This charming café, with its terrace in the courtyard of the Biblioteca de Catalunya, is a surprisingly quiet spot in middle of busy Raval.

El Jardí is run by a young, international team fronted by a culinary wizard named Mariana, who makes sure the tapas is always delicious and only prepared with the freshest of market ingredients. The menu stretches from typical Catalan and Spanish tapas to Mediterranean and French dishes. The “queso de cabra con manzana y miel” (goat cheese with apple and honey) is excellent and, for romantic dinners a dos, the “menu degustacion” (which offers a mix of all tapas) works well with candlelight and a nice bottle of wine.

Although El Jardí stays open all year round, the terrace is lovely in summertime, when it offers exotic cocktails and live music several evenings a week.