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SpanishEixample
Casa Amalia (hidden) in Barcelona: 1950s Catalan dining room on a Passatge nobody walks; bacalla a la llauna and weekday menu del dia for 19 euros.
Why locals go1950s Catalan dining room on a Passatge nobody walks; bacalla a la llauna and weekday menu del dia for 19 euros.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. The 19 euro menu del dia at lunch is the value pick; locals book mid-week.
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Tasting menuEixample
Manairo (hidden) is jordi herrera's one-michelin-star room east of the plaça de les glòries; lower profile than the eixample stars on passeig de gracia.
Why locals goJordi Herrera's one-Michelin-star room east of the Plaça de les Glòries; lower profile than the Eixample stars on Passeig de Gracia.
TipClosed Sunday. The 45 euro menu del dia at lunch is the entry; dinner doubles it.
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Tasting menuSant Gervasi
Hisop (hidden) is a tasting menu room in Sant Gervasi. Closed Sunday-Monday. The tasting menu is the safer order over the carte; lunch is calmer than dinner.
Why locals goOriol Ivern's minimalist room on a Sant Gervasi pasaje holds a Michelin star and is routinely flagged as Barcelona's most affordable starred kitchen.
TipClosed Sunday-Monday. The tasting menu is the safer order over the carte; lunch is calmer than dinner.
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Tasting menuSarria
Via Veneto (hidden) in Barcelona: Belle Epoque dining room above the Diagonal; held a Michelin star since 1974 but sits outside the tourist heatmap.
Why locals goBelle Epoque dining room above the Diagonal; held a Michelin star since 1974 but sits outside the tourist heatmap.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. The 150 euro tasting menu is the entry; the wine cellar visit is the move.
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SpanishSant Antoni
Casa Fernandez (hidden) in Barcelona: Open kitchen running until 01:00 every night; one of the rare late-night Catalan rooms not in a hotel.
Why locals goOpen kitchen running until 01:00 every night; one of the rare late-night Catalan rooms not in a hotel.
TipOpen every day until 01:00. The fried squid and steak frites are the post-show order.
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Japanese ramenEixample
Ramen-Ya Hiro (hidden) in Barcelona: japanese ramen room. Tonkotsu counter on the wrong end of Girona; the 12-hour-broth bowl is on no Catalan worth a visit.
Why locals goTonkotsu counter on the wrong end of Girona; the 12-hour-broth bowl is on no Catalan worth a visit list but the chef-trade queues for it.
TipClosed Monday. The lunchtime queue starts at 13:30; the early dinner sitting at 19:30 is the walk-up window.