The Roman-walled old city east of the Rambla: tourist-thick at the surface, but Bar del Pla, Caelis and El Xampanyet sit a five-minute walk from the Cathedral.
Koy Shunka in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is Hideki Matsuhisa's one-star Japanese counter where the sashimi and nigiri arrive piece by piece from a U-shaped bar.
Signature: Tasting menu, Sashimi
Order: The Omakase tasting menu and the seaweed-and-yuzu starter.
Tip: Counter seats face the chef; book those over the back tables. Closed Sunday.
Satan's Coffee Corner in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is Marcos Bartolome's third-wave anchor: single-origin beans, alternative-brewing setup and morning toasts.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Tip: Open daily 09:00 to 18:00. Closed Sunday afternoons; a second branch sits in the Hotel Casa Bonay.
Milk in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is the Irish-owned all-day brunch-and-cafe near Plaça Reial: flat whites, eggs benedict, espresso martinis at night.
Signature drink: Flat white
Tip: Open daily 09:00 to 02:00. Brunch served until 16:30. Walk-in only on weekends.
Granja La Pallaresa in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter has poured thick hot chocolate with churros since 1947 on Carrer de Petritxol, the city's chocolate-shop alley.
Signature drink: Hot chocolate with churros
Tip: Open daily 09:00 to 21:00. The Carrer de Petritxol queue is shortest before noon and after 17:00.
Satan's Coffee in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is the third-wave roastery-cafe behind Marcos Bartolome: single-origin Ethiopian and Burundi beans on rotation weekly.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The retail counter does whole-bean bags; pour-over costs three euros at the bar.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Burundi, Kenya
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Sensi Tapas in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is the small-room wine-and-tapas counter with a 70-bottle Catalan-focused list and a five-course tasting at 35 euros.
Signature pour: Cava brut by the glass
Wine focus: Catalan and Spanish
Food: Tapas
Tip: Open daily evenings. Book the tasting two days ahead; bar walk-up for tapas-only.
Conesa Entrepans on Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter has toasted bocadillos since 1951: 90+ fillings, Sant Jaume working classic.
Try: Toasted bocadillos
Tip: Closed Sunday. Order by number from the wall list; cash and card; counter takes 10 to 30 minutes.
La Cerveteca in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is the 200-bottle craft beer shop-and-tasting room with 14 taps and a Catalan-and-International rotation focused on style depth.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday. Bring your own cup and ask for off-menu drink-in pricing on cellar bottles.
La Merce is Barcelona's flagship Patron Saint festival around 24 September: open-air calçotada stands, vermouth stations and the human tower competitions.
Tip: Pick up the programme at any kiosk; major food stalls cluster on Avinguda de la Catedral and Plaça Reial.
Cook and Taste in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter runs three-hour Spanish-and-Catalan classes: paella, tapas, gazpacho, sangria, finished with a sit-down lunch.
Conesa Entrepans on Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter has run toasted bocadillos since 1951: 90+ fillings, 5 euro sandwich, a lunchtime steal.
Try: Toasted bocadillo
Tip: Closed Sunday. Order by number from the wall; counter takes 10 minutes.
Milk Bar and Bistro in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is the Irish-owned brunch room near Plaça Reial: eggs benedict, the Irish breakfast set, espresso martinis after 16:30.
Order: Eggs benedict, the Irish breakfast set, flat white espresso.
Tip: Brunch served until 16:30 every day. Weekend wait can hit 30 minutes; book mid-week for groups.
Milk Bar in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter serves the full brunch menu until 02:00: eggs benedict, the Irish breakfast set, espresso martinis once the kitchen has slowed.
Try: Brunch all night
Tip: Brunch menu runs until 02:00 daily. The walk-up bar takes orders after the kitchen slows at 23:30.