Last weekend Nicholas Lander, the FT’s food writer and a famous restauranteur, wrote a review of 5 tapas bars and restaurants in Barcelona. His trip through Barcelona focused on new and cutting edge places that have just recently opened, emphasising how dynamic the restaurant scene here in Barcelona is.
First on his irinerary was Ohla, a fashionable ‘nonstop kitchen’, which he calls ‘classic cooking in a modern setting’. He was keen to praise chef Xavi Franco’s achievements, Ohla has only been open for three months.
Ohla Hotel
Via Laietana, 49
08003 Barcelona
00 34 933 415 050
www.ohlahotel.com
Second on the agenda was Monvínic, a bar-restaurant with a staggering 3,500 wines on it’s menu from 23 different countries, including his own country the UK. Monvínic boast 7 sommelierers, should you require further proof that they take wine very very seriously!
Monvínic
C/ Diputació, 249
08007 Barcelona
00 34 932 726 187
www.monvinic.com
New opening 41° was next on the list. This Cocktail Bar is owned by Albert Adrià, brother of
41°
Avinguda Parallel, 164
08015 Barcelona
no telephone bookings
www.ticketsbar.es
Last on the list was another very recent opening, Pura Brassa, located in Las Arenas, the recently converted Bullring designed by Richard Rogers. The name translates as ‘pure embers’, this new take on the traditional grill concept is inspired by London’s Wagamama and Busaba Eathai, which introduced cheap Asian food to a mass audience. Here the same has been done with Mediterranean food such as roasted aubergine purée with red peppers; tagliatelle with prawns and chilli; grilled chicken wings and flash-seared steak tartare. The pure embers are provided by two highly fashionable ‘Josper grills’, these provide a barbequed taste to food cooked in a restaurant kitchen.
Pura Brasa
Passeig Torras i Bages, 63
08030 Barcelona
00 34 933 458 473
www.purabrasa.com
We recommend you come to Barcelona and try some of these yourself! If you do, check our selection of apartments in Barcelona first.
