A Special Route | Taste and Architecture

Having delicious local dishes and delightful desserts while also enjoying beautiful architecture – that’s the kind of route to highlight just how many facets Barcelona can offer, at the same time.

When it comes to Barcelona architecture, words like distinctive, varied, bold or unique are among the many that come to mind.

Having blended the old and the new in a way that makes this city simply breathtakingly beautiful, Barcelona has got a unique atmosphere that radiates out from its architecture.

The Catalan cuisine is equally as original, a delightful mix of contrasting, yet balanced textures. And the route below focuses right on this amazing diversity of tastes in both aesthetics and culinary traditions.

Breakfast at Amatller

Modernist Architecture Icons, the History of Chocolate and a Secret Inner Garden for Savoring Them All

One of the best things to start with, when in Barcelona, is a morning walk down the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, the famous avenue displaying a blend of unique architectural heritage, cafes, bistros, restaurants and high-end shopping – the Catalan equivalent of New York’s Fifth Avenue and Paris’s Champs-Élysées.

In 1898 the Amatller family commissioned the Catalan architect and politician Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1867-1956) to refurbish the building. Casa Amatller combines the neo-Gothic style with a ridged façade inspired by houses in the Netherlands. Casa Amatller was declared an artistic historical monument in 1976. The facade features sculptures, cast iron works, sgraffito and brightly colored ceramics to emphasize the original upper part of the building.

The hot chocolate is served with slightly toasted fresh bread.

The interior staircase of Casa Amatller has a generous stained glass ceiling above.

Part of the ground floor of Casa Amatller is now Cafe Faborit. Photo: Dolce City

The packaging of Amatller includes arworks by Alphonse Mucha, among many other important artists of the beignning of the 20th century.

Passing by elegant urban residences that rival each other in the richness and originality, we stop right in the middle of the Apple of Discord, at Faborit Casa Amatller, for a savory breakfast that includes one of the most famous hot chocolates: Amatller’s xocolata desfeta or chocolate a la taza. We enjoy original interior designs by renowned Modernist Catalan architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, a nice interior patio, as well as the facades of the other buildings, belonging to architects Antoni Gaudí and Lluis Domènech i Montaner) that form the unique Apple of Discord of Barcelona.

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Heading to the next stop, we cross the area of Eixample and Plaça Catalunya, entering the charming district of San Antoni.

Brunch at Fàbrica Moritz

Contemporary Industrial Design Blended with History, Topped Up with a Catalan Specialty and Local Beer

Moritz is the oldest and still active beer producer of Spain. It started on Catalan ground, brought here by an Alsacian, and became a part of the history of the entire country.

The former factory of the Moritz beer is, today, a gastronomic space with microbrewery, as well as museum and events venue.

Fresh unpasteurized beer, brewed daily, is available at the bar and the restaurant.

In 2011 the building reopened after an extensive renovation by French architect Jean Nouvel. This is the part of interior with the operating tanks and the raw fish and seafood bar.

The traditional Catalan cod fish salad is named Esqueixada, meaning that the salted, dry cod is being shredded with the fingers to achieve the correct texture. The salad comes with onion, tomatoes and olives., a true delight of various textures and tastes.

For more on Moritz advertising history, go to http://www.lahistoriadelapublicidad.com/marca-1175/moritz

Refurbished by French architect Jean Nouvel, Fàbrica Moritz is today a microbrewery and gastronomic space, as well as the Moritz flagship. The food menu is signed by Chef Jordi Vilà and includes many Catalan delicacies, among which the local patatas bravas or (my favorite) esqueixada salad, as well as lots of fish and seafood dishes to share.

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Then, heading to the next stop, we cross the areas of Raval and Gothic, entering the vibrant district of el Born.

Lunch at Mercat de Santa Caterina

Contemporary Conceptual Design, Market Experience and Kitchen with a Generous Selection of Local Dishes

Mercat de Santa Caterina opened in 1848, being the first covered market in Barcelona, and was completely refurbished in 2005 by EMBT Architects. The old food market revealed a new gleaming and undulating roof, designed to be seen from the air and covered in a vast mosaic of brightly colored ceramic pieces.

The roof is made out of hexagonal types in 60 different shades, representing an abstract image of the market’s veggies and fruit.

The open kitchen of Cuines de Mercat is enclosed by a food bar, the best place to have your lunch while catching all the action. Above, you might notice the names of the dishes – being displayed when they are ready to be served.

The design belongs to Tarruella Trenchs Studios who say that they aimed to create a space where different cuisines meet different cultures, using the language of the market, where all the products are shown to the sight: big wooden shelves try to keep the concept of the larder, and they also create a visual filter between the client and the street. The vegetation inside this space refers to all those products grown at the vegetable gardens, naturally grown. It tries to give more power to the idea of a natural, fresh product and creates a space which is alive.

This is one of the iconic Catalan tastes, and can be used in various dishes.

Next to the stalls there is a series of bistros and restaurants, among which Cuines de Santa Caterina has a menu that carefully reflects the variety of market products into their breakfast, lunch and dinner. The interior design belongs to Tarruella Trenchs Studios.

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Connect the places

Enjoy!