Three El Bulli alums unleash a 30-plus-course joy-ride (exploding olives! sugar spoons!) that now flaunts three Michelin stars and the #1 spot on the World’s 50 Best 2024 list. Book weeks ahead.
LOCATION: Disfrutar on Google Maps
Barcelona
City Guide: A Chef-Engineer’s Eating, Drinking & Staying Playbook
I spent most of last year bouncing between Miami and Barcelona while piloting a culinary-robotics rollout—three multi-week stints that had me debugging code in Poblenou by day and hunting vermut and tapas by night. Somewhere along the way the city stopped feeling like a work trip and started feeling like home. This guide is the cheat-sheet I built for myself—now yours to steal. Pin everything to the Barcelona City Map I shared and let the grazing begin.
View on Map
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Disfrutar
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Bar Cañete
Lively counter where I refuel on jamón croquetas, creamy tortilla, and cava between meetings. Queue moves fast.
LOCATION: Bar Cañete on Google Maps
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Quimet & Quimet
Standing-room temple to tinned seafood and montaditos (smoked-salmon + truffled honey = religion). House vermut mandatory.
LOCATION: Quimet & Quimet on Google Maps
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El Xampanyet
Family-run since 1929—€2 glasses of bubbly house cava plus anchovies & Padrón peppers. Line up 20 min before doors.
LOCATION: El Xampanyet on Google Maps
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Cal Pep
Legendary bar where the chefs decide your tapas playbook: razor clams, baby squid, and arguably BCN’s best tortilla.
LOCATION: Cal Pep on Google Maps
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Estimar
Tiny El Born jewel box devoted to pristine seafood (percebes and caviar-butter toast are non-negotiable).
LOCATION: Estimar on Google Maps
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El Quim de la Boqueria
Breakfast of champions inside La Boqueria: fried eggs with baby squid straight off the plancha.
LOCATION: El Quim de la Boqueria on Google Maps
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Honest Greens
My “fast-but-feel-great” refuel: build-your-own bowls & plates, all additive-free and ready in minutes.
LOCATION: Honest Greens on Google Maps
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Lady Dumpling
Tiny counter turning out Shanghai-style xiaolongbao, crisp-bottomed veggie gyoza, and chili-oil wontons—perfect late-night carb fix.
LOCATION: Lady Dumpling on Google Maps
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Pastisseria Hofmann
Home of the mascarpone-filled croissant crowned best in Spain—grab one (or two) with a cortado.
LOCATION: Pastisseria Hofmann on Google Maps
Chef’s Quick-Fire Tips
- Tapas like a bar-crawl: two plates + one drink at each stop keeps your palate fresh and energy high.
- House vermut is Barça’s unofficial welcome drink—say sí every time.
- Beat the queues: arrive 10–15 minutes before doors at classic counters (El Xampanyet, Cal Pep) and you’re golden.
- Need a breather? Bolt to Little Beach House for 24 hours of sea air—Garraf station is on the R2 Sud line.
Print, screenshot, or save to Google Maps—then loosen your belt and go.