Torre d’Alta Mar Restaurant

Typically you’d expect a restaurant in a historic tower with great views over a city to be little more than a tourist trap, but Torre d’Alta Mar goes much further.

Choose from a range of tasting menus or à la carte, and be prepared for some surprises from the kitchen.

I used to love the lunch menu, because you not only got a taste of the kitchen’s creativity for about half the price, but also enjoy the sweeping views of the city in the daylight.

Unfortunately, it looks as though that’s a thing of the past. I’m sure the food’s of a similar quality in the evenings, and if you arrive early enough you’ll see it in the daylight – at least when the days are longer.

So while I once gave this place a solid recommendation, I’m personally waiting to see whether the lunchtime menu makes a return. When that happens, I may well do so too.

Tel: 93 221 00 07

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Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)

Italianate exterior of the MNAC, Barcelona

Housed in an elaborate Italianate structure built for the 1929 International Exposition, MNAC’s collection ranges from what is regarded as the world’s largest exhibition of Romanesque art, through to Gothic, baroque, Renaissance and modern. With its heavy focus on the first two categories, expect biblical scenes, though the mood lightens in the other halls.

no shortage of Romanesque at MNAC
Cocktail cabinets have evolved over the years

Its commanding position, with views over the impressive Font Màgica de Montjuïc to the hills in the distance, sees a regular number of visitors for the outlook alone.

Buy the Barcelona Museum Pass or Art Passport and gain priority entry to Fundació Joan Miró, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB),the Museu Picasso, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, and Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), and avoid the queues.

Opening times:

October to April, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm; Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 3pm.

May to September, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 8pm; Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 3pm.

Mondays closed, except public holidays. Closed January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.

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