Barcelona isn't Las Vegas or Monte Carlo which doesn't mean you can't test you luck and play games that might not make you rich, but could pay for a couple of drinks. Many bars and restaurants have slot machines, and in addition to that there is the famous Barcelona Casino near Port Olimpic. Unlike it's counter parts on the Vegas strip, there is no internet casino, which is probably for the best as the location offers visitors sea views, a discotheque, and a choice of restaurants: either a traditional casino buffet or Mediterranean cuisine.
But of course, you don't go to a casino for the nightlife and unlike the slots you'll find in the restaurants throughout Barcelona, the casino offers games such as black jack, roulette (French & American style), plus poker to test your luck and win some serious cash. To play any of these games, you'll need an ID (preferably a passport) and to dress appropriately (no bathing suits, flip-flops etc).
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Monday, September 5, 2011
Friday, November 20, 2009
Barcelona Streets - Joaquin Costa
One of my favorite streets to go out drinking with friends is Joaquin Costa. On the edge of El Raval near Plaça Universitat, it runs just off Roda Sant Antoni. It used to be a bit on the prostitute ridden side, but it goes through ebbs and flows.
If you start heading down you'll pass a closed movie theater and a little ways past that on the left is the Oddbar. Like it's name implies, it's a strange place inspired by Terry Gilliam's Tideland and decorated appropriately with bright color and bobblehead dolls. They're known for their mojitos and the staff is friendly with a crowd consisting of Barcelona's hipsters and it's got one of the trippiest bathrooms in town.
A little further down is Benidorm on the right. You have to buzz in and then walk down a short set of steps. It reminds me of the LA dive bars I used to frequent back in the day and there's usually good music playing in the background ranging from Lou Reed to hip-hop spun by a Finn to whatever the guest DJ is playing.
On the Corner is Casa Almirall, which is one of the older bars in Barcelona and I imagine how most places were a century or so ago. Inside, the elaborate wood work, high ceilings and wall size mirror gives it a modernist feel reminiscent of the buildings of the L'Eixample while the electronic music tends to be at a volume that requires you to just raise your voice.
Meanwhile, if you need to take a break from the boozing and line you stomach, there's a new burger joint called Betty Ford's, which according to Duncan at Barcelona Life is one of the best in town. For pizza lovers, there's Original Pizza which offers slices.
For other places to eat, Suzanne at Expatica did a nice job of compiling various posts.
If you start heading down you'll pass a closed movie theater and a little ways past that on the left is the Oddbar. Like it's name implies, it's a strange place inspired by Terry Gilliam's Tideland and decorated appropriately with bright color and bobblehead dolls. They're known for their mojitos and the staff is friendly with a crowd consisting of Barcelona's hipsters and it's got one of the trippiest bathrooms in town.
A little further down is Benidorm on the right. You have to buzz in and then walk down a short set of steps. It reminds me of the LA dive bars I used to frequent back in the day and there's usually good music playing in the background ranging from Lou Reed to hip-hop spun by a Finn to whatever the guest DJ is playing.On the Corner is Casa Almirall, which is one of the older bars in Barcelona and I imagine how most places were a century or so ago. Inside, the elaborate wood work, high ceilings and wall size mirror gives it a modernist feel reminiscent of the buildings of the L'Eixample while the electronic music tends to be at a volume that requires you to just raise your voice.
Meanwhile, if you need to take a break from the boozing and line you stomach, there's a new burger joint called Betty Ford's, which according to Duncan at Barcelona Life is one of the best in town. For pizza lovers, there's Original Pizza which offers slices.
For other places to eat, Suzanne at Expatica did a nice job of compiling various posts.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Burger King of Barcelona
I remember when I first came here, it was almost impossible to find a burger made of beef outside the Hardrock and MacDonalds. Why? Because the Spanish thought since it was called a hamburger, it must be made of ham, resulting in a paddy of ground pork that tasted like an undercooked sausage with a fried egg, lettuce and mayonnaise on top. And chances are if you go to a normal Spanish restaurant, this is what you will get.
But over the last seven years, there's also been, if not quite a boom, then a substantial increase of places serving a traditional hamburger, some even going so far as to offer authentic and unique twists on the sole meal most Spanish think Americans live on.
Most of the English Pubs offer some version of a beef paddy. They're normally American size (half a pound) and expensive. There is also Fosters of Hollywood, which is an American theme restaurant that offers free refills on fountain sodas. But beyond these traditional places, there are also a two smaller restaurants that deserve a mention.
Pim Pam Burger in el Borne has a vocal and loyal following. In fact, many say it's the best burger in town, so much so that they are willing to put up with a staff who have adopted the Soup Nazi persona from Seinfeld and will pop a vein in anger if you disagree. It's relatively cheap and tasty but with a bit too much mayonnaise for my liking.
My personal favorite is the Jazz Bar in Poble Sec where they jazz up (pun intended) their burgers with bean sauces, guacamole and other extras that make them unique to what else you'll find. Again, the cook is surly for even a Spaniard, making me wonder if they've been watching too much classic Saturday Night Live and John Belushi.
But over the last seven years, there's also been, if not quite a boom, then a substantial increase of places serving a traditional hamburger, some even going so far as to offer authentic and unique twists on the sole meal most Spanish think Americans live on.
Most of the English Pubs offer some version of a beef paddy. They're normally American size (half a pound) and expensive. There is also Fosters of Hollywood, which is an American theme restaurant that offers free refills on fountain sodas. But beyond these traditional places, there are also a two smaller restaurants that deserve a mention.
Pim Pam Burger in el Borne has a vocal and loyal following. In fact, many say it's the best burger in town, so much so that they are willing to put up with a staff who have adopted the Soup Nazi persona from Seinfeld and will pop a vein in anger if you disagree. It's relatively cheap and tasty but with a bit too much mayonnaise for my liking.
My personal favorite is the Jazz Bar in Poble Sec where they jazz up (pun intended) their burgers with bean sauces, guacamole and other extras that make them unique to what else you'll find. Again, the cook is surly for even a Spaniard, making me wonder if they've been watching too much classic Saturday Night Live and John Belushi.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Poble Sec - Restaurants
As I've written a few times, in my humble opinion, I'd rank Poble Sec as one of the better neighborhoods of Barcelona. It has a great night life with a unique collection of bars and clubs, yet without the drunken tourists that go to the Barrio Gotico, or the teenage botellons famous in Gracia. It also has some great restaurants that cover a variety of cuisine.
Cal Penina is a traditional Catalan restaurant whose dark and wooden decor hearkens back to what I imagine Barcelona was like forty years ago. Serving traditional dishes and tapas, it also has a raw fish bar, which means its not cheap with an average price of €24. Meanwhile, on the flip side and a bit cheaper is Bar Seco which again offers traditional Catalan food, plus refreshing microbrews and an assortment of juices and bocadillos, which hopefully won't tear the roof of your mouth.
If you're looking to try other Spanish cuisine. Bar Ramon on Calle Blai serves food from the Canary Islands with the potatos and ham being my favorite. La Soleá offers a fusion of traditional recipes from Andalucia with Asian and African influences and is located in one of the great hidden squares of Barcelona: Plaza Sortido. Finally, if you're in the mood for snails La Tomaquera is a local institution that quickly fills up on the weekends.
For those lovers of Italian you have two choices. La Bella Napoli and El Golfo di Napoli. The former is located further down Paral.lel towards the port and, if you ask most locals, they'll say it's the best Italian around. Personally, I find it a bit overrated and prefer the latter, which is located at the top of Poble Sec behind Plaza Espanya and does a mean pesto risotto. But either way, you're in for an authentic Italian meal; although not a cheap one.
Got a craving for meat? There's a Brazilian place called Bahía Porto Mar near the Poble Sec metro, where slices of meat are carved off a slab that'd fill Henry VIII. Restaurante Casa Colombia on the other hand offers a choice of cuts and one of the best hot sauces around.
Cal Penina is a traditional Catalan restaurant whose dark and wooden decor hearkens back to what I imagine Barcelona was like forty years ago. Serving traditional dishes and tapas, it also has a raw fish bar, which means its not cheap with an average price of €24. Meanwhile, on the flip side and a bit cheaper is Bar Seco which again offers traditional Catalan food, plus refreshing microbrews and an assortment of juices and bocadillos, which hopefully won't tear the roof of your mouth.
If you're looking to try other Spanish cuisine. Bar Ramon on Calle Blai serves food from the Canary Islands with the potatos and ham being my favorite. La Soleá offers a fusion of traditional recipes from Andalucia with Asian and African influences and is located in one of the great hidden squares of Barcelona: Plaza Sortido. Finally, if you're in the mood for snails La Tomaquera is a local institution that quickly fills up on the weekends.
For those lovers of Italian you have two choices. La Bella Napoli and El Golfo di Napoli. The former is located further down Paral.lel towards the port and, if you ask most locals, they'll say it's the best Italian around. Personally, I find it a bit overrated and prefer the latter, which is located at the top of Poble Sec behind Plaza Espanya and does a mean pesto risotto. But either way, you're in for an authentic Italian meal; although not a cheap one.
Got a craving for meat? There's a Brazilian place called Bahía Porto Mar near the Poble Sec metro, where slices of meat are carved off a slab that'd fill Henry VIII. Restaurante Casa Colombia on the other hand offers a choice of cuts and one of the best hot sauces around.
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