Devouring the pages of a book and a succulent sobrasada sandwich at the same time is by no means incompatible. Or that is how Barcelona bookstores see it, which are increasingly encouraged to incorporate cafeterias and restaurants into their stores, or even propose new openings based on the synergy between both offers. This is the case of Byron (Casanova, 32), whose owner, Mariana Sarrias, wanted to merge the sale of books with a cafeteria offer since they started in 2020. “The pandemic forced us to open the bar later than the bookstore. But from the beginning we saw that both were necessary to create a cultural space”. They prepare all kinds of sandwiches and the sweets that make up the menu, they buy them in neighboring businesses such as Can Bargalló and Sweet Stories Bcn. “Collaborating with each other is good for the health of the neighborhood,” she says.
Those who run these establishments agree that the culinary and literary worlds complement each other. “This bookstore concept is becoming popular, and it is logical,” says Ester Enrich, manager of the Altaïr cafeteria (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 616), which closed due to the covid and will open again at the beginning of May. “In the bar, which will continue to be located in the basement, customers can read their own books or take a look at the works in the store and decide if they want to keep any of them,” she explains. Coffees, infusions, juices and pastries are some of the options on a menu that will gradually expand.
In addition to a reading area or an opportunity to sell more titles, these cafeterias are a great meeting point. "Things happen in these places, activities are organized, industry meetings, presentations...", says Oliver Mancebo, in charge of Bar Watson in the Finestres bookstore (Diputació, 249). On a quiet and beautiful terrace at the back of the store, it serves tables of cheeses and sausages —"everything is a quality product"—, natural wines, ratafías and local vermouths.
Another fabulous terrace is that of La Central (Mallorca, 237), whose culinary offer is now in charge of the Baldomero restaurant. The space evokes a country house where you can savor homemade cakes accompanied by a coffee or have a lunch menu. Also outside and with a very different style, but equally cosy, today the bar at La Central del Raval (Elisabets, 6) reopens with its offer of Catalan food and drinks.
From the small bar in Bernat (Buenos Aires, 6) come the sandwiches and dishes of the day prepared by Carles Armengol (author of the book Collado. The curse of a food house, by Colectivo Bruxista), who successfully runs the bar of this bookstore. The place is designed to adapt to any event, literary or not, a concern that it shares with the cafeteria. “I try to make life easier for the customer so that they are comfortable and come back,” explains Armengol, who also serves sandwiches, coffees, juices, kombuchas, beers, wine and artisan cider, always with a smile.
For more than 30 years, the Laie cafeteria (Pau Claris, 85) has been committed to a menu with seasonal products that includes a starter, main course and dessert, with bread and a drink for €21. Today, in addition, they serve a special menu for Sant Jordi that culminates with a sweet rose for €38. The clientele that frequents the numerous tables that they have are mainly editors, writers, actors and journalists. "But also all kinds of people who seek tranquility and are interested in culture," says Toni Luque, manager of the restaurant.
In specialized bookstores such as Espai Quera (Petritxol, 2), which the current owner's great-grandfather opened in 1916 dedicated to theater books and began to focus on excursions, capturing a wide audience can be more complex. Hence, Raimon Quera, fourth generation of the business, decided to enrich the space in 2019 with a restaurant with dishes based on local products. It is also possible to quietly have a coffee while savoring the juicy history of the place, which preserves the original furniture and floors. There is no need to rush to this establishment, which is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. "We provide a good service, and it works for us both with local clients and with tourists." They also maintain a loyal clientele that continues to buy guides and maps for the weekend outing or the next vacation, with which they discuss the latest news in the neighborhood.
