Restaurant
Disfrutar
Three-Michelin-star restaurant in the Eixample run by former elBulli chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas, serving long, playful tasting menus.
Quimet & Quimet
A tiny, bottle-lined Poble Sec bar open since 1914, famous for montaditos topped with premium tinned seafood and assembled at the counter.
At a glance
- Type
- Montaditos and conservas bar
- Area
- Poble Sec, Barcelona, Spain
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- quimetquimet.com
Good to know
- Standing room
Why we recommend it
Quimet & Quimet opened in 1914 as a family wine bar in Poble Sec, and it is now run by Quim, the great-grandson of the founder and the fourth generation, with help from his sister Joana and his wife Carmen. The bar has no kitchen at all. Instead, everything is assembled at the counter from top-quality conservas, the tinned and preserved seafood that Spain takes very seriously, together with cheeses, cured meats and vegetables.
The speciality is montaditos, small toasts piled with combinations that are part tradition and part invention. Regulars order the salmon with yoghurt and truffled honey, or artichoke with Brillat-Savarin cream and confit tomato, while plates of cockles, razor clams, sardines, clams, tuna belly, mojama and anchovies show off the quality of the tins. More than 500 wines line the walls from floor to ceiling, and there is a house craft beer made with the Barcelona Beer Company, on tap and in bottles.
The space is tiny, with room for around 30 people, and most of them stand at the counter or around small ledges. It fills up quickly, especially in the early evening and at weekend lunchtimes, so arrive soon after opening or be prepared to wait outside. Opening hours are not published on the official website, so check before setting out, and bear in mind that many family bars in Barcelona close for part of August. Payment and ordering are informal: point at what looks good, ask for recommendations and keep ordering in small rounds.
Quimet & Quimet suits curious eaters, wine lovers and anyone who enjoys the buzz of a traditional bar. It is better for an aperitif or a light meal than a full sit-down dinner, and it is not ideal for large groups or small children because of the space. Prices are moderate, though a long session with good wine adds up.
The bar is on Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes, a few minutes' walk from Paral·lel station on metro lines L2 and L3. The pintxos bars of Carrer de Blai are around the corner, the theatres of Avinguda del Paral·lel are nearby, and Xemei is a short walk away at the foot of Montjuïc for a sit-down dinner afterwards.
Quimet & Quimet FAQs
Does Quimet & Quimet have a kitchen?
No. Everything is prepared at the counter, mostly from high-quality tinned seafood.
How long has it been open?
Since 1914; it is now run by the fourth generation of the family.
What should you order?
Montaditos such as salmon with yoghurt and truffled honey, plus plates of tinned seafood like cockles or tuna belly.
Is there seating?
Very little. The bar holds around 30 people, most of them standing.
How many wines are there?
More than 500, plus a house craft beer made with the Barcelona Beer Company.
When is the best time to go?
Soon after opening, before it fills up in the early evening.
Which metro station is nearest?
Paral·lel, on lines L2 and L3.
What is the phone number?
+34 93 442 31 42.