Late post-opera dinner in Barcelona
 

We won't get out of the liceu opera house until around 11:30 pm, I think. Any suggestions for inexpensive late-night eateries near by? I don't know where the liceu is in relation to everything else but we'd be willing to cab it, if necessary. Is there a late-night place in Barceloneta?

After the performance of &quot;Turandot&quot; we saw last July we simply walked up Las Ramblas and found an Italian place still open. I suspect a little further on those restaurants along Las Ramblas <b>Catalunya</b> which is different from the stretch in front of the Liceu (yes, it is directly on Las Ramblas and there is a Metro station at the front door) might still be open.

As you probably know, Spaniards tend to eat late. There are restaurants in Barcelona which don't even open until 9 PM.

thanks intrepid. I've been surprised at how small the window for dinner is in Spain. With dinner beginning at 9 pm at the earliest, I assumed that places would serve until 12:30 am, but instead, many of the restaurants I was checking out -- Abac, Sauc, Commerc, Gaig - close (or stop serving?) at 11 or 11:30 pm. That leaves 2 1/2 dinners for dinner which seems remarkably short! I'm really into food so I was hoping to have a satisfying meal worth traveling to, but it's good to know that we can just grab a bite around the liceu if we come out and are starving.

I think the restaurants in places like Madrid may stay open longer that those in Barcelona (we have often found ourselves dining at midnight or later in Madrid.

Be aware that a good number of the restuarants on Las Ramblas itself aren't exactly memorable and I am NOT a foodie in any way, shape, or form.

Las Ramblas Catalunya I mentioned earlier is on the other side of the Placa Catalunya and I personally think the outdoor places there offer better quality food.

However, I would keep checking if I were you. Hopefully someone with a better memory than my own will see this and offer advice. If not, top it a few times.

Yes, we've also been warned to avoid Las Ramblas for food in general. We'll be broke by this point after eating at Akelare, Sauc and Commerc 24 so we just wanted a good, inexpensive, late-night dive type place.

Try this , not the best food in town but I think it will suit you :
http://www.cafeoperabcn.com/Historia_ing.htm

Hi fishee,
I agree completely with Intrepid1 that most late-night eateries on the Ramblas are not known for their fine food, plus the price/quality ratio can be poor.

A BCN restaurant group that I really like for &quot;anytime dining&quot; is Grup Cacheiro, whose casual restaurants stay open late, have large menus (something to please every budget/taste) and very fair prices. I've tried several, the Tramoia, Braseria Tenorio and El Trovador.

The handiest for the Liceu is the new Trovador (there are 3 Trovadors in the group) on Rambla de Catalunya 2. Up the same street you have the Tramoia on Rambla de Catalunya 15. It's walkable-10 or so short blocks from the Liceu.

As Intrepid notes, this street is located in the upscale Eixample quarter, not to be confused with the Ramblas below. It begins on the north side of the Placa de Catalunya.

There's also the lively Braseria Tenorio on the Passeig de Gracia 37. I've dined here at midnight when it's still been quite lively. But the Trovador is slightly closer to the Liceu.

These brasserie-style restaurants are open continually throughout the day, 7 days a week.
www.grupcacheiro.com

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread, but ...

Maribel, welcome back !!! ;)

Rgds, Cova

Wow, cova,
That was a lightning fast welcome, and much appreciated! o:)
I've spent the day reading all your great posts so I can catch up to speed!
rgds

fishee,
I've been following your other threads about your upcoming trip to the Basque Country.
Hope you like Hondarribia, and please say hi to Fatima and Patxi for me at the Iketxe.
Tell them the Laserna American who pretends she's &quot;canadiense&quot; says hi. They'll laugh and understand.

Maribel,

i feel like a celebrity has responded to my post! I've relied heavily on your great guides for the Basque region and for my trip to Barcelona. I'll be sure to send along your best wishes in my comical spanish to Patxi and Fatima who seem very nice. (Do you think there's something I could bring their children from Chicago?) laclaire also rec. La Tramoia so we're going there as soon as we get into BCN late Sunday night. Braseria Tenorio sounds fun and lively - I'll be wearing heels but it sounds worth the walk.

Can I ask you your opinion on Passadid Del Pep? I'm considering this as an alternative to our dinner at Abac or Commerc since it sounds more like regional cuisine. (I've read some reviews that Abac and Commerc are great, but have a similar feel to restuarants in NYC and Chicago)

Anyway, thanks so much for writing up your guides -- I can't imagine how many wonderful trips you've helped people to plan.

Yes, welcome back Maribel! Am so happy to see you here again, especially since I plan to return to Spain again next Spring!

fishee,
An inexpensive yet excellent meal we had in Barcelona was at La Dolca Herminia at Magda;emes 27 2 blocks towards Ramblas from Palais de la Musica (which may just be where your opera is being performed?)

artlover,

We're going to the liceu for opera, however, the apartment we're staying is across the street from the Palau de la Musica Catalan so we'll check that place out, thanks!

Hi artlover!
Thanks for your welcome, and I'm thrilled to know you'll be going back next spring. Hope to be able to help you if I can in your planning.

fishee,
Comerc, Alkimia, Abac (very, very good!) and Sauc (ditto) are all very creative, cutting edge contemporary. If you'd prefer traditional, you should try Passadis del Pep or Cal Pep (in my guide), but to Cal Pep go early to grab one of the spots at the counter!!
The line for counter seating gets long-extremely popular for small plates dining (like the popularlity of Chicago's Avec). Or in the same vicinity of El Born, you could try Senyor Parellada, next to the Hotel Banys Orientals on Argenteria 37. Also traditional catalan bistro cuisine-very popular.

Patxi and Fatima's boys at the Iketxe would love anything from Chicago-maybe some small sports memorabilia item.
We like staying in room 2 downstairs with our own private enclosed terrace.
Have fun!

Welcome back, Maribel! We've missed you. Hope you are well.

Hi Maribel,

Do you think the boys would wear white sox baseball caps?

I'm going to let my friends decide whether they want to eat at Abac or Passadis Del Pep (I'm a little afraid of the bill at Passadis Del Pep but it sounds like it's rarely over 90 Euro/pp). We also have lunch reservations at Sauc. They like places like Alinea, Moto, and Tru in Chicago so they might want to try something more traditionally Catalan since places like Alinea and Moto are heavily influenced by Spain's most famous chefs.

thanks for all your help!

Hi Marija,
I'm very well, thanks, and I've missed you too!

Hi fishee,
Yes, the boys would wear the caps, although in the Basque Country they don't follow American baseball. Spaniards do follow the NBA and the Bulls though! They'd love anything small with a Bulls logo on it.

I think your friends will find places like Sauc, Alkimia, Colibri, Comerc 24, Hisop to be more experimental, &quot;El Bulli&quot; inspired, &quot;molecular&quot; cuisine-yes, more like Alinea and Moto.

I just finished reading a Rafael Garcia Santos (Spain's leading restaurant critic) rave review of Sauc. They have 2 degustation menus for 44/58. A la carte will run 50-70 euros.

Passadis del Pep may be less expensive
than Abac (RGS loves Abac-gives it an 8/10 and the Campsa Guide gives it 2 &quot;soles&quot;). The degustation menu at Abac costs 84, or a la carte around 90+

Another traditional catalan and highly regarded restaurant (with 2 &quot;soles&quot; in the Campsa guide)is Ca L'Isidre, where a meal costs around 60 euros. Coleman Andrews, the author of Catalan Cuisine, loves this place.
www.calisidre.com

And save room for Akelare on Monte Igueldo in San Sebastian!

Happy traveling and dining.

Great, I'll pick something up with the bulls logo for the boys, thanks for the heads up.

Akelare is insanely expensive, even for lunch, but if the weather is nice, I'm hoping that the food/view will be worth it. I'm looking forward to our lunch at Sauc, and the chef's wife(?) anna is very nice to deal with over email. thanks again.

My vote for a late, inexpensive place to eat is the Arc cafe. I believe it is towards the bottom of Las Ramblas and to the East. Not necessarily Catalan food but very good and cheap with a great, laid back atmosphere for &quot;relaxing for hours&quot; with a glass of wine or a coffee.

http://www.bcninternet.com/restauran...?contentid=633