El Japonés

Trendy sushi in L'Eixample

Word to the wise: Stick around after midnight at weekends to hear the house DJs crank up their tunes.
Popular plate: The house speciality is kushiyaki - meat or seafood skewers. Order a couple to kick off your meal.

Adjacent to - and owned by the same people as - the well-known restaurant Tragaluz, this newish Japanese place has gone down a storm with Barcelona's hip set. The deeply chic, two-floored canteen whips up fresh sushi, noodles and empanadillas (small pies) for a young clientele seated at long, communal tables.
Come after 10pm for the best people watching. Many choose to make an evening out of it, but food here arrives quickly so you can be in and out in a jiffy if you have somewhere else to be. There are also rotating art exhibitions in the second floor dining area that are usually worth a glance.

As is often the case with 'contemporary canteens' such as this, no reservations are taken, so be prepared to queue.