Bistrot Villa Emilia - Cozy Restaurant with Great Atmosphere

Eixample Esquerra

Sep 27

Written By Maria

Barcelona has its fair share of hotels, and some of them are more charming than others. One of my favorites is Hotel Villa Emilia, founded by a couple called Katja and Antoine. Inside the hotel, on the ground floor, is a restaurant called Bistrot Villa Emilia, and let’s deep-dive into it the experience there.

Bistrot Villa Emilia Barcelona — *Bistrot Villa Emilia, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.*

I feel that hotel restaurants can sometimes be a bit impersonal, but that is not the case with Bistrot Villa Emilia. Neighbors come by in the morning for a cup of coffee and to read the newspaper, which says a lot about the place. It welcomes everyone with open arms, not only guests of the hotel. The staff knows the regulars, who also stop in for lunch with friends or dinner later on.

If it’s your first time visiting the bistrot, just go through the hotel doors, pass by the piano and the bar to your left, and take your pick between the tables and choose your favorite. The tables by the window are lovely, where you can sit and watch people stroll by, and the beautiful antique cupboard next to you is stunning (it belonged to the grandmother of Katja). A few tables are next to the fireplace, which is a lovely, cozy feature, especially in autumn and winter.

My personal favorite table is under the skylight, next to the shelves filled with a curated selection of local and international wines. If you have a taste of one that tickles your fancy during your meal, you can buy it for a reasonable price and take it home with you. From these tables, you also get a little peek into what’s happening in the kitchen, which is always a nice added bonus.

The Bistrot opens for both lunch and dinner. They have a good lunch deal available every weekday and Saturday, which is unusual, and on Sundays, there’s a separate menu, too.

The menu changes weekly, and it’s always focused on seasonal ingredients. The desserts are all made in-house, and I highly recommend choosing one of the homemade cakes. During lunch, the space fills with friendly business lunches, groups of friends celebrating something special, neighborhood regulars, guests from the hotel, and regular clients from nearby offices.

In the evening, it becomes a more intimate affair, with couples and friends filling up the space. There is live music on two nights a week, Thursdays and Saturdays, which enhances the experience. The terrace is open during warmer weather, and the artists perform there: a perfect setting for a nice meal, a cocktail, and lovely music in the background. Also downstairs is a cocktail bar if you want to finish your meal with a nice drink.

Bistrot Villa Emilia is also great for larger groups and events. They have several separate spaces, and you can even have the whole terrace for yourself, for example for a wedding, an anniversary, a team event, or similar. Just drop them a line, and they will help you out.

Bistrot Villa Emilia, Carrer de Calàbria, 115, 08015 Barcelona (Eixample Esquerra).

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