Oh, Barcelona. So much food, so much wine. This was one of the most all-around delicious cities I’ve ever visited.
So where to begin??
Well, when I’m feeling stuck and want to ensure that I don’t fall into any tourist traps, I always ask myself one simple question: WWABD? In other words, What Would Anthony Bourdain Do?
But lest we forget, Mr. Bourdain was lucky enough to globetrot with a crew of cameras and enough charm to get the whole place cleared out for his personal enjoyment.
Same for you?
Me neither.
So if you’re just a “normal” civilian traveler like me, here’s a bit of what you can expect from three of Anthony Bourdain’s Barcelona selections.
As it happens, this Barcelona trip coincided with the very same summer that we lost the man himself, so these restaurants and how I found them lend a special twinkle of nostalgia. I hope you find them as special as I did!
Quimet & Quimet
Let’s start with Quimet & Quimet.
I only knew two things going in:
1. Anthony Bourdain dubbed Quimet & Quimet home of the best tapas he’d ever eaten.
2. It is small and gets crowded quickly (perhaps as a result of point #1).
All of the above proved to be true!
This tiny, standing-room-only restaurant opened at 7pm, and we arrived at 6:30. We were the first in line. By 6:45, there was a small line snaking down the block. When the doors opened, everyone from the small line filed in….and the entire place was full by 7:05!
Yes, Barcelona locals usually eat dinner around 9 or 10pm. But break the rules for this place!
Okay, let’s start with the menu.
I had read that the salmon with yogurt and truffled honey was one of the most popular items (if you do an image search of “Quimet y Quimet,” that’s the image that comes up most frequently), and I have to agree; it really is something special! I also enjoyed the foie gras with volcanic salt and the Iberian pork cheek.
Now, I definitely appreciate when a menu takes some bold flavor combination risks. So when I came across artichokes, cheese, and caviar…I mean, come on. It was basically daring me to try it, right?
The result: Somehow, it was delicious. Folks, don’t try this at home. You can’t replicate whatever Barcelona magic made this combination work.
Quimet & Quimet is unusual in more than just its flavor combinations. It also offers an environment and etiquette experience that might surprise you!
See, where I’m from, it would be considered rude just call out your order while someone was preparing someone else’s meal. That’s terrible restaurant etiquette! I was raised to wait patiently until acknowledged with, at the VERY least, eye contact and a nod.
Not the case at Quimet & Quimet!
This is not your average restaurant. In fact, it feels more like a bar. I guess that’s why we call it a tapas bar, rather than a tapas restaurant. In fact, this tiny place is standing-room-only. No room for pesky frivolities like chairs!
At Quimet & Quimet, you’ll feel foolish, rude even, if you stand around waiting for service. Want something? Call it out to the chef behind the bar, and he’ll whip it up right before your eyes.
That’s right, waiting politely felt rude and touristy. Quite the traveler’s mind-bend!
Take a virtual visit at Quimet & Quimet’s website!
La Pineda
Next up, another small, hole-in-the-wall tapas joint, but this one specializes in charcuterie. It’s nestled on a tiny street off Placa de la Cucurulla, and if you miss it, you might land yourself in Claires, Sabon, a novelty t-shirt shop, a sunglasses chain, or a small shop selling religious articles. You know, a typical Gothic Quarter street.
On this menu, there are a few tapas options, but the most exciting variety is amongst the various meat and cheese options.
Now, I’m a huge cheese fiend. Anyone who knows me would tell you that’s even an understatement. And where I’m from, you MIGHT find manchego on a menu. Maybe.
So imagine my joy when the waiter inquired, “well, what KIND of manchego do you like?” My cheese-loving brain just about exploded. There are different KINDS of manchego???
It turns out, I quite like the rosemary manchego and truffle manchego! The selection of meats is also quite exciting, but don’t worry. Unlike my sorry attempts to communicate in Catalan….there is no wrong answer here!
We ended up visiting this place twice. There was just too much to try, and it was all so delicious! Our biggest mistake was stopping in for a snack around 3pm and accidentally completely filling up! We weren’t hungry again until around 11 (which is still a reasonable dinnertime in Barcelona).
Learn more at La Pineda’s website!
Xurreria Dels Banys Nous
Need something sweet after all that ham? Barcelona is known for excellent churros, but be careful! A lot of places are happy to overcharge you for churros that have been frozen and/or sitting around all day. Save your calories for somewhere that makes them fresh every day. Enter: Xurreria Dels Banys Nous.
It’s another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it little spot without even tables at which to sit. We visited twice, and absolutely loved the Nutella filled churros! I’ve also received strong recommendations for Granja Dulcinea and Churreria Laietana, both of which have some seating if that’s important to you. I can’t personally vouch for them, but if you’ve been, please feel free to send me your feedback!
The guys who run this place are almost as sweet as the churros they make (and no, I don’t recommend this as a pickup line). When we told them we were from America, they excitedly proclaimed, “Anthony Bourdain! Do you know of Anthony Bourdain? Anthony Bourdain was here!” You know what? If all you know about America is that we made Anthony Bourdain, I’m definitely okay with that!
This place is too much of a hole in the wall to even have its own website (and I LOVE that!). But TripAdvisor knows what’s up!
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