Rita Rouge - El Raval, Barcelona

Mercat de la Boqueria is one of the most fantastic food markets in the world. It is a great tourist attraction, excellent place to shop and you can have some fantastic culinary experiences there. Although it is nice and highly recommended to visit, shop and eat at the market it is absolutely swarming with people and you have to be patient and wait to get some food served. If you feel like escaping the inferno for a quiet lunch Rita Rouge is an excellent oasis at the back of la Boqueria. They serve a nice three course lunch menu for only 13 euros (incl. a drink). The menu selection is quite limited (hence the low price) but there is something for every taste. You can eat outside and inside. The outside is currently (November 2012) right next to a construction site but we did not find this annoying in any way as it is peaceful and quiet. The outside area is right next to a play ground so it would be an excellent place to eat for families with kids. The inside is designed very cool and allegedly is is a great place to dine in the evening and to have cocktails (check them out at their web site here). DC!
UPDATE! We recently took the kids to dinner at Rita Rouge and had a great experience. During the evenings Rita Rouge has a full menu and the prices are reasonable but nothing like the day time deal. The food is excellent and the waiters are very friendly to kids and parents alike. The place is clearly very popular so it is advisable to book a table.     

Gallito - Barceloneta, Barcelona

One of the many fantastic things about Barcelona is the beach in the heart of the city (Barceloneta). It is a great place to visit all year round if you are going for a stroll, a ride on your longboard, a mojito in a chiringuito (beach bar) or for dinner at one of the many restaurants facing the ocean. However, you have to select where you dine very carefully as there are many very poor and/or expensive restaurants in this area. A place that we love and often frequent is the surfer bar/restaurant Gallito. It is situated right under the W Hotel and thus is very easy to find. Gallito is a great place to visit in summer enjoying the sun outside and in winter watching a raging storm from their comfortable sofas. The place has a very laid back atmosphere with big sofas with lots of cushions, a fantastic view of the ocean and very friendly staff. The food is good and very reasonably priced for this location, but don't expect a unique culinary experience. They have showers in connection with the toilets that guests are welcome to use so you can easily combine a day at the beach with dinner at Gallito's. In addition, to dining this is a popular drinks/cocktail bar in the evening. A great place to go with your friends for dinner and drinks before a night out. Despite the fact that Catalunya produces fantastic beer such as Estrella and Moritz at Gallito they will do their best to sell you a Heineken. However, if you insist on having a local beer they often will have it but you have to push them a bit to get it. DC!
UPDATE! Gallito is closed during the evening during the winter months. Give them a call and check if they are open before heading there.

Les Gens Que J'Aimes - L'Eixample, Barcelona

Visiting the bar Les Gens Que J'aime gives you a feeling of travelling to another time and place. This hidden gem is located in a basement on Carrer Valencia in L’Exiample. As you enter you are at the top of a staircase with the whole bar below you. The lights are dimmed and everything is kept in dark colours. You will see guests lounging in old sofas and lounge chairs and at the far end of the room a long bar is situated usually with a couple of the regulars having a chat with the bartender over a gin and tonic. Everything is old in Les Gens Que J'aime and it gives the place a truly unique atmosphere. On certain week days the place is visited by a fortune teller that the guests can have a chat to for spiritual guidance (or just for fun). It is a truly old school experience with tarot cards and the works.

The view from the bar entrance.

This is a quiet bar to have a couple of drinks and a chat with your friends. We normally come here for a pre-dinner drink or after a dinner to have a drink before heading home. The bar is conveniently located close to Passeig de Graciá and would be the perfect spot to have a drink after a long day visiting the many attractions on and around Passeig de Graciá. Les Gens Que J'aime is moderately priced and the selection of drinks is adequate but not extensive. There is no food available. DC!