Birthday Jolidays

[WhitefieldFoodie Profile]

So it has been my 30th and Tiffs 31st on Saturday just gone. Have been spolit rotten, with a full day out in Ramsbottom, wining and dining each other, followed by surprise party when I got home with almost my friends and some family. Now we have just arrived in Barcelona, we stay here for 3 days before heading to San Sebastian on Thursday morning.

So the question is, do any of gastro hunters have any recommendations? (Maybe a question for Member 461?)

[Joanbunting Profile]

Very happy birthdays WFF and Tif. I'm sure Member 461 can help but amyway have a wonderful time

[Renee Profile]

Happy Birthdays to you and Tiff! Have a wonderful time in Barcelona!

Yes, Member 461 will be sure to recommend some good places to eat at!

[Stokey Sue Profile]

Happy Birthday WFF and Tiff!

I have a only a vague memory of Barcelona restaurants as it's some time since I went, but a cocktail in Boadas at the top of the Ramblas is always good.


http://boadascocktails.com/en/

[Alexandria Profile]

Whitefield Foodie,

Firstly, Happy Birthday to both of you.

I have to be honest, I do not like to recommend restaurants unless I have some idea of your Budget and gastonomic
likes and dislikes.

I know both Barcelona and San Sebastian, extraordinarily well however, why don´t you give us an idea of what you
would enjoy, and tell me approx, which neighborhoods are you most interested in ? Borne ? Eiample ? Raval ?

Same on San Sebastian .. And an approx cost factor for a lunch and a dinner ..

This would narrow down an entire book, so to speak, to just a few really special places perfect to celebrate your birthdays.

Do you want to eat regional Spanish or a foreign cuisine or two ?

Have a marvel of a holiday !

[Alexandria Profile]

Whitefield,

Also, I would suggest for a start off:

Quimet for cocktails or beers or glasses of wine & a tapa or two for sharing.

It is not quiet and the bar is always packed ..

If you prefer a quiet sit down café or bistro for drinks and tapas, I could suggest
quite a few.

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

I'm not Member 461.
But there's a bar called Nuria on las Ramblas, we used it for breakfasts and for our social drinkies (going in a family group, it's a great focal meeting point).
Late closing too.
The tourist bus out to the football stadium is super fun.
We ate for my significant birthday at 7 Portes. The queues go down the street, so you really need an early booking.

https://7portes.com/

San Sebastian.
Has the best tapas I've tasted in Spain, by a long way. Just eat tapas everywhere is Tony and my recommendation.

Twas my lovely sister's 60th at the weekend, you are sharing a significant birthday.
My niece, Jane and I = at a super local Thai restaurant on Saturday. We had a blast of a time, and they are all now in St Ives.

[WhitefieldFoodie Profile]

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and suggestions. We had some cocktails "The Hemingway" bar in Eixample, before heading for Sushi at Mako, we then finished with a drink in Boadas. (Thanks Sue)

Today we went to La boqueira for lunch and had some lovely simple tapa and a couple of canas. We are visiting Sagrada Familia tonight at 6pm. Before heading out for an evening of Tapas and Wine around the gothic quarter and Born.

Gill, what a wonderful picture, you all look very content indeed. I will check out 7 portes as we are staying just off Ramblas.

Member 461 we are after, mostly local food. We like to explore a place through what the locals munch and sup. As I say we are heading out to gothic quarter and Born tonight, so any inside tips would be great.

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[Renee Profile]

Great photos of the food and you both!! I can see that you're having a wonderful time.

Lovely photo of you and your niece Gill.

[Alexandria Profile]

Whitefield,

Thank you for your preferences.

The tapas bars / pintxo bars, I am going to mention are frequented by locals:

BARCELONETA:
Cava Bar La Xampanyeria
La Cova Fumada
Bar Jai Ca
La Bombeta

BORN:
Cal´ Pep
Bar Del Pla
Bar Celta Pulperia
Bormuth

MARKET:
Santa Caterina Market - Bar Joan

BASQUE TAPAS & PINTXOS (pronounced "pin chos") IN BARCELONA:
Rosal 34

TINY BAKERY:
Hoffmann Pastisseria

FABULOUS BARS:
Quimet & Quimet
Bar Tómas
El Rincón de Cava
Bar La Plata
Bar Suculent
Bodega la Punctual - Wine Bar

RICES & FIDEUÀ:
Bosque Palermo
Artespañol

ALBERT ADRIA´s WINE & TAPAS BAR:
Bodega 1900 ( )

Have a wonderful time ..

Happy Birthday.

[karadekoolaid Profile]

I´d thoroughly recommend Cal Pep and Cerveceria Catalana.
But anywhere you pop into, especially near and around La Rambla, you´ll get great food.
Ask for xonxos...

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Ask for xonxos...

Bless you!

An excellent montage collage forrus, Wildie. I'll be checking out these recommendations again if we get to Barcelona in June.

Renee
The lady in the middle is my oldest sister, Jane.
We had an unusual upbringing in the 60/70's, as having a black sister amongst blue eyed blond haired siblings wasn't the norm you would see today.
My dad was a lovely man, and when my mum his friend was pregnant, he offered to marry her, and take her away from it all.
60 years ago.

[Joanbunting Profile]

You are a good looking lot Gill !! Lovely photo.

WFF I see you didn't need too much advice really. Glad you are having a wonderful time. I hope the weather is as lovely as it is here.

[Alexandria Profile]

Pintxo / Tapas Bars in San Sebastian, Donostia:

Borda Berri: A cramped traditional authentic Basque bar with authentic tapas including Idiazabal sheep cheese and braised beef cheeks.

Atari Gastroteka: Known for their artichokes and beetroot risotto.

A Fuego Negro

Paco Bueno

La Cuchara de San Telmo: Cuchara is spoon, so most of the tapas here are Avant garde but with a twist on authentic classic Basque Ingredients only.

Bar Txepetxa

La Viña


All our exemplary and frequented predominately by locals ..

Have a fabulous trip.

[WhitefieldFoodie Profile]

Hi all

I have fallen from the face of the earth again recent due to work and life commitments. Hope everyone is well.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142328116 ... res/p198Km

I have popped the pictures of the crazily beautiful food of San Seb into a Flickr folder as to not clog up people's screen. Thanks for all your recommendations. San Seb is truly the world's finest foodie destination, well it is for me anyway

[Sakkarin Profile]

Good grief, every day is feast day! Clearly the "nouvelle cuisine" sized portions that seem so popular over here passed San Sebastian by. I am afraid my day in San Sebastian in 1976 was on student rations/budget, the Heineken pic about sums up my time there!

[Alexandria Profile]

Sakkarin,

San Sebastian and Bilbao are two of the treasures
of the Iberian Peninsula.

The whole north in actuality ..

The key is, go to the venues, locals
go to ..

What is some one´s treasure we say, is another
person´s junk .. And vice versa.

The Basque, The Galician if you are a shellfish
enthusiast, Asturias, Navarra, La Rioja,
Girona, Barcelona and the Madrid Capital
are all very special ..

Cadiz, Cazorla & The Jaen Capital, Plasencia & Cacéres, Extremadura
have extraordinary tapas as well ..

So, it is all personal and subjective.

Have a lovely day.

[Joanbunting Profile]

Looks wonderful WFF. That amount of food would last me months!

[Renee Profile]

Fabulous photos WFF! You food photography is excellent!