Barcelona L’Eixample Dreta

Laie Llibreria Cafe, C. Pau Claris, 85 (☎933 18 17 39; www.laie.es/cafe/PauClaris_prin_es.php). Urquinaona, L1/4. Additional locations at Marques de Camillas 6-8 (☎934 76 86 69) and Montcada 15-23 (☎932 68 43 92). An ultra-hip lunch spot for more than just bookworms. Cheap, fresh, and plentiful all-you-can-eat Catalan buffet lunch (M-F €14, Sa-Su €17) in an open, bamboo-draped room. Grab a praline cappuccino (€2.50) at the bar on the way out. Vegetarian options available. Internet €1 per 15min. Open M-F 9am-1am, Sa 10am-1am. AmEx/MC/V.
La Muscleria, C. Mallorca, 290 (☎934 58 98 44; www.muscleria.com), on the corner with C. Bruc. Verdaguer, L4/5. In this bustling basement, you’ll get a whole pot of mussels to yourself with fries on the side. The crustaceans come in any size, shape, and flavor (try “white wine”) and are culled from Catalunya, France, Galicia, and The Netherlands. Entrees with fries from €9.50. Salads €7. Cocas €8. Reservations recommended F-Sa. Open M-Sa 1-4pm and 8:30-11:30pm, Su 1-4pm. MC/V.
Can Cargol, C. València, 324 (☎934 58 96 31; www.cancargol.es), on the corner with C. Bruc. Girona, L4. Extremely popular—and thus noisy—Catalan restaurant with make-your-own pan con tomate, charcoal-grilled meats, and lots of snail options. Platos del dia €5-6. Reservations recommended F-Su. Open 1:30-4pm and 8:30pm-midnight.
Blue Mandalay Café, C. Provença, 330 (☎93 458 60 17; www.mandalaycafe.net), between C. Roger de Llúria and C. Bruc. Verdaguer, L4/5. Exotic pan-Asian cuisine, including gourmet dim sum, Vietnamese noodles, seared fish, delicate meat, and elegant salads, served in a room so draped in color and sultanesque luxury (you can eat on a bed!) that it’s been featured in books on interior design. F-Sa night trapeze artist around 11pm. Variable extra cover charge for show (around €2.50). Wheelchair-accessible. Entrees €9-13. Open Tu-Sa 8:30pm-midnight. AmEx/MC/V.
Wok & Bol, C. Diputació, 294 (☎ 933 02 76 75), between C. Roger de Llúria and C. Bruc. Girona, L4. An elegant, colorful Chinese restaurant serving dim sum (€5-8 per small dish) and Peking duck (€18 per person) in addition to more common dishes like chow mein and veggie stir-fry (€6-8). Reservations recommended. Open M-Sa 1:30-3:30pm and 9:15-11:30pm.
El Rodizio Grill, C. Consell de Cent, 403 (☎932 65 51 12), right next to Girona, L4. All-you-can-eat Brazilian and Mediterranean buffet à la churrascaria: grilled shish-kebab-style chicken, salmon, and cod. Cold dishes include sushi, pasta, and salads. M-F lunch menù €19. Sa-Su lunch and dinner menù €21. Includes 1 drink and coffee. Rich desserts €3.30-5.50. Open M-Th 1-4pm and 9pm-midnight, F-Sa 1-4pm and 9pm-1am, Su 1-4pm.
Campechano, C. València, 286 (☎932 15 62 33; campechanobarcelona.com), just to the right of Pg. de Gràcia when you’re coming from Pl. de Catalunya. Catalunya, L1/3. This restaurant goes all out to recreate the atmosphere of a 1940s merendero (barbecue—picnic area) on the Barcelona mountainside, from a few real trees and a painted forest wall to train signs marking your progress “toward the mountain.” Picnic tables make it perfect for large groups. Choose your favorite meat or poultry from their extensive list. French fries, salads, and a few other dishes serve as sides. Menú €10. Salads €4-6. Entrees €6-15. Open M 8am-2pm, Tu-Sa 8am-2am.
A-Tipic, C. Bruc, 79 (☎932 15 51 06), between C. Aragó and C. Consell de Cent. Girona, L4. A lunchtime gem for vegetarians. A simple buffet (€10) that tastes more like home than a cafeteria, served in a relaxing blue and yellow dining room. Excellent choice of salad, rice, pasta, and veggie calzones. Open Sept.-July M-F 1-4pm. MC/V.
Cafe Parc Belmont, C. Lepant, 256 (☎932 31 13 58). Sagrada Família. Walk downhill on C. Lepant. It’s on the left. This tapas bar gets it right; it has both a better atmosphere (bright orange walls decorated with framed, old-fashioned photographs) and better food than most similar venues. Large, delicious salads €4-6. Tapas €1-8. Open M-Sa 9am-11pm. Closed Su.
Frida’s Restaurante Mexicana, C. Bruc, 115 (☎934 57 54 09‎). Passeig de Gràcia. Walk down C. Arago until you hit C. Bruc; make a left. This fun, piñata-decorated restaurant is well up the block on the left. Your go-to for “real Mexican” (not Tex-Mex) from tacos (€1.90) to pozole (€7). Lunch menú €11, ½- menú €6.90. Margaritas €5-6. Open M-Tu 1-4pm, W-Sa 8:30am-2am, closed Su.
Llibreria Cafe La Xocolatada, C. Buenos Aires, 44 (☎934 05 06 81). Hospital Ciutat. Walk up C. Villaroel until you hit C. Buenos Aires; make a right. Not to be confused with Laie Libreria cafe, this adorable, intimate, mom-and-pop bookstore has a small coffee counter in the back. Cortado €1.20. All the books displayed are available for sale. Open M-F 10am-5pm, Sa-Su noon-4pm.
El Trencadis, C. Sant Antoni Maria Clare, 163-165 (☎934 56 74 22; www.eltrencadis.com). Hospital Sant Pau. Walk down C. de la Industria and make a right on C. de Cartagena; it’s at the intersection with Sant Antoni Maria Clare. Avoid the many touristy restaurants on Av. de Gaudí and come here instead. You won’t hear much English here—but you will see locals eating fresh tapas and filling lunch menú (€9.90). Kitchen open noon-midnight. Open 7am-2am.
Raco Ecologic, C. Bruc, 86 (☎934 67 86 86). Passeig de Gràcia. Walk down C. Arago until you hit C. Bruc; make a left. This small eco-friendly restaurant has bright green walls adorned with pictures of plants and a green-friendly menu, too. The lunch menú (€10) includes 1 Mediterranean option, 1 vegetarian option, and 1 macrobiotic option (a “must try”). Salads €4.60-4.90. Open M-F 7am-5pm.
Cullera de Boix, C. Ronda de St. Pere, 24 (☎932 68 13 36; www.culleradeboix.com), between C. Bruc and Pl. Urquinaona. Urquinaona, L1/4. With metal chairs, light wood tables, and sleek cylindrical lamps, this restaurant could easily be in Manhattan. Fresh and varied tapas (€3.30-11) include brie served with tomato. Entrees €13-20. Weekend reservations recommended. Open M-Th and Su 1-4pm and 8-11pm, F-Sa 1-4pm and 8-11:30pm. AmEx/MC/V.