Streetlife: Enric Granados

RECOLETA. Enric Granados 1. 

This corner bistro has it all. Sunshine, sandwiches and sweets. Try one of their delicious artisan sandwiches, made with soft bread and healthy, fresh ingredients that won’t weigh you down in this balmy beach weather, paired with crispy, spiced potato wedges. Then, if you’re not too worried about your waistline, treat yourself to cakes and muffins for dessert. Hannah, 23, from Vermont, initially went to lunch with her friends at Recoleta because they wanted to bask on the sunny terrace. “But we really enjoyed our sandwiches, too,” she said, “so I think we’ll be back.”

DELACREM. Enric Granados 15. 

Locals and tourists alike become addicted to this little ice cream shop after their first taste. Exquisite Italian pastries line the front window, and polished silver lids are lifted to reveal canisters of heavenly gelato kept chilled beneath the white, marble counter. After receiving your two flavours of choice—pistacho, almendra con amaretto and fresas del maresme being among the most popular—nestle in to the terrace seating, located on the 100 percent pedestrian part of the street. Visitors Margherita and her boyfriend went to DelaCrem twice in 48 hours. “We have high expectations for gelato since we’re Italian,” said Margherita, 26, “and we think this place is good. It’s real, not too creamy.” http://www.delacrem.cat

PEDESTRIAN PARADISE. Paved area between Consell de Cent and Diputació.  

As the sun starts to set, the bottom of Enric Granados—a fully pedestrianised section of the street—becomes a haven for local dogs, beginners on wheels (skateboards, tricycles, rollerblades, etc.) and people-watchers alike. Mirko, owner of the bar Pub Fiction, and his 10-month-old Chow, Tao, live in the neighbourhood and walk down Enric Granados every day. “Besides the convenience of the location, we come here because there are so many dogs that Tao can make friends with,” he said. “Without cars around, I can let him off his leash to run and play freely.” This spot between the trees proves to be the perfect pedestrian refuge in the heart of the Eixample. 

3 PUNTS GALERÍA. Enric Granados 21. 3punts.com

At its current location since November 2012, 3 Punts Galería works to promote all forms of contemporary art, focusing on new artists and contrasting their work with more established creators. Every year, seven or eight solo shows take place at the gallery, each broaching new artistic languages. Until June 27th, the gallery will be showing the work of Rafael Canogar. Painter, sculptor and engraver, Canogar categorises his art as ‘Abstract Informalism’. His most recent pictorial expressions abandon figures in favour of colour.

N2 GALERÍA. Enric Granados 61. 

This well-established gallery shows national, as well as international, artists working with all creative forms, from painting and collage to installation and video. For years, they have been participating in international art fairs, commissioning new works and supporting their artists as they expand their audience worldwide. The current exhibition is Deep Surfaces by Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, recognised around the world as one of the most consistent and influential urban artists of our time. In this, his third individual exhibition in Barcelona, Rodriguez-Gerada presents ‘hyperreal’ portraits and fragment pieces, some created on the surface of a 150-year-old chunk of wall. www.n2galeria.com

HOTEL AMERICA. Corner of Enric Granados and Provença.

For a terrace with a bird’s eye view, head to the roof of Hotel America. From the blonde wooden planks of the Setè Cel terrace, peacefully perched on the seventh floor of the hotel, you can see down the tree-lined street, and all the way to the sea; then slide your gaze right and skyward for a clear view of the stone walls of Montjuïc Castle. The rooftop terrace is open to the public every day until at least 11pm. Although it’s not huge, the couches are comfy and the water in the swimming pool is an enticing translucent blue. So whether you want to sip traditional vermouth, shaded from the afternoon sun by a large parasol in the middle of the deck or relax under the stars with a cocktail in hand, this is a great spot for the long summer days ahead. www.hotelamericabarcelona.com

¡CU-CUT! Enric Granados 68. 

This tavern derives its name from an illustrated satirical magazine, published in Barcelona between 1902 and 1912. But there’s nothing to ridicule on Cu-Cut’s menu, which is packed with tapas, meats, wines and cocktails. The front of the restaurant is open—the pavement simply extending into the entranceway—so patrons feel as if they’re eating and drinking outside, even though the terrace is within the walls of the building. Yaelle, an Italian employee, reasoned that customers are initially drawn in by the chic decor and scrumptious gastronomic dishes, such as the the tuna and avocado tartare or the sea bass and prawn ceviche. “But they come back because of the good customer service,” she said. “We have a great team of people here who are always happy, and take time to chat and joke with customers.” www.cu-cut.cat