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Barcelona Safe City
Common sense, responsibility, and trust Today, allow me to be the first-person narrator. I need to share with you the enormous concern that we Barcelonans feel about the alarming news released by our “authorities” which, as is usual in all the media, are amplified, dramatized, and try to search at all costs for the most negative side of things. To make us feel fear and desolation. In line with this, a few days ago, my friend Paula Fernández Ochoa wrote a post on LinkedIn that reproduced my thoughts in an exemplary way, here I share it with you: #ICannotNorWantMoreOfThisGarbage ?Enough is enough? There is no right on public television to…
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SPARK – Ember’s Workshop
When it comes to Brasseries in Barcelona, the list can be overwhelming and misleading sometimes. To put an extra to this mess, honouring our #GastroThursdayByContinental we post today about the new ember restaurant in Barcelona: SPARK Located in La Dreta de l’Eixample (Right Eixample), the singular house called Casa Fabra in Diputació street between Girona and Bruc Str. has integrated the new newyork-loft style Restaurant SPARK at barely 10 min from Casa Batlló, Arc de Triomf and at two blocks from Passeig de Sant Joan. Inside the SPARK the first view is traditional architecture masked with sophisticated tendencies and elements such as the uncoated bricks, the exposed structural and functional…
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Feria de abril de Catalunya is back
Over the 60s and 70s it took place in Spain a major demographic shift. For workers in Andalusia, Catalonia became the land of opportunity. Even such was the number of immigrants installed that (exaggeration) Catalonia came to be considered “the ninth province” of Andalusia. It is for this reason that for 45 years it has been celebrated in Catalonia one of the most colorful and authentic fairs of Sevilla, La Feria de Abril. Until May 1, you are given the opportunity to unleash the flamenco in you in this 46th FERIA DE ABRIL DE CATALUNYA. And for the last 12 years, this 2017 edition is held at the Parc Forum in…
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Señorito: The Art of Andalusian Tapas in Barcelona
Step out the district of Raval, all the way left from our two Hotels Continental in Barcelona, we find Sant Antoni neighbourhood. This area is the legacy of the former Sant Antoni Marketplace –which still exists nowadays but renovated into an open air market like the Boqueria even larger and not so crowded. After the reopening of the market, the neighbourhood was awakening. Old bookstalls, cards and stamps booths and all sort of unusual products were conforming the local offer. Sant Antoni had so much to be delighted by back then. Even today, the mentioned legacy of such a market is the gastronomy in there. In a very short period of…
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The NBA in Barcelona
In a true American style, the NBA already has its spot in Barcelona. We recently spoke of The Garden of Messi, and how the rosary player created a single town within Barcelona to enjoy the best football with entertainment and cuisine. It is now up to the big North-American basketball league to inaugurate in Barcelona the NBA Café. It is a theme restaurant designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán, a trained architect and innate designer with projects in hotels and restaurants worldwide. Among them, Rosa-Violán was the creator of the VIP area and VIP boxes at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao and was the interior designer of El Nacional in Barcelona.…
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The Messi’s Garden
Under the short name of “Bellavista del Jardín del Norte”, our worldwide football star has just opened a Restaurant in Barcelona, in Enric Granados 86-88 at barely 15min from our Continental Hotels. This is not a restaurant but a little town. The venue with a thousand square meters give much game. Bellavista del Jardín del Norte is an actual town with its own church, main square, grocery shop and other parochial typicalities. The FC Barcelona player along with his brothers and the culinary entrepreneurs Iglesias brothers as well have created this space -for most “The Messi’s Garden”- to bring to all the foodies their particular town to comeback within Barcelona.…
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It Rains Plans and More
We could actually say that in Barcelona it rains down 4 days in April. However, in one of those what seemed to be a sunny morning becomes a grey and overcast sky. Suddenly, instead of 4 drops, we are facing a tremendous downpour. Do not despair. We know you have been planning your trip for days and finally your getaway weekend and your plans have been boiled as the weatherman played a trick on you. Again, do not despair. In the following lines we are giving you some PLAN B to your scheduled visit to Park Güell, the wander down Las Ramblas to the Port… Still go have a drink!…
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Bar Bas Restaurant
Right between Hotel Continental Barcelona and Hotel Continental Palacete, Bar Bas has recently opened its doors to delight both locals and visitors palates. Located in La Rambla de Catalunya, 7, this brand new tapas restaurant offers an extensive menu combining Spanish most traditional and successful dishes with also Catalan seasonal cuisine, offered with a carefully selected wine list from diferent Spain designations of origin. Among their tapas specialties we stand out the homemade anchovies and the fresh anchovies with vinegar, which can be found in their ‘canned food’ (El Tapeo enlatado) menu section. From their Clásicos section (Classics), we highlight the croquettes, candied chicken and their Olivier Salad. The ‘Just…
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A Delicious Reason to Visit Barcelona in Spring
Whereas other cities in Europe are having a gloomy and rainy season, Barcelona gets struck with the spring fever. It’s time for walks on the beach, sunbathing or enjoying a meal in an open-air terrace. There’s a lot more on offer apart from the city sunshine. One of the most tempting reasons to spend a weekend in Barcelona during this time is to try the Calçots Calçots are a Catalan variety of scallion, larger than a typical green onion, and milder, too. They are usually eaten in January, February and March, roasted over a wood fire and accompanied by the special salvitxada sauce, which is similar to romesco sauce. Our…
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TOP 5 Romantic Restaurants in Barcelona
Our February Top 5 recommendations are bursting with romanticism. This month, we introduce you a Top 5 List of ideal restaurants to spend a romantic and unforgettable soirée with him or her. Thai Barcelona Because of its Asian-inspired décor. Torre d’Alta Mar Because of its views from the very top of the old Port Cable Tower. Speak Easy Because of it mystery and anonymity. Brasserie Flo Because of its updated French cuisine. Indochine Ly Leap Because of its amalgam of aromas, sounds and sensations unique. Barcelona is offering 5 lovable restaurants with divine delights for the palate. 1. Thai Barcelona (Thai Gardens) in Diputació, 273. Eixample District To be sent…
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Restaurant El Nacional in Barcelona
Its concept of: 4 areas, 4 bars and a thousand ways to feed the soul has made El Nacional one of the sites that marked a turning point in culinary trends last year. This meat, fish, tapas and rice restaurant, including a fast deli one, offers a wide array of options separated from one another by 4 different cozy bars. Visitors are surprised up to four times by special beer, wine, cava and cocktails. All of them displayed in a unique ambience which creates the feeling of having a multi-culinary experience under the same roof. One other valuable feature of “El Nacional” is the venue. Built back in 1889, the…
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Restaurant I Buono Amici
The restaurant I Buoni Amici, our recommendation of the month. We are talking about one of the best restaurants offering traditional Italian cuisine in Barcelona. It is specialized in the Northern Italian gastronomy, especially in the region of Venice. Their cuisine is a part of the craft production using ingredients of the particular region. Don’t miss the Rissotto a la friuliana, the Roas Beaf or the Parpadelles Carlota. I Buoni Amici is located at Carrer Casanova, 193 in Barcelona and the telephone for reservations is 934 39 68 16. From Thursday to Tuesday noon from 13h to 16h and 20.30h 23,45h. Wednesday 13h to 16h, closed at night.
