Cafe Schilling is situated between Placa Jaume and Las Ramblas, and is no less of a gem for being easy to find. Opened in 1900 by an Austrian family, it has an appearance similar to that of Vienna’s famous old ‘Kaffeehäuser’. The furniture and fittings are all wooden, and contrast pleasingly with the marble floor. By way of decoration, the walls are recessed to accommodate shelf after shelf of old wine bottles. The ceilings are high, so the interior is well-ventilated, and thus perfect for whiling away a good few hours in the daytime.

Schilling also has arguably the best cafe con leche in town, and serves well-priced food until one in the morning. The bar staff speak English, and all the better to serve the cosmopolitan crowd that swells in the evening to create a lively bar atmosphere.