Berbena

Located on a narrow little street in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, a stone's throw away from Avenida Diagonal, you will find Berbena, run by chef Carles Perez de Rosaz and his wife Becca. The space is tiny and doesn’t hold too many tables, but the atmosphere is fantastic.

Acknowledged for years for its food by the Michelin Guide, the open kitchen draws your attention wherever you are seated and if you are lucky (and only a party of two, or maybe three), you’ll get the bar stools by the window – from there you’ll overlook the spectacle of a busy neighbourhood restaurant.

Chef Carles Pérez de Rozas Canut’s passion for food and wine is one that makes you want to stay all night long trying out the lovely dishes, and browse the wine list through and through. With an extensive selection of Spanish producers, and variation in regions, you’re guaranteed to find many a bottle you’ll want to try out; but it’s well worth noting that, for those francophiles out there, this list is a gem – when we visited, there were nearly as many French as Spanish wines listed.

Even though it's heavy on Spain and France, there are also other countries – both Old and New World – represented. The sparkling section has a large number of grower Champagnes, a nice selection of bubbles from the local region, more than a handful of pét-nats, and even fizz from Italy and the UK.

And if you are still curious for more, have a chat with Carles – he might find you a bottle or two not on the list…