Bar Cañete

Bar Cañete takes the format of a classic Spanish tapas bar and polishes it. A long counter runs the length of the room, with cooks working in full view, and there is also a dining room for those who prefer a table. The menu is made up of traditional tapas and dishes built on fish and seafood from Catalan markets and vegetables from local growers, and it changes with the seasons.

Sit at the counter if you can, as you can watch the cooks at work and ask them what is best that day, and order a spread of small plates to share, guided by what the staff recommend that day. Expect familiar Spanish classics prepared with care alongside seasonal specials that depend on what the markets supply, and ask the staff for wine suggestions to match.

The kitchen is open from 1pm to midnight, Monday to Saturday, without a break, which makes Bar Cañete useful for a late lunch, an early dinner or a meal after a performance at the nearby Liceu. It is closed on Sundays for weekly rest, and also on the evening of 24 December, on 25 December, on the evening of 31 December and on 1 January. Booking is recommended, especially for the counter at dinner time, and can be made on the official website or by phone. Gift vouchers are also sold online.

The bar suits couples and small groups who enjoy lively, convivial dining, and solo diners do well at the counter. It is mid-priced for the quality and location, though the bill can climb if you order generously. The atmosphere is busy and noisy in the evening, so it is less suited to a quiet, intimate meal.

Bar Cañete is on Carrer de la Unió, a narrow street running off La Rambla beside the Gran Teatre del Liceu in El Raval. Liceu station on metro line L3 is a two-minute walk away. La Boqueria is just up La Rambla for a morning visit, and the Palau Güell, Gaudí's townhouse for Eusebi Güell, is a few minutes away on Carrer Nou de la Rambla. After dinner, the bars around Plaça Reial are across La Rambla.