La Esquina

"Don’t be surprised if you show up here for brunch and see everyone else you were drinking too many margaritas with the night before. If you’re not exactly feeling 100% in the morning, there’s plenty of shady palms at this all-outdoor restaurant, plus fresh juices, omelets, salsa-drenched chilaquiles, a chicken sandwich, and thick sweet potato fries that should help." - Michaela Trimble

"The area around La Rambla is probably known more for the dexterity of pickpockets than the quality of food, so we’re lucky to have La Esquina. The all-day cafe near the shopping strip off Plaça Catalunya serves onion-ier-than-average omelets, hearty butifarra, plump roast chicken croquettes, and sandwiches like the Bikini: grilled cheese with Iberian ham and irresistibly oozy gruyère. The ambiance is more café-bistro than a formal restaurant, so come as you are—no need for reservations. After dark, it turns into a romantically lit bistro with Catalan natural wines and hearty dishes like oxtail sandwiches with smoked Idiazábal cheese. They taste like they would at your Catalan friend’s house, which is why this is a rare spot in the neighborhood that gets the local seal of approval." - Isabelle Kliger

"If you’re seeing a show in the West 50s (or you’re just going to your office there every day), La Esquina is a good quick option to know about for a quesadilla and some rice and beans at lunch or late-night carnitas tacos. You order all of your food at a counter here, and there’s a decent amount of seating. Just know that there’s no alcohol." - Hannah Albertine