Modern Catalan

Smart/casual

Gresca. Bistronomy pioneer in snog-yer-face-off tastes n’ textures in a sliver of B&B Italia meets industrial cool. Provença, 230 / Eixample / M: Diagonal / 93 451 6193 / closed Sat dinner & Sun / gresca.net

El Mirador De La Venta. Lurvers secure your slot rápido at one of only seven prized tables in an old hillside villa with stagger city outlook. La Venta below is sans view. Pl Dr Andreu / Tibidabo / M: Tibidabo / 93 212 6455 / closed Sun dinner / restaurantelaventa.com / and don’t miss a pre or post nip at Merbeyé next door / 93 417 9279 / till 3am daily / merbeye.net

Hisop. The sparse white-linen canvas lets Oriol Ivern’s small plates of big, Mich-star’d flavours do the talking. Marimon, 9 / Eixample / M: Diagonal / lunch & dinner Mon-fri, dinner Sat / hisop.net

Speakeasy. An unmarked green door hides a merry dining cellar, where prohibition is definitely not on the menu. Aribau, 162 / Eixample / M: Diagonal / 93 217 5080 / lunch Mon-fri, dinner Mon-sat / speakeasy-bcn.com

Petit Comitè. Remortgage the house for dainty morsels in hunky surrounds. Two-tops for privacy, counter for buzz. Concepció, 13 / Eixample / M: Diagonal / 93 550 0620 / lunch & dinner Mon-sat / petitcomite.cat

Casa Paloma. Too much tapas makes Juan a dull boy, so opt instead for a juicy fat steak at this busy-styley brasserie. Casanova, 209 / Turó Parc / M: Hospital Clínic / 93 200 8296 / lunch & dinner daily / casapaloma.es