Barcelona’s Eixample district
Credit: JackF/Getty
Steeped in History
While Barcelona’s bustling streets feel very modern, with its urban
traffic and glowing neon, history steeps in the Gothic Quarter. It’s
where Barcelona began and is threaded with narrow, winding,
cobblestone streets that reveal ages past, when the Romans, Moors,
and Habsburgs held sway.
Among the centuries-polished stone are historical highlights like
Barcelona’s oldest restaurant, Can Culleretes, which wears its 233
years on the walls with hundreds of photographs of famous people
who have dined at the restaurant. Els Quatre Gats is another
institution of the quarter. It dates back to the 1890s and was the
site of Pablo Picasso’s first exhibition. The City History Museum
tells the story of Barcelona with centuries-old artifacts and
treasures. The Gothic Quarter is also home to El Call, Barcelona’s
old Jewish Quarter, where you can find the Ancient Synagogue,
one of the oldest in Europe.
Tapas, Tapas, Everywhere
The beauty of the Barcelona’s food culture is the ease of eating.
Everywhere you go, there’s a place that serves quick bites — aka tapas.
Taste almost everything you can, from the city’s beloved anchovies to
grilled octopus, thinly sliced Iberian ham, stuffed peppers, and more.
Often tapas come at a standing bar, with energetic and convivial
crowds who want to hang loose with friends and tourists from all
over the world. Others eateries provide tapas as a free perk with the
purchase of a drink.
Start at the homespun El Xampanyet, a favorite local haunt since 1929,
or indulge at the deli-esque Can Paixano, where sparkling cava flows
near the water’s edge of the Barceloneta neighborhood. Paco Meralgo
adds a minimalist elegance, while classic white table cloths spread
beneath a huge menu at Can Sole, in business since 1903.
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 44 SUMMER 2019
Be careful not to fill up entirely on tapas, as Barcelona has some
of the world’s best restaurants. For evidence, simply open up your
Michelin Guide. The three-star wonder ABaC is worth every euro,
elevating cooking to high art in a sun-splashed gallery. Two-star Cocina
Hermanos Torres, a transformed industrial warehouse, is the latest
from the talented Torres twins. And find another two stars, plus a
fully Catalan menu, at Moments. Not full yet? There are only 21 more
Michelin-starred restaurants to go!
The Beach, Shopping, & the Arts
A comprehensive, modern, and cheap metro, tram and bus system
makes seeing the sights in Barcelona a cinch, as does a Barcelona
BusTuristic pass, which brings riders on an endless hop on, hop off