Cafè de l’Òpera

Few cafés in Barcelona have as long a history as the Cafè de l'Òpera. Before May 1831 this address on La Rambla was a chocolate shop, from 1831 until the end of 1928 it was a restaurant, and since 1929 it has operated as a café. Its old-fashioned interior recalls that long history, and its position directly opposite the Gran Teatre del Liceu has made it a favourite with operagoers and performers for generations.

Come for a morning coffee and pastry, a hot chocolate in the afternoon or a drink late at night. The café serves the full range of coffees, teas and soft drinks, along with snacks and light dishes, and it also has a bar side with spirits and cocktails: it keeps a collection of bottles that it calls its bottle museum and has received an award for its whisky selection. Hot chocolate is a classic choice in the cooler months, reflecting the building's origins.

The café opens every day from 8.30am until 2.30am, so it is useful at almost any hour, whether for breakfast before the market or a nightcap after a performance at the Liceu. Tables by the windows look out over La Rambla, which makes it a good place to watch the street. Prices are higher than in neighbourhood cafés, reflecting the location, but the setting makes up for it. Keep an eye on bags, as on the rest of La Rambla.

Cafè de l'Òpera suits anyone wanting a taste of old Barcelona café life, including couples, solo travellers and families, and it is a good meeting point thanks to its central position. Its long opening hours also make it a dependable stop on an evening walk through the old town.

The café is at La Rambla 74, a few steps from Liceu station on metro line L3. La Boqueria is a couple of minutes up La Rambla, Plaça Reial and the Barri Gòtic are across the street, and the Palau Güell is nearby on Carrer Nou de la Rambla. The Liceu offers guided tours of its auditorium in the daytime, and a coffee here is a natural way to start or end a visit.