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Eek! Only 2 nights in Barcelona....where must we go for dinner? (Pls. help!)

Eek! Only 2 nights in Barcelona....where must we go for dinner? (Pls. help!)

Old May 23rd, 2006, 05:21 PM
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Eek! Only 2 nights in Barcelona....where must we go for dinner? (Pls. help!)

Hi Fellow Foodies,

We will be rounding out our July trip to Spain for the San Fermin (running of the bulls) fiestas and Ibiza with only two nights in Barcelona. Unfortunately, we will be in town on a Sunday/Monday, which means our dinner options will be limited.

We are very big foodies and are salivating for some great Nuevo Cocina. We probably would have opted for Commerc24, but alas, it is closed both nights. (EEK)

Can anyone help me decide on the must-do restaurant for those two nights (assuming they would be open of course). The ones I'm considering right now are:

Moo (we might be staying at the Hotel Omm)
Alkimia
Hisop
Cinc Sentits
Arola (we might be staying at Hotel Arts - haven't made that decision yet)
Sauc?

We're in our early 30s and are looking for equal parts great food and atmosphere.

Also, is Cal Pep an absolute must-do for tapas? Does anyone know how it compares to Taller de Tapas?

Thanks!
TravelDiva

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Old May 23rd, 2006, 06:50 PM
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see the "moving back to Barcelona" thread for my hotlist.

I am going to a few of the places you listed in late June, so I will report back. 5 sentits is a pretty good place, but nothing so interesting as to be traveled to. Alkimia is better and I think the menu is more imaginative. I have heard great things about Sauc, but have yet to dine there. Perhaps when my foodie friend and I make the rounds. . . I am dying for the dining!
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Old May 23rd, 2006, 06:51 PM
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BTW- did you try for lunch reservations at C24? Since it is the biggest meal of the day, their tasting menu is best then and it might be open.

Also, Els quatre gats is a great place to eat if you like a stately atmosphere and delicious, rich food.
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Old May 23rd, 2006, 07:04 PM
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TravelDiva,
Moo at the Omm and Arola at the Ritz Carlton Arts are obvious choices being hotel dining, they must be open.

As far as the rest,

Sauc: closed Sun./Mon

Alkimia: closed Sat. lunch at Sun BUT open Mon.

Hisop: closed Sat. lunch at Sun. BUT
open Mon.

Cinc Sentits: closed all day Sun and Mon night

In my opinion, Cal Pep is indeed a must and better than Taller de Tapas, but again, that's just for me.

Other BCN magnets for foodies:

Drolma at the Hotel Majestic (tres cher!!)
but closed Sun. (open Mon.)

Abac: closed Sun. and Mon. lunch BUT open Mon. night

Gaig in the Hotel Cram, closed Sun. BUT open Mon.

Lasarte in the Hotel Condes de Barcelona:
closed Sun. BUT open Mon.


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Old May 23rd, 2006, 07:24 PM
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Meant "and" rather than "at.

Forgot the urls:

www.cincsentits.com
www.condesdebarcelona.com (Lasarte)
www.restaurantgaig.com
www.hotelmajestic.es (Drolma)
www.saucrestaurant.com (for next time)
www.hisop.com
www.hotelomm.es (Moo)
www.hotelartsbarcelona (Arola)

Alkimia and Abac don't have web pages but emails are:
[email protected]
[email protected]


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Old May 23rd, 2006, 07:28 PM
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most definitely do Cal Pep - arrive early and queue up!
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Old May 23rd, 2006, 08:33 PM
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Thanks Maribel all...so, Cal Pep will have to be our dinner for Mon. night, since they're not open on Sundays or for lunch on Monday.

So any thoughts/reviews/preferences on Alkimia, Hisop, etc.?

Also, I'm very torn about whether to stay at the Arts or Omm. I know the Arts' service, etc. is great, but the location not as good as Omm. Is Omm much "cooler" than the Arts in terms of scene? (We're looking for a nice vibe.)

Thanks again...
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Old May 23rd, 2006, 09:31 PM
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I have never stayed at Omm, but if location is an issue, Arts is not a good place for you. Omm is located in one of my favorite areas of Barcelona. It is convenient to the metro, and walking to and from will be very agreeable.
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Old May 24th, 2006, 07:07 AM
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cal pep is a must! the thing is, lunch is the main meal in barcelona. so your best bet is to have a fantastic lunch at cal majo (on the beach) or mei hoffman, and just do tapas for dinner at cal pep. (although both is alot of food!) i also liked vineria del call for tapas.
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Old May 24th, 2006, 08:01 AM
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TravelDiva,
For only 2 nights, the Omm, as laclaire says is so, so very much more convenient, right on the elegant Passeig de Gracia-in the thick of things. And like the Hotel Urban in Madrid, the trendy Omm has a "vibe".
A Fodorite friend stayed there last summer with her family and enjoyed it very much.

Whenever you do Cal Pep make sure you get there before it opens, as those dozen + bar stools at the counter get filled up very quickly!

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Old May 24th, 2006, 08:04 AM
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re: Comerc24/ Taller de Tapas/ Cal Pep

Some pictures to view
http://www.wongngravrok.com/2006-05B...tronomicpages/
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Old May 24th, 2006, 09:48 AM
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Well, I never went to Cal Pep - didn't know about it, but then I didn't know about Fodors 2 years ago when I went to Barcelona!!

But I did stay in a little calle just round the corner from Taller de Tapas and thought it terrific (TdeT that is, and the apartment!).
The outside tables are in a little placa, and there is another tapas bar/cafe next door. We'd faell out of bed and into a chair outside one or other of these places every morning for coffee and breakfast, returned every night for nothing less than a nightcap, plus at least their fabulous crema catalana, and when friends called at our apartment before visiting the Picasso Museum - where would we take them for lunch but Taller de Tapas?

Just last month my father, stepmother and a group of their friends spent a few days in Barcelona, I gave them my guidebook with all the cards etc stuffed into it, and when they came home they said Taller de Tapas was one of the best tapas restaurants they went to.

Have a great trip!
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Old May 24th, 2006, 11:20 AM
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Hi All,

I'm pretty convinced Hotel Omm should be our base and it sounds like Cal Pep is a must-do for Mon. eve.

If there are any suggestions for a nice Sunday lunch or dinner that would be great. I'm considering stopping by El Quatre Gats (not sure if I want to eat a full meal there), and am set on doing El Vinya Del Senyor for priorat and cava.

I'm holding a reservation for Arola on Sun. night. If we're staying at the Omm, I'm not so sure it would be worth going to the Arts for. Has anyone been to Arola and can comment or can suggest another nice place for a night out on the town? Maybe I should be targeting less foodie places and more hip places that night (Salsitas, Noti, etc.).

Ay carumba!
TD
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Old May 24th, 2006, 11:32 AM
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One of my most memorable meals was at Els Quatre Gats, so I hope you dine there. It really is an institution.

Then again, you are into nouvelle cuisine, in which case EQG will seem very traditional. Cal Pep will, as well, so if you are going there, I think you should try the newer places.

Keep your eyes open for a trip report by me in early July. A friend is coming to visit and we are going to eat like starved villagers. 5 days, 5 reservations (so far), and she is a food photographer, so the pics should be excellent.
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Old May 24th, 2006, 11:40 AM
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TD,
Here's another thought:
You might want to do a Sunday paella lunch at the outdoor terrace of one of the better Barceloneta restaurants overlooking the water.

The Guia Campsa, which we find more consistently reliable than the red Michelin, recommends (as otto did) "Can Majo" on Carrer Almirall Aixada, where Barcelona friends have taken us, and also "Suquet de L'Almirall", which has gotten solid reviews on egullet.org

I haven't eaten at Arola in the Arts but I have read mixed reviews. I wouldn't choose it above the others.
See what you think at
www.arola-arts.com
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Old May 24th, 2006, 12:00 PM
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Hi again Laclaire and Maribel -

I should say that while I have a passion for contemporary cooking, I do love all good food and would also want a good sampling of more traditional "authentic" cuisine. I have heard that 4Gats is lovely...what is the ideal meal time there from your perspective?

Also, I am starting to like the sound of a paella lunch at Can Majo on Sunday. I will have to check into that.

Sigh, still not sure for Sunday night. Too bad I'm only staying for 2 nights!

TD
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Old May 24th, 2006, 02:01 PM
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So, you have:
Sun: comida and cena.
Mon: desayuno, comida and cena.
Tue: desayuno and airplane

Is this right? If so, then I would do the following (not based on experience, but on what you have already said):

Sun: Paella at Can Majo for lunch (eat early because you want to have room for dinner)
Dinner tapas at Cal Pep.

Mon: chocolate and croissant breakfast at Escribà on the Ramblas (assuming that you don't eat at your hotel)

Nouvelle cuisine tasting menu for lunch (this will be a lot of wonderful food)

Els Quatre Gats for a final dinner. . . go late so that you have room in your tummy for all the deliciousness.
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Old May 24th, 2006, 02:14 PM
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Hi TD,
I've never actually eaten at 4Gats, so no advice there.

But I think you might really enjoy that paella lunch (how about an "arroz caldoso de bogovante"-soupy rice with lobster) at Can Majó on the terrace on Sunday.

Every single restaurant rec I've read of Víctor de la Serna, the wine maker and restaurant critic (pen name: Fernando Point) of www.elmundo.es has been spot on, so if he recommends Can Majó, I listen. And he has recommended it on egullet.org
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Old May 24th, 2006, 03:53 PM
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tapas at Cal Pep are a must - even if there is a crown and stools are full you can stand behind waiting and sip a cava or two - time will fly and you can better decide what you want - or even more fun once you sit down, ask them to fix you what they think best - glorious
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Old May 28th, 2008, 12:24 PM
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I just got back from Barcelona last week and my wife and I ate at Moo, Comerc24, and Arola Arts.
Here are my thoughts:

Arola: The menu is kind of a tasting menu, but they call it a "pica-pica" menu. Basically it's about 9-11 courses served in groups of 3. Kind of like an elegant tapas. They have a DJ playing music there while you eat. The selection was actually kind of funny, and it made us chuckle now and then while we ate. But I think that's kind of the point. It's supposed to be very casual and fun. The staff all dress in black and wear sneakers. And you have a great view of Gehry's Fish.
As for the food. It was very good. They serve a take on patatas bravas that is very nice. We had two sets of diners (both Americans as well) who actually complained to the staff and then left. I overheard one complain and when the waitress asked what she disliked she didn't really give and answer...she just said "the style."
I think the issue some have with Arola Arts is that it is basically designer tapas...as opposed to a classic multi-course tasting menu. But we liked it a lot (though I slightly prefered Arola Madrid at the Reina Sofia, my wife prefered Arola Arts).

Comerc24: This was similar to Arola. It was a designer tapas. But this place just got their first Michelin and I think they are trying to live up to it. They take themselves much more seriously at this place. The interior is very nice and the food is also very good. I'd rank it equal with Arola. My favorite course was a terrific cut of steak with cubes of potato that had wasabi liquid encased in it's own bubble, and it vanished once it's in your mouth.
They also did a special cheese course. I'm usually picky on cheese courses...but this one was very good. It was hard for me to gauge this place because when I ate here I had sinus problems and it affected my pallete. I was pretty upset about that. But even with a dull pallette it was still very good.

Moo: This was the favorite of both my wife and I. First off, the Hotel Omm is super-hip...almost comically so. But in a good way. You really feel like you are at the pulse of Spanish fashionista there. They had people there dressed in suits...dining alongside their friend who was in hip "skater gear." It was really good for people-watching.
You have to get the Joan Roca menu there...it's about 9 courses each matched with a wine. And they seriously know how to pair the wine there. It's hard to even pick a favorite course there. But my wifes was actually one called the "Golden Egg." It's this bubble that looks like a gold egg, and then you put your spoon to it it bursts and reveals a warm egg yolk and toasted nuts. It looked strange but when you eat it it tastes almost like a pop-corn. It was really great.
My favorite was 4 large cherries stuffed with Foie Gras and sprinkled with almonds. It was paired with a nice Port and even though it was a starter it would have made a great dessert.

Anyway, if you have to pick one...go to Moo. But all three are definitly worth the time and money.

Enjoy Barcelona...wish I was back there!!
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