El Nacional

El Nacional Barcelona

An iron-roofed hall of four restaurants and several bars

Hours

Sun-Thu 12:00-24:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-01:00, open every day (official site)

Budget

Cava €6.90 a glass

Address

Passeig de Gràcia 24 bis (through a passage off the avenue)

A narrow passage off Passeig de Gràcia opens into a huge hall under an iron roof. Fish and rice (La Llotja), grilled meat (La Braseria), tapas, a beer bar, an oyster bar and a cocktail bar share the space, so mixed groups can all eat what they like. From 6pm local office workers and young crowds drift in for tinto de verano. Popular counters run 40-minute waits; the trick is to wait at the central bar with a drink.