Autumn has appeared and Barcelona is changing along…

Streets are getting quieter, sun is shining less clearly but still enough to enjoy a cup of coffee outside of the bar. Evenings however, became chilly, so when it comes to dinner, it is important to choose a warm and pleasant place.

Last time we talked about Jamon Iberico, where we explained why this product is so original and important for Spanish gastronomic culture. This time, we would like to share our recommendations of two restaurants with great quality food and equally good atmosphere.

Casa Alfonso

Casa Alfonso is located between Eixample and El Born areas, next to metro Urquinaona. This 80 year old restaurant has several seats outside, and much more inside.

When we entered the restaurant, on the left side a butcher was cutting jamon on guests’ eyes. The place was filled with warm lights and enjoyable hum of voices.  We decided to seat in front of the bar and have a glass of wine for a warm up.

We chose “Vino de la casa” from Priorat region. Priorat is one of the most well-known Catalan wine regions. (If you want to know more about Catalan wines, we recommend you our article)

The place serves a vast range of tapas and traditional Spanish specialties but this time we wanted to concentrate on pure taste of Jamon Iberico.

We ordered a tapas plate of “jamón iberico de bellota” acorn fed ham, and a serving of pan con tomate.

The food looked delicious. For the first time it’s good to sample a sip of wine and then jamon by itself. Then, the nutty flavor comes out and you can finally enjoy the original taste of jamon!

Delicately grilled bread with strong aroma of olive oil and juicy tomato, that made us really satisfied!

Casa Alfonso is the place where a good taste is a key word. It is a place for food lovers.

The other spot is located in Poblenou, a neighborhood with far fewer tourists than other neighborhoods in Barcelona. (Check Poblenou in order to find the best Horchata!)

Recasens

Recasens is placed on the main street called Rambla del Poblenou 102. The restaurant is run by the family and now the fifth generation is taking care of the business.

When we entered the place, we felt like home. Moreover… When you see people waiting in a line to get inside (on Thursday evening), it means, that people who create the atmosphere and food are doing their job really well.

This time we want to show you just a glimpse of Recasens…

The restaurant seems to be somebody’s house changed into an eating place and each room of the “apartment” has its own name like Dali or Van Gogh. Lovely!

Another time we will tell you more about our experience at Recasens. At this moment let’s see how the specialty de la casa looks like:

Iberiam Ham, cured meat and cheese. Delicious.

Jamon iberico is perceived as the best product of Spain. Thanks to its popularity, many restaurants and bars offer jamon as their specialty. We have to admit however, that finding a good place in Barcelona to eat high quality food, is a tall order. That’s why we always want to share with you our opinions and recommendations. We hope you enjoy it!

Barcelona is changing with seasons but in some places food tastes as good as always. Let’s warm up these chilly evenings and complement them with an appropriate amount of wine and Spanish delicatessens. Jamon, wine, pan con tomate. What else?

Waiting for your comments,

FLC

All Photos by: Aneta Maciejewska