Tickets Bar

2011 was the year when a thousand foodie hearts broke in two, as Ferran Adria announced he was closing his legendary El Bulli restaurant, arguably the most influential and innovative eaterie in culinary history. As if to silver the lining of that monstrously stormy cloud however, his brother Albert Adria, together with Ferran and the Iglesias family (also giants in the Catalan culinary realm) have opened this visionary tapas joint in Barcelona. Like El Bulli, Tickets Bar serves only tiny portions of food - call them snacks, tapas, tapitas, or raciones as you please - but each is a mini-masterpiece of gastro-artistry. Razor clams in ginger oil with lemon air is not something you can order in your average Barcelona neighbourhood bar, nor are mini-airbags filled with Manchego cheese and Iberian ham for that matter! The decor is a clever mix of future chic, with Modernista touches (a nice homage to Gaudi and chums) with also a splash of cabaret - after all the street that Tickets Bar calls home, Avinguda Paral.lel, was once the centre of burlesque theatre and nightlife in Barcelona. Tables are by online reservation only and become available 3 months in advance, at which point an online scramble starts for the new seatings. (Hint go online at 12:15 Spanish time!). If you've left it too late to get a table you may be able to walk into twin venue 41 Degrees on the same premises.

Had a Kill Bill cocktail at 41 Degrees very tasty. Got talking to some famous chef from London... but forgotton his name now. I did try this tapa too. Was crunchy tuna in a seaweed cone. Tiny but very tasty... a playful mix of textures and flavours! Staff were really cool and not snooty as i was expecting