Staying in the center of Barcelona means the pleasure of being able to explore its streets at a leisurely pace, discovering alternatives to the city’s already famous avenues. Today, Ezequiel Salzberg, CEO of Casagrand, tells us about the joys of strolling down Enrique Granados, one of his favorite streets in Barcelona.
Enrique Granados Street, one of my favorite streets in the city, is located very close to Casagrand. A semi-pedestrian street, Enrique Granados is a short street, less than a kilometer long, that is very pleasant for a stroll. The lack of traffic, the presence of some Modernist architectural gems, such as Casa Llorens (Enrique Granados, 119), and the abundance of design and craft shops are a testament to this. Toward the end of the street, you can enjoy a delicious brunch or visit the gardens of the University of Barcelona, a truly rich botanical garden, home to more than 250 different species.
The tour can easily be done in reverse, stopping to enjoy dinner before returning to Casagrand. Here are my three recommendations for a delicious dinner:
Traditional recipes from Southeast Asia
Boa Bao is the latest venture from an American couple living in Portugal. After opening their first restaurant specializing in Southeast Asian cuisine in Lisbon and their second in Porto, they opened their Barcelona branch in 2019. Their menu includes traditional dishes from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The offerings don’t stop there, as the menu includes a varied selection of cocktails with Asian and international touches. The restaurant’s decor, inspired by the East but with industrial and modern elements, evokes the street food atmospheres of Bangkok, Yangon, or Hanoi; the music and the diners’ conversations further accentuate this feeling.
Where: Boa Bao. Plaza Letamendi 1, 08007 Barcelona.
My recommendation: sea bass bao accompanied by a cocktail.
Price per person: between 35 and 50 euros.
Quality sushi in an intimate atmosphere
Apenas 200 metros más arriba, en la esquina de Granados con Mallorca, encontraremos el japonés Robata, un local pequeño y muy concurrido (imprescindible reservar), con un ambiente íntimo y acogedor. La iluminación, el mobiliario y la vajilla han sido cuidados con mimo hasta el detalle y eso se nota. Su carta tiene dos capítulos principales -el sushi y el grill- y uno secundario, el de los postres, donde el establecimiento pone el acento occidental (tartas de inspiración americana, en raciones generosas, para compartir). El sushi respeta lo esencial: un producto de gran calidad.
Where: Robata. Enric Granados, 55, 08008 Barcelona
My recommendation: Pulpo al Olivo (grilled with Kalamata olive sauce), Toro Soasado (tuna belly with yakinuku sauce) or Crispy Duck (caramelized and crispy duck leg)
Price per person: tasting menu 59 euros, drinks included.
Mexican escalivada for dinner
Mexican Escalivada: Almost at Diagonal, on the corner of Enrique Granados and Córcega, is Cresta Colorada, a young Mexican restaurant with 1970s-inspired decor. Perfect for a simple but tasty dinner, with friendly and fairly quick service. The menu is short, and almost all the main dishes, as well as some starters, such as the Mexican escalivada, are prepared in a charcoal oven.
for dinner
Where: Cresta Colorada. Córcega, 244. 0836 Barcelona
My recommendation: Tomato salad with Cotija cheese or chickpea salad with cucumber and orange, along with chicken or cochinita pibil tacos. For dessert, the homemade flan and tres leches cake are finger-licking good. To drink, the michelada, a spicy Mexican beer, is superb.
Price per person: between 20 and 25 euros.
