BARCELONA, SPAIN BLACKBIRD Coffee Corner

We stopped for a coffee break at BLACKBIRD Coffee Corner, very close to la Sagrada Familia.

Robert and Tiffany got a pour over, while Phil got a cortada.

BLACKBIRD Coffee Corner

RECOMMENDATIONS: Average, did not stand out.

BARCELONA, SPAIN Teoric Taverna Gastronomica

 Robert and Tiffany were excited they were able to make reservations at Teoric Taverna for lunch a couple days beforehand.

Their tasting menu comes in a "long" menu (around 65 euros) and a "short" menu (around 50 euros), with about 12 to 14 courses. The restaurant uses local and organic sourcing for their ingredients, are are known for the best tasting menu and excellent value in Barcelona.

We found the service to be attentive, and the food to be excellent. The dishes showcased the chef's creativity in the unexpected combination of ingredients into something delicious.

Teoric Taverna Tasting Menu

RECOMMENDATIONS: Highly recommended. We rank Teoric as the #2 best tasting menu of the trip (after Kei, the three-Michelin star restaurant in Paris). We find it to be a great deal for the experience. You should go out of your way to book a reservation here.

BARCELONA, SPAIN Nomad Specialty Coffee

Nomad Specialty Coffee was conveniently located within walking distance of our Barcelona apartment rental, and had very high internet reviews. We were excited to try their coffee.

The shop was small, with about 5 to 6 counter seatings, and a couple of benches by the wall. However, we were able to find seatings both times we went, allowing us to slowly savor our coffee each time.

On the first visit, Tiffany ordered a pour-over with the Colombia Mango beans, and was very impressed with the subtle mango flavor. Robert and Phil ordered the Ethiopian espresso and really enjoyed it. Thanh ordered a cappuccino with beans from Peru, with a chocolate and hazelnut flavor. It was perfect, with a nutty and chocolatey hint and natural sweetness. 

Nomad Visit Day 1

On the second visit, Thanh stopped by a little bakery and bought a mini pain de raisin to go with her cappuccino. Sadly she did not document the name of the bakery, because the pain de raisin was of the perfect size and sweetness and freshness to pair with the perfect cappuccino.

Nomad Visit Day 2

RECOMMENDATIONS: Highly recommended. Of the 3 1/2 days spent in Barcelona, we came to Nomad twice, that was how much we liked it. Robert and Tiffany bought a bag of the Colombia Mango beans to bring home for their pour-over, as they enjoyed the subtle mango so much at Nomad.

We rank Nomad the #2 best coffee of our entire Spain/France trip. A must go if you are a coffee lover.

BARCELONA, SPAIN Mercat de Santa Caterina

On our way to Nomad Coffee this morning, we walked by the Mercat de Santa Caterina. This market was built on the former site of the Convent of Santa Caterina. Part of the archaeological remains has been preserved and is visible from a public platform.

Archeological remains of the Convent of Santa Caterina

The roof of the market place was very beautiful, consisting of colorful hexagons that covered a warped surface formed by wood vaults that rested on steel beams.

Roof of the Mercat de Santa Caterina

As always, we enjoyed visiting market places in every city we went. We bought some fresh fruits to snack on. The strawberries were especially fresh and juicy as they were in season.

Mercat de Santa Caterina

RECOMMENDATIONS: Stop by if you are in the area. The market area was smaller than the Mercado de la Boqueria, but the archaeological remains of the old convent were very interesting to see.

BARCELONA, SPAIN Tapeo del Born

For our first dinner in Barcelona, Thanh made reservations at Tapeo del Born, a tapas restaurant we have been to on our previous visit three years ago. It was one of our favorite tapas restaurant, so we wanted to repeat the experience with Robert and Tiffany.

The restaurant was full, just as it was three years ago, and we were happy to have reservations. We sat back and let Robert and Tiffany get their picks from the menu. We ended up with a few of what we picked from three years ago, and new items that we happily tried. The only request Thanh had was that for dessert, each couple should order their own Crema Catalana, as the memory of it was so sweet Thanh wanted more than a quarter of it for herself.

Tapeo del Born

RECOMMENDATIONS: Highly recommended even three years later. Amazing tapas food, so much that Robert and Tiffany felt the pressure to find a tapas place to top this so that we do not leave Barcelona with a top pick that was a repeat. Stay tune for this.

MADRID, SPAIN HanSo Cafe

On our last morning in Madrid, we went for a nice big breakfast before catching the bullet train to Barcelona.

Robert and Tiffany chose the HanSo Cafe, a seven-minute walk from our rental at the Gran View Apartments on Gran Via.

The coffee menu was huge. In the picture from left to right, it was Thanh's an oatmilk caramel macchiato, Phil's cortado with a cute heart, Robert's red velvet latte with an amazing flying horse, and Tiffany's pour over. The latte art on Robert's red velvet latte blew us away. This was the best latte art we had on this trip (or any other trip.)

The food menu was so appetizing. Tiffany and Robert shared a salmon and cream cheese bagel, and a yogurt & granola bowl. Thanh and Phil shared a chocolate croissant and a B.L.A.T. sandwich (bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato, basil, mayo.)

Everything was so delicious, it turned out that we savored our meal a bit too slowly. Half of us ended up missing the train to Barcelona by just a couple minutes (each couple had to take a separate Uber to the train station because of luggage and we did not account for the morning traffic.) Fortunately, there were hourly trains going from Madrid to Barcelona, so we caught up easily at the apartment rental in Barcelona.

HanSo Cafe

RECOMMENDATIONS: Highly recommended. Everything was delicious. Breakfast food especially was amazing. The coffee drinks were good (if you like them sweet.)

SEVILLE, SPAIN El Pasaje Tapas Bar

After a self-guided walking tour of Seville, we wanted to grab an early dinner before catching the train back to Madrid.

Robert and Tiffany found a tapas bar right around the corner from the Catedral de Sevilla, El Pasaje Tapas. It was early enough that it was not crowded.

We were excited to order several small plates, ranging from burrata to a caprese salad, a tuna tartar, small grilled squid (obviously our favorite dish as we ordered this everywhere we went), a mushroom risotto, and three different desserts.

El Pasaje Tapas

RECOMMENDATIONS: Highly recommended. We were surprised to find such amazing food at such a good price in a touristy part of Seville. It came out to be about 23 euros per person, what an incredible deal. We enjoyed this very much and would definitely be back if we are in Seville.

SEVILLE, SPAIN Delatribu Specialty Coffee

Coffee break was at Delatribu Specialty Coffee, a carry-out shop. It was hot, so Robert and Tiffany got some cold brew, while Phil stuck with a cortado.

Delatribu Specialty Coffee

RECOMMENDATIONS: Good.

SEVILLE, SPAIN Mercado de Triana

We arrived to Seville by train from Cordoba. It was a short train ride, and from the train station, we took an Uber to the Plaza de Espana.

It was a short 30-minute scenic walk from the Plaza de Espana to the Mercado de Triana, along the river.

The European food halls were always a highlight on our food journey, and this market place did not disappoint.

We snacked on fresh strawberries and blueberries from the fruit stall, and grabbed a table at the Jose Luis Romero Jamoneria stall.

We decided on a light lunch, with an order of fresh raw oysters, and a tasting of three Jose Luis Romero selection. Our server explained the selections from increasing cost: Joselito Gran Reserva, 50% Iberian 50% Vietnamese origin; Jamon Bellota D.O., 100% Iberian; Jamon Bellota Sierra Mayor, acorn-fed 100% Iberian purebred pig shoulders.

Jose Luis Romero Jamoneria stall at the Mercado de Triana

RECOMMENDATIONS: Highly recommended. The oysters were delicious, but the ham was amazing. We started with the 50-50 Iberian-Vietnamese ham, and loved the soft and delicate flavor of the ham that almost melts in your mouth. The next two selections of the Bellota had a stronger after-taste that grew on us, and a more firm texture than the first selection. As we went back and forth between the three selections, it took us a little while to finally decide that the most expensive cut was the best tasting. We all agreed that had we not have tasted them side-by-side, we would have been very happy with any of the selections.

CORDOBA, SPAIN El Estribo

We had breakfast on our last morning in Cordoba at El Estribo, conveniently located by the train station. 

Sam recommended the Tostada Del Estribo (toast with chopped tomato and chopped Iberian ham and olive oil), and warned to share one order per couple.

RECOMMENDATIONS: A solid recommendation from Sam. A nice simple breakfast before the train ride back to Madrid. It was very cheap, and the convenience of being near the train station is also great.

CORDOBA, SPAIN El Churrasco

Dinner in Cordoba was at a steakhouse, El Churrasco.

We shared a couple steaks, with sides as potatoes, salad, and grilled mushrooms. 

El Churrasco steakhouse

RECOMMENDATIONS: Not a memorable meal. Pretty average.