In between La Ramblas trees and streets, there lies Mercat de la Boqueria. Within Mercat de la Boqueria, there lies PinotXO.
As I made my way through vendors preparing for the day, PinotXO stood out because of the crowd it attracted at 7 AM and the people waiting to grab a seat at the tapas bar. I’ve seen ridiculous things in my life like people camping out for Black Friday and new Air Jordans but I have never seen people wait for a restaurant at 7 AM especially when it’s not their grand opening. The crowd cause my curiosity to go into over-drive as I push my way to the bar counter to ask for any open seat. PInotXO Barcelona
The main negative thing about traveling alone is it gets incredibly expensive for accommodations. However, there’s one single perk to traveling alone, which is it’s always easy to find a seat at the bar for one. I was seated within 10 minutes because there was an opening between a couple and two friends meeting for breakfast. The couple behind waited for an hour and still wasn’t seated then decided to go somewhere else.
As the line grows larger, I couldn’t help but marvel at the abundant display of seafood on the other side of the glass divider. The smells of the food cooking was heavenly and enough to get my appetite going. I decided on the following items:
- Spanish Omelette – PinotXO’s Spanish omelette came in a pie like presentation. The fluffy omelette mixed with onions had a really soft texture with hints of salt and sugar. It came with buttered toast with sprinkles of salt.
Spanish Omelette - Croissant – This is one item you will always see me having for breakfast. The croissant brought back childhood memories of a French bistro my parents used to take me when I was 5. PinotXO’s croissant was soft interior and a flaky exterior. The perfect pastry to start the morning in Barcelona.
Croissant
PinotXO bar sits in the middle of Mercat de la Boqueria, which could be dangerous for anyone who indulges in gluttony. I found myself roaming the aisles of Mercat de la Boqueria after my memorable breakfast at PinotXO. The savory aroma of food cooking and tantalizing displays of cheeses, jamon and Spanish specific delicacies being sold by vendors makes Mercat de la Boqueria and PinotXO a must stop while in Barcelona.
- Service - 7/107/10
- Presentation - 6/106/10
- Flavors - 7/107/10
- Decor - 7/107/10
- Ambiance - 7/107/10
Summary
PinotXO bar sits in the middle of Mercat de la Boqueria. The long lines to grab a seat speaks for itself in a town full of tapas bar and a laundry list of great restaurants. PinotXO is a must stop while in Barcelona.
