Soldato
- Joined
- 7 Mar 2005
- Posts
- 5,230
- Location
- The Voice Of Football
Just got back from a week in Barcelona and all I can say is that it is a huge shame this once great city is now a huge rip off joint. Partly to be blamed because of the weak exchange rate of the Pound vs the Euro but the other part of the blame lays firmly at the feet of the bar/restaurant owners. I for one wont be returning unless I have to, despite visiting every year since circa 2002
I lived there for a bit after leaving uni so thought I knew all the nice little haunts where you could get a decent meal and drinks for a good price. How it has all changed, with sub standard food being served by most places at over inflated prices. Even good old bar Tomas in Sarria has cottoned on to the tourist trade and whacked their prices up since a mention in a Time Out guide and the British press. (Worth it though- the best patatas bravas you will ever taste in your life! But essentially two portions of chips with sauce and two cans of soft drink coming to seven quid is a touch steep
).
Sure, there are still cheap little local bars to be found and bargains to be had (£10 for a 1/2 bottle of good Rioja and roast lamb with all the trimmings anyone?) but at the opposite end of the spectrum 4 tapas and two drinks coming to £30 is getting a bit silly.
Luckily, mrsyoustolemyname and I rented an apartment so we could go to the Boqueria and get supplies in. Staying in a hotel there would seriously suck without any way of cooking for yourself. Hopefully people will vote with their feet.
/rant over
I lived there for a bit after leaving uni so thought I knew all the nice little haunts where you could get a decent meal and drinks for a good price. How it has all changed, with sub standard food being served by most places at over inflated prices. Even good old bar Tomas in Sarria has cottoned on to the tourist trade and whacked their prices up since a mention in a Time Out guide and the British press. (Worth it though- the best patatas bravas you will ever taste in your life! But essentially two portions of chips with sauce and two cans of soft drink coming to seven quid is a touch steep
).Sure, there are still cheap little local bars to be found and bargains to be had (£10 for a 1/2 bottle of good Rioja and roast lamb with all the trimmings anyone?) but at the opposite end of the spectrum 4 tapas and two drinks coming to £30 is getting a bit silly.
Luckily, mrsyoustolemyname and I rented an apartment so we could go to the Boqueria and get supplies in. Staying in a hotel there would seriously suck without any way of cooking for yourself. Hopefully people will vote with their feet.
/rant over
