Carmelitas

Tapas Carmelitas y Vermutería Carmelitas

During my visit to Barcelona this summer, I discovered a neat restaurant in El Raval. Not far from the Biblioteca de Catalunya, Carmelitas is located on c/ del Carme 42 and offers a solid range of tapas and drinks. The restaurant also specializes in vermút. The location has comfortable indoor seating  and a terraza where you can enjoy the sights and sounds.

I decided to explore their lunch menú de degustación, and it was a delight. The menú offered the opportunity to sample several classic Catalan dishes. It consisted of gazpacho, ensalada con embutidos catalanes, salmón a la plancha con verduras, fricando de ternera. For dessert, I had a recuil de miel y frutos secos.

The starters were gazpacho and salad. The diced pieces of Catalan sausage (especially fuet) in the salad were especially superb and made for a tasty beginning. The gazpacho complemented the salad and was equally delicious.

The next course consisted of the grilled salmon with veggies. A simple dish and full of flavor. The fish was followed by a traditional Catalan meat stew, Fricando de ternera. A stew like this makes more sense during a cooler time of the year. Nonetheless, I had no complaints with this course. It was delightful with a rich broth and superb seasoning.


For dessert, I had a recuil con miel y frutos secos, white cheese accompanied by nuts drizzled with honey. It was a delightful way to end this meal. It was a simple, elegant dessert that balanced the stew and cleansed the palate. I order a café solo to finish the meal.

And I forgot to mention the vermút. During the meal, I sipped the excellent vermút for which they are famous. It was served in a small glass with ice.

The staff was very attentive and amiable. I selected the terraza, which allowed me to take in the world around the restaurant. The people-watching was entertaining, but the meal was the focus. The portions were ample and generous with reasonable prices. I definitely recommend the restaurant, especially if you want to sample some traditional Catalan dishes. I plan to return another day to savor once more the delicacies prepared by the chef and his crew.

How to get there:

Location: C/ del Carme, 42, El Raval, Barcelona
Metro: L3 at Liceu

Hours:

• M-T 08:30-00:00
• F-Sat. 08:30-02:00
• Sun. 10:00-00:00

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Aduana del Puerto de Barcelona

Situado en el barrio del Raval, el edificio de Aduana del Puerto de Barcelona tiene una fachada con un aspecto monumental con motivos clásicos y elementos arquitectónicos inspirados por los estilos exóticos de moda en aquel momento. El edificio fue construido entre 1896-1902 y es obra de Enric Sagnier y Pere Garcia Fària, dos importantes arquitectos catalanes.

El edificio es un buen ejemplo de la arquitectura monumental barcelonés. Merece una visita para gozar de un espacio urbano impresionante. Para llegar a la Aduana, tomar el Metro L3 - Estación Drassanes (salida por el Portal de Santa Madrona) o el Bus: líneas 14, 18, 36, 38, 57, 59, 64 y 91.