Bar Zodiaco

Poble Sec, Barcelona –

A perfect representation of the funky dens that continue to pop up in Poble Sec, Bar Zodiaco is a low-key neighborhood haunt that’s welcoming, tasty, cheap…and a little odd.

A block from Avinguda del Paral•lel on a corner of pedestrian-only Carrer de Blai – itself lined with many other bars and restaurants worth walking to – the venue features a tiny terrace that beckons to savvy tourists and chill groups of artsy locals to relax over coffee, beer, or maybe an €8.50 bottle of wine in the early evenings.

The light and airy ground floor bar is decorated a bit like someone’s not-quite-moved-in apartment: polka-dot lights, flower prints, random antiques, a fridge in the corner, animal drawings, and sculptures made of computer parts suggest a rather eccentric designer had a hand in the place.

Tapas, not surprisingly, can be found on the menu, but the chef also rolls out burgers, goat cheese salads, lasagna, and a diverse range of other budget-friendly treats, as well as cheesecake and a popular lemon meringue pie.

An equally casual upstairs space provides additional room for diners, though this area remains relatively devoid of décor, save for a large blown-up giraffe resting in one corner.

Definitely more of a pre-game spot for the party crowd, Bar Zodiaco is an amalgam of curiosities that might confuse visitors a bit, but it also won’t hurt the wallet, and makes for a wonderful couple-hour stopover in Poble Sec.