One of El Born's culinary delights, Casa Delfín is everything you dream about Catalan–Mediterranean cooking in a traditional-style. Lined with wine bottles inside, the service is spot-on and creative presentation lends a contemporary touch. Menus change depending on market produce, but might offer salt-strewn Padrón peppers, plump anchovies from L’Escala, big seafood paellas or suquet dels pescadors (Catalan fish stew) for two.

　　Or dig into some hearty meat dishes such as roasted mountain lamb sprinkled with rosemary and thyme. For the finale, try the cheesecake with a pistachio-biscuit base and drizzled with a tangy mandarin sauce.