Can Culleretes

Barcelona, December 2016 – Named the oldest restaurant in Barcelona, Can Culleretes is still one of the best restaurants for traditional Catalan cuisine. It has survived the centuries through the dedication of generations of the Agut-Manubens family. This is a must-go for a old-fashioned Catalan dining experience!

At 1:15pm, we arrived at a small alleyway off the busy La Rambla in the Gothic Quarter – Quintana 5. We were surprised to see a crowd of 40 people (many Spanish) standing in front of Can Culleretes. Since we were accustomed to arriving the earliest at most restaurants when we dine at 1:30pm (too early for the locals), this scene was unusual. At 1:30pm sharp, the restaurant doors opened, and the crowd rushed into the reception area. Two ladies were directing the people to their tables, so the crowds dissolved quite quickly.

We were seated in a few minutes, and ready to order. The decision to share all the appetizers and main courses was a smart one, as the menu was extensive.

Parrillada de marisco con langosta – Grilled seafood and spiny lobster (Eur20) – This was the first dish to arrive at our table, and it was finished in no time. Fresh and delicious!

Sopa de pescado y marisco – Fish and Seafood Soup (Eur5) – we ordered two bowls to share. This soup is very rich in flavors, similar to the French’s soupe de poisson (fish soup).

Ensalada Culleretes: mezclum, esparrago, aceitunas, zanahoria, huevo, pimiento, tomate, jamon – Culleretes salad: mesclun, asparagus, olives, carrot, egg, pepper, tomato, ham (Eur6.50)

Paella especial de marisco – Special seafood paella (Eur 17) – We were impressed with the generous portion, enough for 4 persons. We welcomed the sizzling pan of rice inside hot seafood broth, topped with an abundance of shellfish. This was one of best paella I have ever tasted.

Although we were pretty stuffed by the time we finished the main courses, we were glad that we still had room for desserts. Can Culleretes offers two pages of “homemade” desserts. We selected the traditional ones.

Tarta Tatin de manzana con helado de vainilla – Apple tart tatin with vanilla ice cream (Eur5) – This dessert is only available on Saturdays and bank holidays. Although it looked simple enough, the apples were flavored beautifully.