In the very heart of Gótico, the Gothic Quarter, you will find LA CERERIA. This place has been recommended to me several times, before I had the opportunity to try it. 

The 2 story restaurant emits a bohemian flair and their menu  specialises on vegetarian food apt for all kind of food intolerances. 

LA CERERIA is run by Argentinians and their menu offers unpretentious but fresh dishes: Lots of different options for everyone, tasty starters, big main courses and homemade desserts. One of the signature dishes, the savoury crêpes (see picture) can be ordered with different vegetarian fillings -  homemade with ecological ingredients. 

The place has a big room downstairs, which - upon reservations - can be used as a cozy setting for smaller or medium sized group dinners. While in summer, the small terrace in the yard might be the better option.

- total on bill: around 20€ including drinks

EL XAMPANYET

C/ Montcada 22  (Born)

Metro:  Jaume I

open monday to saturday 12:00 - 15:30h & 19:00 - 23:00h, sundays only until 15:30h

This place is somehow very famous and always packed with hungry and thirsty tourists and locals.

Their homemade white cava is nice and fresh but in my opinion no comparision to the rosé Can Paixano from the CHAMPAGNERIA.

The big assortment of tapas is very seafoody and they serve a lot of canned mussles - which is a delicatessen in Spain! But I tried a plate of sundried tomatoes with sheep's cheese and it was also simply delicious.

If you can find a spot it is a great place to stop for a drink and a pica-pica (small snacks) when visiting the historic old town, Born or the Picasso museum.

- total on bill: 10-15€ for two glasses of cava and a seafood tapa

BAR CELTA PULPERÍA

C/ Mercé 9  (Barrio Gótico) & C/ de la Princesa 50 (Born)

Metro:  Drassanes/Jaume I

open daily: 12:00 - 0:00h (Born: 8:30-0:00h)

This unpretentious and inexpensive Galician tapas bar is an easy stop to have lunch or dinner when strolling through the old town of Barcelona.

The CELTA with it's very humble and rustic interior is especially famous for it's octopus 'pulpo' - a Galician delicatesse. The tentacles of the mollusk are being cooked and chopped onto wooden plates, just seasoned with salt and sweet paprika. Alongside with the pulpo you can order typical Spanish tapas, for example a slice of their enormous tortilla de patatas.

The atmosphere is always buzzing throughout the day, you might have to have some patience with the seating and the service.

- total on bill: around 15 € p.P. for shared tapas and beers for lunch

This tiny asian restaurant in the Born neighbourhood got famous for it's homemade dumplings (dim sum) and their authentic asian tapas. Actually it has been quite hyped, thats why you can't do a reservation for dinner. If you show up early (on Spanish timetable that means around 9pm) the chances might be good to get a table within 30min or less.

When you get the simple paper menu you can chose between about 20 different tapas, which are inspired by Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cuisine. According to their website they prepare their noodles and dumplings with local organic flour.

Apart from a very small wine selection the MOSQUITO offers quite a big variety of international beers & craftbeers.

On the picture: Cabbage salad (spicy Kimchi) & langostino dumplings. Both very tasty! 

- total on bill: 15-20€ per person incl. wine and shared tapas

Are you looking for a remedy for instant happiness or against sundays without (or with!!) football?

The colorful jellies at the HAPPY PILLS store are the perfect solution for every sweet tooth. You just pick the bottle in the size you want/need and fill it just however you want mixing the big variety jellies and gummi bears. And if you have a friend who is a pharmacist, a doctor or a hypochondriac) they will just love this funny present.

By the way: The funny labels are available in spanish and english.

RABIPELAO

C/de la Mercé 26 (Barri Gòtic) & C/ Riera alta 50 (Rawalistan)

Metro:  Drassanes & Sant Antoni

open from Monday to Sunday: 20:30-3:00h (Gòtic) & 19:30-3:00h (Raval)

 This is not a vegetarian restaurant - in fact they are specialized on Ramen which is a pork-based asian soup. But I added this place because it is actually one of the few that offer a veggie alternative.

The KOKU KITCHEN is a quite curious place in the basement of an old town building in the El Born neighborhood. In the upper floor the same owner has the "buns" place (asian steamed burgers) and so they divide the businesses and costumers. 

The Ramen & Gyoza bar is quite tiny, raw and always loud and hot (due to the steaming bowls of hot ramen soup). If you get there and made it through the waiting list on the blackboard you will probably have to share your table with other hungry Ramen fans.

I tried the 'regular' veggie-Ramen - there is also a spicy, hot one. The bowls are really big, so you might struggle if you also want to try some of the gyozas (japanese dumplings).

- total on bill: 17€ for veggie Ramen, shared gyozas & a glass of wine

The 365 is a bakery chain and a coffeeshop which you can already find on several locations in Barcelona. The variety and the quality of the products are quite good and the prices very reasonable (Donuts 2x1 1,20€).

The shop in Calle Princesa has a very spacey area where you can sit on chairs or sofas and enjoy your coffee. It is also a very recommendable breakfast spot in the Born neighbourhood.

- total on bill: < 5€ for a sandwich or a piece of pastry and a milk coffee

This place has been quite a lucky discovery for me. In the depths of Born, on plaza ..., the COSTA PACÍFICO serves one of the best tacos I have ever tried in Barcelona. Well, I might not be completely impartial in this point: As I don't eat meat, which is usually an essential ingredient of the Mexican dish, I really felt for the seafood alternative at COSTA PACÍFICO.

If I remember correctly the entire menu doesn't include any meat, but indeed some veggie options.

As it's name let conclude, the Cevichería Mexicana serves up different kinds of ceviches, small pieces of raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice, with onions and spices, from the classic one (see picture)  to the spicy "Aguachiles", marinated with different hot, Mexican chilie peppers. 

But back to my favorite taco. The Tacos Governador (2u/7€) are a wild mix of flavours: tortilla with langostinos in a sauce made of black beans, cheese & huitlacoche mushrooms & finished up with some fresh coriander.

The best way to try the different options at COSTA PACÍFICO is to share different of the medium sized portions, tapas style. Best accompanied with a michelada, the Mexican beer of your choice spiced up with a savoury Mexican sauce.

Depending on the hour you might have to get on the waiting list for a table, especially if you want to sit on the sunny outside terrace.

- total on bill: around 25€ each for shared ceviche, tacos & beer

The BORMUTH is a RestoBar right in the heart of the Borne neighborhood.

They have a small terrace and a quite spacious inside, but any though it is always packed with people and you might have to wait some minutes to get a table, especially if you go with a group. 

The BORMUTHs menu includes a variety of tapas to share which are quite tasty and reasonably priced. But in my opinion, due to the noise inside, I prefer the BORMUTH for drinks and pica-pica instead of for dinner.

Recommendations: Vermut rojo (2,10€) + Tapa de cazón en adobo (6€)