Els Quatre Gats

Frommer's Review

This has been a Barcelona legend since 1897. The "Four Cats" (Catalan slang for "just a few people") was a favorite of Picasso, Rusiñol, and other artists who once hung their works on its walls. (Reproductions still adorn them.) On a narrow cobblestone street in the Barri Gòtic, the fin de siècle cafe has been the setting for poetry readings by Joan Maragall, piano concerts by Isaac Albéniz and Ernie Granados, and murals by Ramón Casas. It was a base for members of the modernista movement and figured in the city's intellectual and bohemian life.

Today the restored cafe-restaurant is still a popular meeting place. Considering the restaurant's location, the fixed-price meal is one of the better bargains in town, and dinner dining is a good bet given the overall grandeur. The homespun Catalan cooking here is called cucina de mercat (based on whatever looked fresh at the market) but will always include such classics as suquet de peix (a fish and potato hot-pot) and faves a la catalana (baby broad beans with Serrano ham). The constantly changing menu reflects the seasons. For the best atmosphere come at lunch -- in the evenings it sometimes gets a bit too touristy with musicians playing banal 1960s Spanish pop songs.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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