Els 4 Gats — Restaurant in Barcelona

I am Spanish and I've been living in the Barcelona for almost 4 years and this is probably the worst restaurant I have been in the city. I came with a group of international colleagues, and I really believe they tried to take advantage of us.

Firstly, we ordered Jamon, supposedly a very nice Joselito, and they tried to scam us serving us something that, after complaining, they called 'beef carpaccio' (it was definitely not that either). We asked them to take the dishes back, and the waiter claimed that they also had proper Jamon cut at the moment but that the portion was smaller. We ordered two dishes and when it came, it was immediately clear, that the Jamon was a very cheap one, very dry and probably not even Serrano, nothing at all what they claimed in the menu, and for around 25 euros a plate.

We sent the jamon back. No apology. After that, things got worse and worse. We were, practically, ignored the rest of the night. Ours drinks were taking ages to arrive, and waiters were avoiding eye contact.

The main courses arrived. The octopus of one my colleague was completely burned. We sent it back. Again, not a single apology. My lamb was OK, quite dry but edible, but the potatoes on the side were burned. The ribs were also too dried. On the contrary, we ordered beef steak medium-rare, and it came very rare.

After the awful dinner, for which we ended up paying more than 40 euros per person (they also tried to charge us for the burned octopus), we just wanted to leave the place. I told one of the waiters about how bad our experience was, and he got offended because I was speaking to him and not to the floor manager. He just turned over in the middle of the conversation, snapping his fingers in anger.

A real pity. The restaurant has a lot of history behind and the decor is simply beautiful. However, don't let them scam you. You can eat wonderfully in Barcelona for that money.

If only Gaudi could see what they have done to...

Unfortunately this place ruined my experience. Picasso is one of my favorites and after visiting the museum I walked here as I heard once upon a time it was a gathering place for artists, including Picasso. It was still day time and the place was not busy, maybe 3 tables had guests and that's it. I walked in as I wanted to brows first and thought maybe there would be a table where Picasso preferred to sit or find pictures. In other words I wanted to check the place first and then check the menu and have a drink. Well now, I heard Spain does not have a clue about service, but I didn't know that the waiter who was not even young would not have any professional skills, you would think by that age he would have some manners He started talking to me in Spanish, although 2 cameras hanging on my shoulders clearly showed I am a tourist. I told him in English I would like to brows first and he basically said no and shooed me away lol . I just looked at him, smiled and left, I am a young female professional who is in management and photography, I am not going to waste my time as he already ruined my willingness to be that. However it wasn't enough for the waiter, while I was outside looking at the exterior of the building he basically walked to a bartender and expressed himself with gestures (shooing) that if you are not a buyer then go away :D That was of course funny because I was going to eat and have a drink, I am just glad I didn't spend my money there. I am also not going to post pictures on my social media which would have promoted the place, they simply don't deserve it. I am sure Picasso...

Els 4 Gats stands as a testament to the bohemian spirit that animated the early 20th century, a beacon for modernist avant-garde and the youthful Picasso's debut exhibition stage. This café, once a vibrant hub for the artistic elite, resonated with the fervor of innovation and camaraderie, though its initial iteration succumbed to the romantic yet impractical pursuit of art over commerce, closing its doors to history.

Reborn from its ashes two decades ago, the revived Els 4 Gats endeavors to recapture the original's allure, attracting tourists with its homage to a bygone era. The walls adorned with intriguing paintings offer a window into its storied past, inviting visitors to linger over a cup of coffee in contemplation of art and history.

Yet, this attempt to mirror its illustrious predecessor is met with contemporary challenges. Service, unfortunately, does not rise to the occasion, and the culinary offerings are decidedly average, suggesting that dining here might not fulfill epicurean expectations. However, for those seeking to immerse themselves in the café's historic ambiance, to drink in the visual and social tapestry of this iconic locale, and perhaps to engage in the whimsical quest of spotting the titular "four cats," Els 4 Gats serves as a suitable venue.

In essence, Els 4 Gats is not a culinary destination but a cultural experience, a place where one can sip coffee, ponder the artworks, and soak in the ambiance of a bygone era that still whispers through the murmur of conversations and the gaze of...