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.

Sandwiches for €5.20, 3 small croissants (joanet) for €1.35. Chain but very local and good vibes!…read moreCheap baguettes too, for like a dollar and different sizes.

Healthy, Hearty, and Huge Portions in Barcelona!…read more Been craving something on the healthier side while in Barcelona and came across this spot on Google with tons of high ratings -- and now I see why! Key thing to remember: this place is CASH ONLY, so come prepared. The workers (or maybe the owners) were super, super friendly and very welcoming from the moment we walked in. We decided to eat inside, and wow -- the portions were absolutely ginormous! I ordered the chicken plate, and hubby got the beef and chicken plate, and both were delicious. Each plate came loaded with rice, lentils, red cabbage, tomato salad, lettuce, avocado sauce, plus a spicy hot sauce on the side. We also ordered fries, and it even came with bread to scoop everything up -- such a satisfying meal. All this for 24€. Definitely a must-try if you're looking for something filling but still feels a bit lighter on the tummy while exploring Barcelona. Happy eats in Barcelona!

Simple, cheap sandwich shop in Barcelona with made to order sandwiches (unlimited toppings). Get…read morethere early because the wait is typically 1hr. All sandwiches were 5 euros but some went up to 6. I got the steak with tomato, feta, cucumber, lettuce, avocado and 3 house sauces. My steak was juicy and cooked once I ordered. Everything was flavorful and fresh but wish there was a little more meat. The staff is friendly. Don't plan on eating inside as it is very tiny with 4 tables (they don't let you eat inside if you bring outside drinks) and CASH ONLY.

We had pizza and a sandwich. Both were hot and well made. French fries were there larger cut;…read morehot. The beverages were ok; the beer was especially inexpensive. (Not a large variety at all). USA 80s music played in the background. The dining room seats maybe 30.

First stop in Spain to get tapas! Chicken wings were AMAZING! Be sure to order a side of fries too!…read moreThey also have FREE WiFi!

Their jamon iberico sandwich was dubbed to be the best sandwich by the NYT so of course I didn't…read morewant to pass-up the chance of trying it out while in Barcelona. We came in just a few minutes after the opened so the place was practically empty -- other times when we'd pass by this place, it was always busy. Ordered their small iberico sandwich as I wasn't as hungry and a small coffee that came with two mini croissants. The iberico sandwich was pretty good! Simple but the iberico was definitely the star ingredient. Only downside was it was a bit on the pricey side and you can practically get a similar sandwich but cheaper elsewhere. The strong coffee and mini croissants paired well together. Good option for a quick breakfast on La Ramblas

The bread was toasted just perfectly. Everything was simple yet perfect. Coffee was strong and…read morecreamy. All 8 of us weRe happy campers. The rest of our trip we wanted to return but didn't have the chance. ;(

My daughter and I ordered a Focaccia sandwich each. My wife ordered a potato omelet sandwich. We…read moreboth had an Estrella draft beer. The focaccia sandwiches were pretty small but after all the flying, we didn't really want anything big. My wife's omelet sandwich was normal size and very good, too. Nice and laid back atmosphere. Across the street from the main train station.

If you want the most laid back coffee experience with the best customer service you've ever had, I…read morehighly recommend visiting Volcan Dorado. The workers are extremely welcoming and polite and the vibes are sensational.

Came by this little cozy cafe since we were staying in the area. Service was quick. Got an espresso…read moreand my friend got their latte. I love that they gave us a shot class of water to cleanse our palette. The espresso was as strong as my personality, love love! Definitely recommend if you're in the area. Lots of seating as well.

Excellent coffee quality in this place. We got a recommendation for the quality and it was truest…read morejustified . I got the double espresso and it was great - it felt like a 3rd gen roasting style (also knows as specialty ) which I rally like - very strong and quite sour . If you like this style , I highly recommend

The food at Tricki Trac was great--fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. Unfortunately, the service…read moredidn't match the quality of the kitchen. Possibly due to the change of staff. We waited quite a while before our order was taken and had to flag someone down each time we needed anything. There were also a couple of mix-ups where staff attempted to deliver the same appetizers to the table next to us two additional times after the additional order was delivered. If you're not in a rush and are there mainly for the food, it's worth a visit..

Stayed just around the corner and had the suggestion from the hotel. Excellent choice. Excellent…read morefood excellent service. Would come again in a moment. Iberian ham was superb with tomato bread The peppers were done well crisp and scorched perfectly. Also enjoyed the shrimp tapas

We literally stopped her every morning we were I. Barcelona…read more The pastries are Amazing! Especially the white chocolate croissant. Though the cinnamon rolls were pretty delicious as well. The service was wonderful and quick even when it is busy. The staff grabbed up pastries, heated sandwiches and made specialty coffees quickly and with a smile. There is also a very cute sitting area with a lush green plant wall that has a ton of natural light great for selfies and relaxing

This place is incredible--from their coffee and pastries to their breads and sandwiches. Luckily,…read moreit was just two blocks from my hotel, so I enjoyed breakfast there every morning. The staff is fantastic--friendly, accommodating, and always smiling. With several locations across Barcelona, I highly recommend checking out this spot if you're visiting the city.