Mundial Bar: a century-old establishment in Ciutat Vella that has been auctioned and rescued

BarcelonaIt's a constant stream of locals dropping in. They want to know when they'll reopen. And the answer is that the Mundial Bar reopens on Wednesday, September 10th. From then until the 14th, they'll be offering much more affordable dishes and tapas. They'll be applying a 50% discount on reservations for both lunch and dinner, reminiscent of when prices were in pesetas. The interest aroused by the neighborhood of Sant Agustí Vell Square is explained by the fact that this was a refuge for people of all political stripes and the home of a boxing club.

Run by the Tort family until it closed due to the pandemic, it has hosted a diverse and illustrious following. Such as the PSUC leader, Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz, popularly known as Guti, and the PCE Secretary General, Santiago Carrillo. Of particular note is Gabriel García Márquez. The Colombian Nobel Prize winner for Literature was a regular at the World Cup, and the new bar bears a commemorative plaque. It is located next to the table he used to occupy, next to the door, and it has a phrase that the writer uttered within these four walls: "Tuerto, if I had known this bar before, I would have written A Thousand Years of Solitude". It's not the only plaque there. Entering towards the dining room there is another one that the Confiteria Group, the new owners, wanted to dedicate to the family that worked so hard for so many years: "In honor of the Tort family, to keep the soul of the World Cup and the spirit of El Born alive for so many years." They are now happy to reclaim this space in the Sant Pere, Santa Caterina, and Ribera neighborhoods.

Enric Rebordosa and Lito Baldovinos have become famous in the sector for rescue historic venues, such as the Café del Centro either The Cat FountainThey also have other modern establishments such as Paradiso, Bonavista, and Monk. But it was their determination to recover spaces that made them the recipients of a call. They were told that the World Cup was going up for public auction. They didn't think twice. And now they can open the doors of the establishment. They've tried to put the photos of the boxers back where they used to be. The marks on the walls have made it easier. What they've had to do again, they've tried to respect the original aesthetic. The menu includes the classics that people ate, such as grilled cuttlefish (6.90 euros) or diced sirloin in the fin (11.80 euros). There are also several shell dishes, such as sea snails (7.50); fried dishes, such as the omelet shrimp (3.60), or stews, like the fisherman's suquet (11.80). For dessert, a delicious chocolate mousse with orange and cream, or a neighborhood classic, the cream millefeuille from Forn Vilamala. Their signature style can be seen in some places.

Of all the establishments they've opened, this is one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking, they say. They have a responsibility not to let down the locals, as warned as they are. During these days of construction, those who came by have told them many anecdotes. Starting on the 10th, the bar will reopen its doors so they can start cultivating new experiences.