My husband and I popped into Argot for a drink before dinner nearby. The place looked really cute…read moreand seemed like a cool spot to sit for a few minutes after we had walked for a while to get to the area. There was one server and another guy who appeared to be the manager or owner. I ordered a mojito and my husband wanted a daiquiri, but they were out of fruit. I forget what he ended up going with instead. Drinks took a super long time to prepare and my mojito was a touch too sweet. The server was a really nice guy but I was left with the impression that this place might be better for a quick sandwich rather than a place to have drinks.

I had a green salad, premium chicken sandwich, and sangria…read more The salad had green vegetables, red onions, and fruits. All that together gave it a sweet and salty taste. It was good. The Premium chicken sandwich was grilled with tomatoes and some mayonnaise. It was quit tasty. The sangria was fruity. You could feel the liquor by the time you finish it.

This was another example of a place that looked better from the outside. We passed by extremely…read morehungry and were taken in by the cheap prices and variety of food from the window. Located not far from La Ramblas in the Gothic Quarter, this place offers good deals that include several tapas and a drink for a cheap price. Overall it was worth it, but it is not a place that you should seek out. There are several of these types of places in the area and this one does not stand out from the rest.

From the owner: tortilla de mousse de bacalaoread more

This was our first stop after landing in Barcelona and dropping our things off. It also became the…read moremost memorable and favorite meal of our trip. This is definitely a small, local, casual bar to grab a bocadillo and a drink or two. Service was friendly and fast, they checked in on us but mostly let us do our own thing. Everyone also spoke English, which made things easier for us. Foodwise, we got 2 different bocadillos to try along with the patatas bravas. I loved the iberico bocadillo and the other one as well (I forgot the name but it had country sausage, peppers, and onions). The bread was crisp but soft and did not hurt the roof of my mouth. The filling was flavorful and balanced. The patatas bravas were not the usual ones we were used to, they were herbed and not fried but were so good. We had hoped to return for a second meal here or for takeaway for our flight but unfortunately, timing did not work out. I definitely recommend this spot and think its an excellent, cheap spot for an amazing meal.

One of the first things you should get straight at Bar Fidel is that this is *not* a Spanish…read morebusiness; it's a Catalan one. The owner will hit you over the head with this fact. I know it's a big deal and I know people have bad days but this gentleman was in a mood if ever one was. On one hand, I was happy with the non-touristy, local experience I was getting. On the other one, I found myself longing for a touch of tourist consideration. Even though Catalan is the word of the day at Bar Fidel, you won't get (too many) bad looks by speaking in Spanish. Try to avoid speaking in English. Also, avoid ordering sangria. Not only is it not an option, it makes the owner not want to suffer fools and to complain about people coming to his city and wanting such 'pedestrian' libations. Get your wine and keep it moving. You're at a local's pub, so keep it simple: salad, sandwich, wine, and/or beer. These are your choices... and I had all four. Were I to come back, I would settle on a liquid diet. My crab salad had much too much mayonnaise (you know how I feel about mayonnaise) for my tastes and my salmon baguette - while an interesting mix of fish, dill and roquefort cheese - was, ultimately, too pedestrian for a dinner item (although as a lunch item and paired with a beer, it would have been a good fit). The onus was on me to do more research. I didn't. I thought I did but I didn't. My ill preparation, however, was compounded by the awkward atmosphere I felt from the owner. I always advocate going off the beaten path and trying to get a more local feel of a city. If I were to come back here, though, I would make sure I did it with a local... who spoke fluent Catalan.

La Mestressa is such a great vibe and one of the defining experiences from my trip to Barcelona!…read moreHere are a few highlights: 1. The neighborhood - I stayed at the AC Hotel Sants while visiting Barcelona. The Barcelona Sants train station was adjacent to the hotel, and the property was in a walkable neighborhood surrounded by restaurants, convenience stores, and other businesses. There was also a deceptively nondescript alley right next to the hotel that I didn't explore right away. Turns out, that alley leads to a vibrant, hidden plaza (Plaça d'Osca) with restaurants and shops, where locals in the Sants neighborhood hang out. This is also where La Mestressa is located. 2. The food and drinks - I got dinner with two friends at La Mestressa one evening. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, a bottle of wine, and a wide selection of tapas, croquettes, and a couple main dishes. My personal favorites from the meal were the sangria, patatas bravas (crispy potatoes with sauce), octopus, and the salmon salad (not pictured). Each of those dishes were well-seasoned, had great textural contrast, and provided either familiar comfort (patatas bravas and octopus) or a completely new flavor experience (salmon salad). The sangria was light and refreshing. 3. The service - Our server was bilingual and provided satisfactory service. She was warm. The service was well-paced, and she attended to all of our needs as a group. 4. The ambience - As I previously mentioned, both Plaça d'Osca and La Mestressa were a whole vibe. If the terms "off the beaten path," "honeycomb hideout," "in the cut," or "rural retreat" mean anything to you, this area similarly provides a nice place to "retreat" and immerse yourself in a local neighborhood right in the heart of Spain's second largest city. It's the perfect place to drink wine and sangria and while away your evening. :)

We were in the neighborhood on vacation, and were looking for someplace to eat. They had room so…read morewe stepped in. Honestly the rest of Barcelona has been ruined for us now. We ate other places, but none of them compare. Not the market, none of the other small tapas places we tried. It's as if the others aren't even trying. If you are near Plaça de Sants, you will not be disappointed.

Located right across from the hotel that I was staying at during our visit, hubby and I decided to…read morestop by here for breakfast. There was a limited menu selection, so I chose the Bikini which was a basic ham and cheese sandwich and hubby chose the Mexicano. Food was yummy toasted. We paired our breakfast with mango smoothies. It was fresh and refreshing to start out our day before going to our tour.

Decided to try this place for breakfast vs my hotel breakfast buffet. Had there bikini special. It…read morelooks like ham and cheese on a panini bread. Had with orange juice and wife ordered cappuccino. Menu looks limited but gave it a try. Not bad, probably will go to MCD tomorrow.

Great little local tapas spot. We came in on a Friday around 5:45 and we were able to grab a table…read more If you come in later, make sure you have a reservation. It is small and fills up very quickly. Vermút and tapas were delicious. The patatas bravas were crispy and the sauce was delicious. Service was friendly and attentive. Great way to start the evening.

This place has a great setting on a pedestrian square. It has a great ambiance. Food was a B…read more The service was not great. Frankly, we are good, low maintenance guests and experienced european travelers. We are used to the slower pace of service. They disrespected us. Hope your experience is different.