Els Quatre Gats
A cultural icon that serves great coffee and Catalan cuisine
The Four Cats restaurant is a famous piece of Barcelona’s folklore. Operating as a cafe, cabaret and all-round artistic space between 1897 and 1903, Els Quatre Gats was a centre of Modernista thought, and even hosted Pablo Picasso‘s first art exhibition – the legendary brush wielder was also partial to a tipple here.
Reestablished in 1978, following the death of Franco, the Four Cats has since become something of a tourist mecca, and certainly its vibrant decor and ambiance make the restaurant a deserving point of pilgrimage. Tasty portions of Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine satisfactorily stave off the belly rumbles, whilst the coffee is some of the best in the city.
The staff can be a little snooty, but if you don’t expect any special treatment it can still be fun to snag a seat within the art nouveau interior and order some classic local dishes off the menu like codfish fritters or trinxat salad or steamed mussels, whilst admiring the larger-than-life Ramon Casas and Pere Romeu on a Tandem painting that hangs on the wall (although you’ll have to go to the National Museum of Catalan Art to see the original).
If you want to squeeze in before the Tripadvisor hordes arrive they serve breakfast from 9am.
To apply for this job email your details to duncansrhodes@gmail.com
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The minute we walked in we were treated poorly. Even with a reservation, and a nearly empty dinning room, we were given the worse table in the house. We requested another table and were told they were all reserved. When we ordered, I clearly stated to the waiter that I had a food allergy. He assured me that the dish I ordered did not contain this ingredient. After one bite, I tasted the allergen. The waiter did absolutely nothing to assist me with another dish. He stated that it was the fault of the chef who must have changed the ingredients. I was not given a refund, an apology or the offer of a replacement meal! If I wanted to eat I was to order another dish and pay for the additional meal! No hospitality here!1 year ago
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We came here for having just a coffee. The quality is really good, and it is quite a quirky place. Recommended!7 years ago
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I just finished reading "the shadow of the wind" and then I went to Els 4 Gats to take a look at the place where the characters of the book used to go. I enjoyed it a lot!!! You really can feel the atmosphere of the past.7 years ago
Els Quatre Gats
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