Five must-visit cafes in Barcelona

There are literally thousands of cafés, ranging from century-old coffee houses to unique neighbourhood haunts. Specialist places include a forn (bakery), patisserie (pastry shop) and xocolateria (specialises in chocolate), while a granja is more of a milk bar than a regular café, offering traditional delights like orzata (tiger-nut drink) and granissat (flavoured crushed ice). A café breakfast is typically a flauta (thin baguette sandwich), ensaimada (pastry spiral) or croissant.

ZURICH
"Meet me at the Zurich," is an age-old Barcelona refrain. This is the most famous meet-and-greet café in town, right at the top of the Ramblas underneath El Triangle shopping centre.

It's good for croissants and breakfast bocadillos (sandwiches) and there's a huge terrace, but sit inside if you don't want to be bothered by endless rounds of buskers and beggars.

Pl. Catalunya 1. Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat & Sun 10am-11pm, June-Sept open until 1am.

CAF'E DE L'OPERA
House café for the opera house opposite, this is the most traditional of the city's watering holes. It retains its late nineteenth-century décor as well as a bank of sought-after pavement tables.

It's not a complete tourist-fest - long a favourite for pre-and post-performance refreshments, locals pop in for fine coffee, a good range of cakes, snacks and tapas, or a late-night sangria de cava. Ramblas 74. Daily 9am-3am.

MESON DE CAF'E
As quirky as it's small, the "House of Coffee" serves the cup that revives. It's an off-beat locals' bar where you'll probably have to stand to sample the pastries and the excellent coffee - including a cappucino-laden with fresh cream. C/Libreteria 16. Mon-Sat 7am-11pm.

TEXTIL CAF'E
A relaxing museum café set inside the shady, cobbled medieval courtyard of the Textile and Clothing Museum, it serves hummus, tzatziki, quiche, salads, chilli, lasagne and sandwiches all day.

The buffet breakfast spread is popular, and there are set lunch and dinner deals. C/Pau Claris 85. Mon-Fri 9am-1am, Sat 10am- 1am.

FORN DE SANT JAUME
This place serves delectable cakes and pastries, to eat in or take away. The windows are piled high with goodies from this classic old patisserie and bomboneria - croissants, cakes and sweets. Rambla de Catalunya 50. Mon-Sat 9am-9pm.

This information has been extracted from Barcelona DIRECTIONS (1st edition), written by Jules Brown, published by Rough Guides, www.roughguides.com