june-2011

[ feature ]
BARCELONA
THE HISTORIC
PLAZA FELIP
NERI
(omelette restaurant), Flash
Flash on C/ Granada del
Penedés. The tortillas, and
the chic ’60s-style décor, are
absolutely brilliant.
Go further: Continue up
Passeig de Gracia into
Barrio Gotico
“Plaça Vuit de Març. Just re-named
this year after the International
Women’s Day, this little square has
been done up with a new children’s
park in the middle and extra trees.
On one side is a wall that is made
out of the remains of a Roman
aqueduct, while another has an old
priests’ house now used by a book
company that produces religious
tomes. If you’re looking for a bit
of calm from the nearby chaos of
Plaça Catalunya and Portal del
Angel, the café-restaurant Bosco
is ideal for catching your breath.
(www.casabosco.es)”
40 WIZZ MAGAZINE // JUNE/JULY 2011
Gracia, where locals go for
a night out. Begin around the
Fontana metro station and
C/ Verdi – if you’re looking for
cheap eats, try the excellent
Lebanese restaurants on
C/ Verdi.
THE LOCAL EXPERT
Hannah Pennell is the editor of Barcelona Metropolitan, the city’s Englishlanguage
magazine. Here are her favourite places in each of the four districts:
Barceloneta
“If you’re here in the summer
months, head to the Centre de la
Platja, or Beach Centre (in front
of Hospital del Mar) – they have
books, magazines and papers, with
some in English, sports equipment
to rent, as well as buckets and
spades, and ID bracelets for kids in
case you get separated.”
El Raval
“Casa Leopoldo. A pricey option but
definitely one to go if someone else
is paying or for a special occasion.
Classic Barcelona restaurant
with excellent fish and delicious
BAR LOBO, ONE OF THE
CITIES BEST CAFÉS
PHOTOGRAPHER: MARIANO HERRERA,
FASHION DIRECTOR: NINO BAUTI, HAIR
& MAKE-UP: MANUELA PANE KASTEEL,
MODEL: TESSA VANDER WEYDEN.
MODEL WEARS: WHITE BLAZER BY PAUL
AND JOE. BEIGE VEST BY HUGO BOSS
BLACK. SKIRT BY ASOS
slow-cooked, meat-falling-offthe-bone
stews, but whatever you
order is likely to be scrumptious.
Find it on C/ Sant Rafael 24.”
Eixample
“Forn de Sant Jaume. A small
bakery, chocolate shop and café
on the lovely, tree-lined Rambla
Catalunya (it also has a terrace
for an al fresco experience). The
café side has diner-style alcoves,
or sit up at the bar for your
morning coffee while ogling the
array of cakes, sweets and other
deliciousnesses on the other side of
the shop. It’s at no. 50.”
DON’T MISS...
If you’re in Barceloneta on the
night of 23 June, don’t expect to
get a lot of sleep; this is the night
of St John (San Juan). From early
evening, families gather on the
beach, and everyone from Granny
to the youngest child comes armed
with a big bag of fireworks. For
a few hours the area is one huge,
chaotic fireworks display, which
then turns into an all-night party.
At dawn, revellers jump over the
bonfires (apparently it’s good luck)
before cooling off in the sea. As
religious ceremonies go, it’s about
as exciting as you can get!