La Cova Fumada in Barcelona's Barceloneta serves bombas and anchovies under 14 euros: cash-only, lunchtime weekday, the canonical pre-elBulli neighbourhood lunch.
Tip: Open weekday lunch only; cash only. Three bombas, anchovies and a beer for 12 euros.
Address: Carrer del Baluard 56, 08003 Barcelona
Can Paixano in Barcelona's Barceloneta pours pink cava at 1.50 euros and serves a chorizo bocadillo at 1.50: three cavas and a bocadillo is 8 euros total.
Try: Cava and chorizo bocadillo
Tip: Open Mon-Sat lunchtime and evenings. Standing only; the bar closes by 22:00 on weekdays.
Can Paixano in Barcelona's Barceloneta pours pink cava at 1.50 euros and serves a chorizo bocadillo at 1.50: three cavas and a bocadillo is 8 euros total.
Try: Cava and chorizo bocadillo
Tip: Open Mon-Sat lunchtime and evenings. Standing only; the bar closes by 22:00 on weekdays.
Can Vilaro in Barcelona's Sant Antoni runs a 13 euro menu del dia Mon-Sat lunch: three courses with bread, water, glass of wine and dessert; cash easier than card.
Try: Catalan three-course lunch
Tip: Closed Sunday. The 13 euro menu del dia runs 13:30 to 16:00. Cash easier than card here.
Casa Julia in Barcelona's Born runs a 13 euro three-course Catalan menu del dia Mon-Sat lunch: bread, water, glass of red, dessert, all part of the price.
Try: Catalan menu del dia
Tip: Closed Sunday. The Wednesday lunch is the cleanest catch; book for groups of four or more.
Casa Fernandez in Barcelona's Sant Antoni runs an open-late kitchen with main courses under 14 euros: steak frites, fried squid, every day until 01:00.
Try: Open-late Catalan kitchen
Tip: Open every day until 01:00. The fried squid is the late-night order; cash and card.
Honest Greens in Barcelona's Eixample runs a 10 euro grain-and-protein bowl from a counter: order, sit anywhere, the daily salad-protein rotation runs weekly.
Try: Salad bowl
Tip: Open daily until 23:30. The protein bowl with the rotating daily salad is the value pick under 14 euros.
The Fish and Chips Shop in Barcelona's Eixample runs a takeaway window: beer-battered cod, chunky chips and mushy peas at 9 euros for a single portion.
Try: Cod and chips takeaway
Tip: Open daily; the takeaway window is faster than dining-in. Cash and card both accepted.
