In Barcelona, nobody believes “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Breakfast is rarely a sit-down meal. It is a warm-up, something to keep you going until the afternoon, when you can do some real eating. In the neighborhoods, there are no diners or “breakfast spots,” with ham and eggs and hearty sausages. There’s no Denny’s or IHOP.
One of the best parts about Barcelona is its lack of interest in providing an American breakfast. Breakfast in Barcelona is built on the backbone of little bakeries and cafes, where locals can grab a croissant and sip a doble espresso. If you want to experience a Barcelona breakfast, wander into a neighborhood around 10 a.m. and find a cafe, order a strong cortada and a canya — a strudel-like pastry splattered in powdered sugar — and forget the silly concept of pancakes.
