Page 389 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Valencia 9 Barcelona c
5 Delicat Tapas, Fusion €€ 5 Quimet i Quimet Tapas €€
(%963 92 33 57; Calle Conde Almodóvar 4; (%93 442 31 42; Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes 25;
mains €9-14; h1-4pm & 8.30-11.30pm Tue- tapas €4-11; hnoon-4pm & 7-10.30pm Mon-Fri,
Sat, 1-4pm Sun) At this particularly friendly, noon-4pm Sat & Sun; mParal·lel) Quimet i
intimate option (there are only nine tables, plus Quimet is a family-run business that has been
the terrace in summer), Catina, up front, and passed down from generation to generation.
her partner, Paco, on full view in the kitchen, There’s barely space to swing a calamar (squid)
offer an unbeatable-value, five-course menu in this bottle-lined, standing-room-only place,
of samplers for lunch and a range of truly but it is a treat for the palate, with montaditos SPAIN
innovative tapas anytime.
you, and order a drop of fine wine to accompany
4 Caro Hotel Hotel €€€ the food.
(%963 05 90 00; www.carohotel.com; Calle
Almirante 14; r €143-214; paW) Housed in 5 Tapas 24 Tapas €€
a sumptuous 19th-century mansion, this sits (%93 488 09 77; www.carlesabellan.com; Carrer
atop some 2000 years of Valencian history, with de la Diputació 269; tapas €4-9; h9am-midnight
restoration revealing a hefty hunk of the Arab Mon-Sat; mPasseig de Gràcia) Carles Abellan,
wall, Roman column bases and Gothic arches. master of Comerç 24 in La Ribera, runs this
Each room is furnished in soothing dark shades, basement tapas haven known for its gourmet
has a great king-sized bed, and varnished versions of old faves. Specials include the bikini
cement floors. Bathrooms are tops. For that (toasted ham and cheese sandwich – here
made to order. Let the folk behind the bar advise 27 MEDITERRANEAN MEANDER
very special occasion, reserve the 1st-floor the ham is cured and the truffle makes all the
grand suite, once the ballroom. Savour, too, its difference) and a thick black arròs negre de sípia
excellent restaurant Alma del Temple. (squid-ink black rice).
4 Five Rooms Boutique Hotel €€
Tarragona a (%93 342 78 80; www.thefiverooms.com; Carrer
de Pau Claris 72; s/d from €155/165; aiW;
5 AQ Catalan €€ mUrquinaona) Like they say, there are five
(%977 21 59 54; www.aq-restaurant.com; rooms (standard rooms and suites) in this
Carrer de les Coques 7; degustation €40-50; 1st-floor flat virtually on the border between
h1.30-3.30pm & 8.30-11pm Tue-Sat) This is a L’Eixample and the old centre of town. Each
bubbly designer haunt alongside the cathedral is different and features include broad, firm
with stark colour contrasts (black, lemon and beds, stretches of exposed brick wall, mosaic
cream linen), slick lines and intriguing plays on tiles and minimalist decor. There are also two
traditional cooking. One of the two degustation apartments.
menus is the way to go here, or the weekday 4 DO Boutique Hotel €€€
lunch menú for €18.
(%93 481 36 66; www.hoteldoreial.com;
4 Hotel Plaça de la Font Hotel €€ Plaça Reial 1; s/d from €230/280; aWs;
(%977 24 61 34; www.hotelpdelafont.com; Plaça mLiceu) Overlooking the magnificent plaza for
de la Font 26; s/d €55/75; aW) Comfortable which it is named, this 18-room property has
modern rooms, with photos of Tarragona handsomely designed rooms, set with beamed
monuments above the bed, overlook a bustling ceilings, wide plank floors and all-important
terrace in a you-can’t-get-more-central-than- soundproofing. The service is excellent, and the
this location, right on the popular Plaça de facilities extensive, with roof terrace (with bar
la Font. The ones at the front are pretty well in summer), dipping pool, solarium and spa. Its
soundproofed and have tiny balconies for excellent market-to-table restaurants draw in
people-watching. visiting foodies.

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