Breakfasts in barcelona may include sublime fruit tarts, cheesecake, tarte tatin and all manner of breakfasty pastries; croissants, magdalenas, brioche and huge Mallorcan ensaimadas (snail shaped pastries). Usually the breakfast start at 8:00a.m. in the morning and many people eat coffee and a croissant in a bar on the way to work. You'll see special offers of "cafe y croissant".

Forget Belgium and Switzerland, because Barcelona has the best chocolate in the Iberian peninsula. Barcelonanians drink their thick dark hot chocolate in the morning, as a mid day snack and at night in the "Xocolaterias", accompanied by sweet bready churros. "Orxaterias" or "Granjas" are milk bars where you can sample orxata, tiger-nut drink and granissat, crushed ice flavoured with citrus fruits or coffee. The venerable "La Granja" (Calle Banys Nous, 4; 34-93-302-6975) dispenses super-thick hot chocolate suizo (with whipped cream) for 1.95 euros, and ensaimadas, powdered-sugar-covered pastries whose name reflects their snail shape for 1.20 euros.

At eleven in the mornign you can eat your "second" breakfast. You may have a coffee or small beer, with a sandwich of jamon (dry cured ham), chorizo (spicy, sliced sausage) or a slice of tortilla espa�ola (omelette with potatoes), with pan con tomate (slice of bread rubbed with ripe tomato). Also, any time you can eat "tapas" (snacks served on bread or cocktail sticks), or spectacular pinchos (Basque style tapas) in one of the Basque bars. And if you're a vegetarian, don't eat pastries for breakfast. Croissants, ensaimadas (round doughy buns dusted with sugar) and similar items are nearly always made with lard, not butter or even margarine.

Some Handy Chains: Cafés And Bars

Breakfast, Snacks And Sandwiches

Tapas Bars

Restaurants

Markets, Supermarkets And Delis

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� Eating in Barcelona