

Ocaña: remembering an artist and a period

"José Pérez Ocaña was a painter and performance artist who lived in Barcelona during the seventies and early eighties. He was born on the 24th March 1947 in the small town of Cantillana, Seville. Ocaña fast became one of the most influential figures in the ‘Transition’ years – the post Franco boom that offered the freedom people were longing for, known here ‘La Movida’. In 1971 he moved into a flat on the Plaça Reial no 12, right next door to the site where Ocaña is now, making his mark with a flower-filled alter dedicated to the Virgen de la Asunción on his balcony. It became one of the city’s most infamous sights, as did his regular promenades down the Ramblas with fellow artist and boyfriend, Nazario, in tow. Parading up and down with fluttering fan and a floaty dress that could cheekily rise up to reveal his nether regions, Ocaña caused quite a stir." (extracted from the café website)

The café OCAÑA is named in honour of the famous José Pérez Ocaña. Completely restored, the place offers a peaceful view of the Plaça Reial and a comfortable stay surrounded by old furniture and very friendly people working. It worths for breakfast, lunch, teatime and post-dinner!

Cafè de l'Opera

One of the oldest cafes in the city, the Cafè de l'Opera was born as a “Chocolateria” (chocolate house) refurbished in the Viennese style, typical wooden walls adorned with crystal chandeliers and classical paintings. A unique collection of mirrors from this period has been conserved to the present day, as have various parts of the decoration discovered under existing paintings.

A few years later another change was made, this time into a “Café-Restaurante” known as “la Mallorquina”, because the cook was from Mallorca. As such it became one of the most elegant restaurants in the city. It was a meeting place for the aristocracy and upper classes.

It was acquired at the end of 1928 by the present owners and according to the popular taste at the time, they reformed it in a modernist style with elements of the neo-classic. The café was inaugurated at the beginning of 1929 as “Cafè de l’Òpera”.

La Rambla, 74
08002 BARCELONA
Timetable: 08:30h - 02:30h
(Monday to Sunday)

www.cafeoperabcn.com

 

Espai Liceu

This hidden café, the "Espai Liceu", is part of the well-known theater Liceu which is one of the main opera and ballet halls in the city. What is interesting about this café is that the feeling of being in the centre of city seems to disappear as it's a place not even indicated and you must walk some stairs down from the corner which ends the whole building (Unió Str.). Nice place to have lunch with a light "menú" of aproximately 11 euro and wonderful cakes. The shop of the theather worths a visit with really nice souvenirs of the city.

Pastelería Escribà Ramblas

This great bakery and chocolate house was founded in 1906 and is nowadays one of the most spread and famous in town. The one we suggest you, in Ramblas nº 86, was established in 1986. There's a coffee bar inside and a terrace which opens at 8.30am and is a fantastic place for breakfast. The best "ensaimada" can be tasted here, as well as very innovative croissants with:

• vanilla and rose
• white chocolate and mint
• chocolate with banana
• sobrasada with honey

Good Lavazza coffee and hot chocolate. Prices for a breakfast can be up to 5 euro person.
Cakes and chocolates (toffee lips and mint chocolate leaves) are also very traditional and are really specialists in preparing "monas", the catalan chocolate which is traditional on Monday Easter.