Bar Hermós: the fish bar inside the market

This is one of those discoveries that, despite being a small space, it would not be fair not to share: it is theBeautiful, the fish bar inside the Mercado de la Libertad from the Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona. It's an extension of a fishmonger that already exists in the market itself, and the creator is the chef and owner of a restaurant located a few meters away when you leave the market: La Pubilla. We know the restaurant La Pubilla for its spectacular all-you-can-eat breakfasts, its competitive lunch menu, and its successful à la carte dinners.

In this little corner, Alexis Peñalver created the same model of success as La Pubilla. Not because they serve the same things, but because they offer what he likes to eat. And this means having to ask for a portion of bread, since you'll definitely need it to dip and leave your plate (or casserole dish, or tray) really clean. The fish bar is open Tuesday through Saturday and only serves lunch. Of course, it's market time. You can reserve by phone, but they also accept walk-ins if there's space. The point of recommending it now? Well, summers are much quieter times at the markets. If you're one of those who spends the hot summer in Barcelona, take advantage of the fact that they're not closed and you can enjoy their fresh produce without so much competition.

You'll find Edu in good humor, who will serve you a glass of sparkling wine. Perhaps it's an ancestral tradition created especially for this small, her-shaped bar, which has become a cathedral of fish without romance in Vila de Gràcia.