Image by AC Uribe

I discovered this place thanks to one of my classmates for University, who told me her mom used to take her here to eat “the best chocolate croissants” in Barcelona. And they are not only delicious – they can be tiny.

One of the best sellers at the Forn Mistral (literally, Mistral Bakery) are the small chocolate croissants, sold by weight. But you can also take home regular sized croissants and other sweets delights, without even taking into consideration different kinds of bread – designed to please even the most picky eater. They also make traditional birthday cakes and if you need anything special in terms of size, it is just a matter of asking.

The main shop is at Ronda Sant Antoni, but in the street just behind it (Torres i Amat 7), there is also a big cafeteria where all the fresh produce in the shop is sold to eat at the place, along with coffee, tea, orange juice or other refreshments. The baguettes turn into delicious and traditional bocatas and the white ensaimadas are better when soaked into a cup of warm café con leche.

No English is spoken, but you can get around pointing at things. The way in the cafeteria is ordering, eating and paying at the counter before leaving. When ordering a coffee with milk, you’ll be asked if you want it “muy caliente” – very hot. If you say yes, be careful not to burn yourself. And don’t miss those croissants!

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Forn Mistral | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Chocolate croissant € 1.80
Ronda Sant Antoni 96 | El Raval | +34933018037
Mon – Sat 07:30 – 21:00

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Image by Rafael Dujarric

What you see is what you get! Nor fancy outfit neither gourmet extravaganza, just warm and family atmosphere, hospitality, gentle touch, interesting chat, contagious mood, great Mediterranean food and better prices.

It’s located in the heart of the Gothic quarter, at 3 minutes walk from the city hall and 10 minutes from the Gothic cathedral.

Don’t miss their falafel and humus wrap.

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El Cocinero de Damasco | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | falafel / wrap € 3.50
Templers 2, corner with Palau | El Barrio Gotico
Tue – Sat 11:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Bill Sinclair

In 1969 the U.S.A. supposedly first landed men on the Moon. They stopped going there in 1972. They’d visited the place just six times. Why did they stop going there? There was no atmosphere they said.

Well, there’s lots of atmosphere at this little moon – morning, day and night.

Tucked inside a cozy basement on the busy corner of Provença and Balmes, Moon is one of a few places I know of which, regardless of the time of day between 8.30 and 01:30, you can rely on getting a bite, a drink and atmosphere.

There are loads of spots which are good for an early morning coffee and a pastry, and a fair few places which are good for an esmorzar later in the morning. There are innumerable places for a good menú del día; and a good many spots good for an afternoon beer, coffee or tea – or berenar/merienda. There are a host of good places for an early evening vermut, or tapas; dozens of places for dinner, and loads of places for an after-dinner drink or cocktail. At Moon you can get it all – from breakfast coffee to after-midnight snacks and cocktails, complete with books, magazines and music.

The hamburgers and vegetarian burgers here are really very good, as are the salads. And their menú del día is very good value.

Try it, and, unlike the U.S.A., you’ll find you’ll want to go back time and again.

You can rely on Moon – it’s a very good, conveniently located, all-rounder.

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MOON Café-bar | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | Menú del día € 9.95
Provença, 213 | Eixample | +34934881721
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 02:00, Sat 09:00 – 03:00, Sun 17:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Anna Boluda

This is the place I have chosen for breakfast on my birthday this year. I can’t think of a sweeter place to start such an important day!

Vreneli is a discreet spot in the Rius i Taulet square, with a quite few cozy tables inside and the best selection of teas in the whole city. Also, the variety of cakes and cookies is just wonderful. The best ones, I think, are the brownie and the muesli and chocolate cookie. But there are also butter and jam options, some of them in the form of smiley faces. 

At lunch time they also serve light snacks, some sandwiches and crepes. But honestly, I prefer going there just for a mid-morning or afternoon relaxed moment. 

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Vreneli café | Coffee & tea | Tea cup € 2,20
Plaça Rius i Taulet 8 | Gracia
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by AC Uribe

The best word to describe Bar Joanet with is simplicity. However, there is a lot of meaning in that word. Sometimes the only thing you need is a reasonably priced coffee in a good quiet place where you can get warm in the morning sun. Or a simple weekend lunch, with roasted chicken and a good vermouth or a very cold beer. Then this is what you are looking for.

I like that Joanet is quite close to many interesting things in the city without being in the middle of the fuss. You could say it’s almost anonymous. No extras: just a lot of people sitting down and talking, specially during the weekends, to have a comfortable lunch.

I seldom see couples with young children eating there – but it’s a good option because Joanet is located in a small plaza that is somehow easy to watch. So children can wander a little bit while you finish your coffee – being it a cortado (expresso with a little milk) or a carajillo (expresso with some liquor – your choice) while you keep a good eye on them.

Don’t expect anything that will surprise you too much, that will be too different. Just linger in the view of the trees and the comfort of a simple, almost home made meal. And also, good coffee, all morning long. From 13:00 to 16:00, only full meals are served (no lingering for coffee only).

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Joanet | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Lunch menu € 12
Plaza Sant Agustí Vell 3 | El Borne | +34933582554
08:00 – 17:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

I must confess one of my all-time favourite hobbies is seeing people. I can’t help it, I’m very curious about people. Personally, sometimes I like to go to La Virreina square, located at Barrio de Gracia, to spy the “urban fauna” and seeing their behavior and fashion. I enjoy imagining what they do, what they think or where they’re going.

La Virreinas square is a great scene to interact with other people.

It’s one of my loved spots because it offers so many options. I see that place as a beginning of a great night. Sometimes I propose that place as a meeting point with my friends.

Once we’re together and considering our mood we can stay there or pick a terrace from the three options of bars you can find located there or perhaps hiking through the area looking for some new bars or restaurants.

Have you tried a “clara” before? I can’t imagine a best way to taste a clara for the first time than sat at some of those terraces located at La Virreina square, surrounded by such special neighborhood.

If you want to experience a typical Barcelona’s night away from the city`s center you should start here. A magic night is almost guaranteed.

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La Virreina’s Square | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks
Plaça de La Virreina | Gracia
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

The Teatreneu is a big place. Actually it is big enough to develop a bar, a restaurant for smokers and non-smokers, a small terrace and an alternative theatre without interference between all these activities.

Let’s talk about the restaurant. The concept is pretty simple: it doesn’t matter what you would like to ask for eating, every dish worth exactly the same and just the drinks would affect the final receipt. It’s a great place to meet with a group of friends, there’s space enough for almost everyone.

The theater offers what bigger places perhaps wouldn’t present attending commercial interests, even though the Xavier Fabregas hall is not as small as you can imagine. Some of them are quite good!

You don’t need to leave the place to discuss the actors, the scenery, the direction or the general performance of the show. Before or after the playing you can drink or eat something at L’Escenari restaurant.

The Teatreneu is a place you need to be acquainted with it if you love theatre, food and Gracia.

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Teatreneu Café -Theatre | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Theaters, Restaurants (Med) | Meal € 12:00
Térol, 26 | Gracia | +34932853712
Mon – Fri 19:00 – 01:30, Fri – Sat 19:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

Get ready. I’m going to give you some information that you won’t find anywhere else. I want to recommend to you a very special place. I’m talking about Bocí, one of these places where is really easy to find quality and great care about products and service.

What would you like to taste today? It doesn’t matter how complicated is your appetite or how demanding is your palate, Bocí knows perfectly how to satisfy your needs.

As frequent customer I know that Bocí offers much more than what I’m used to consume there. If I have a high regard for somebody I go to Bocí to find some box of chocolates to make a special gift or perhaps some delicious birthday’s cake. It’s also a great place to have a breakfast or ask for food to take away packaged carefully.

The staff is polite and they take good care of every single detail to present their goods. It’s one of those places where you go and think “I don’t know where to start” because you feel tempted to ask almost everything. The price reflects its quality but I know you won’t regret to pay for it.

Enjoy.

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Bocí | Coffee & tea, Shopping
Vía Augusta 112 | Above diagonal | +34932371313
07:00 – 22:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

What is delicious and what is not? Sometimes is very hard for me to give a correct answer. Since I remember, enjoying natural fruity juices is extremely easy for me. It’s not the same with beers or wine, for example; I confess I learned to enjoy these flavors and I had to “practice” a lot to find the main secrets of these beverages. But, come on! Orange juice is delicious and almost any blend of fruits can awake the feeling of “inner peace” in me. I don’t know! It’s strange but it’s also true that I can feel the balance of the universe every single time I drink some fruity blend.

The Zuum is a sort of battle-fruit star ship, the right way to reconnect ourselves with our most basic composition. Drink life, refresh your cells, quench your thirst healthily and follow this advice. It’s about your body and mind. It’s about your nature. Wanna join the adventure of the nature’s trip? Try the Zuum. O RELAX or choose your favourite blend if you prefer.

Sorry for my good mood… I just got back from there.

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Zuum | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Smoothies € 7.00
Plaza Molina, 6 | Above diagonal | +34934146180
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

Located at Vila de Grácia square (ancient Rius i Taulet’s square) -one of my favourite squares in Gracia-, you will find a good place to try the typical flavors of Spain and Catalonia. The Nou Candanchú offers the right ambient to enjoy the best and most known Spanish tapas, seafood and other typical dishes.

I like this place despite some the most common failures it will show the day you go there. It’s strange, actually. Not every time you will be entirely satisfied and the issues can vary some days, but I promise this place is worth it.

For example, in the last 2 years I have gone to the Nou Candanchú maybe 5 times, all of them because I wanted to introduce some foreigner friends to the most typical flavors of this country. Some of those times attention failed and some others it was just perfect. I’m not able to confirm that The Nou Candanchú keeps -let’s say- an “integral” quality, but I can confirm that the whole experience is worth it.

My advice is simple: Ask for those dishes and tapas you know must be prepared regularly and I’m sure you will enjoy it. Don’t forget to ask for Russian salads, patatas bravas, octopus or Spanish croquetas.

If you’re smart you will try it. If you’re lucky you will find a table. If you go you will repeat.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nou Candanchú | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish) | Meal € 15.00
Plaça de Rius i Taulet, 9 | Gracia | +34932377362
Sun – Mon & Wed – Thu 07:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 07:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona