There are loads of ice cream places in Barcelona, and most of them are pretty good. But one is really good. In Poblenou, there’s a community institution that’s been faithfully serving the sweet teeth of the city for over 100 years. Originally located in El Born, then Barceloneta, plus a little moving around in Poblenou, El Tio Ché has since found its home on the picturesque Rambla de Poblenou.
Just looking at the photos of their centennial, which are lovingly adorning the walls of the interior, gives you a real insight into a wonderful family business that is completely ingrained in the history of the area. The camaraderie and banter I’ve seen between staff members behind the counter just adds to that and creates a fantastic atmosphere, something which makes this spot so different from the other cookie-cutter ice cream parlours dotted all around Barcelona.
But what’s more, it’s absolutely vital to talk about the quality – the ice cream, wonderfully rich, is easily the best I’ve had in the city. It’s simply gorgeous. They also offer a selection of other delights, especially notable is something called ‘horchata’, a sweet milky drink made from tigernut roots, which is next on my list to try, if I can just one day drag myself away from the ice cream section long enough to choose something else.
A beautiful place to try in summer, but really worth a visit at any time of year, I can’t recommend El Tío Ché enough.
