Bicycle, coffee and fresh pasta. The true 'dream team' of the cycle tourist at your fingertips. In Barcelona, a place has united these three magnificent sections and has become one of the obligatory places for all cycling lovers who visit Barcelona. We introduce you to Eroica Caffè Barcelona and show you why you should stop by on your next visit to the Catalan capital.
Eroica Caffè Barcelona, a place for meeting
It's not a club, but it looks like one. This beautiful place is one of the most important meeting spaces for cycling lovers in all of Barcelona.. But it is not reserved for visitors who arrive on two wheels: the Eroica is an ideal place, also, for lovers of good gastronomy at a reasonable price.
In a building born in the 19th century, in the heart of Barcelona, the Eroica Caffe respects the tradition of the past, commits to the present and looks to the future. The best pizzas and the best pasta - all made by hand and on the spot - as well as craft beers and their own ice cream come together in a place that is reminiscent of industrial Barcelona from a couple of centuries ago. An authentic space, which brings together people from any social group inside.
The birth of a unique place
Bringing together a piece of Italy, cycle tourism and a place in Barcelona seems like a risky bet. “We are talking about an illness, which is being an entrepreneur and not knowing how to sit still,” comments Miguel Santalices, one of the founders of Eroica Caffè Barcelona. The other founder of Eroica Caffè Barcelona is Graciela Nowenstein. Italian and expert in the gastronomy of her country, she is in charge of making the wonderful pasta recipes that organize the establishment's menu. There is no better way to add an Italian touch than by leaving an Italian woman in charge of the fires. “Riding a bike also has some risk and that's why we don't stop doing it. Therefore, although it seems risky, I liked entering this project”, boasts Miguel while narrating the birth of the place.
The name, apart from being that of a cycling movement, is reminiscent of a famous route in Tuscany. Born in the mid-nineties, this cycling tour brings back the road bike for trails and gravel roads. “It is a movement in memory of the 70s, when the roads were bad but our grandparents went anywhere with the road bike”says Miguel.
They contacted Eroica and made the proposal: a meeting place for cyclists in the middle of Barcelona. A clear concept with guarantees of success. “The name of the place, the type of establishment and the way of being of the city were perfect for a project like this”, says Miguel, who always believed that Eroica Caffè could be a reference throughout Europe.
As in all public-facing establishments, the last year has been tough. Eroica Caffè Barcelona had to adapt to the new restrictions due to the pandemic and continues to modify its capacity and way of working based on health limitations. Despite the problems, they have emerged, once again, as great innovators: “At first it was a little more difficult, but we were clear: either we would hold on to the stone and stay in place, or we would continue forward. “We have decided to move forward.”
The return of activity to the Eroica Caffè Barcelona
In this establishment they did not want to wait any longer. Respecting the rules under which we live today, Eroica Caffè has once again developed its traditional activities. Jazz plays again one day a week between the walls decorated with jerseys and bicycles; Several days a week, cyclists crowd at the door after a good stage around Barcelona. The new normal has arrived, in dribs and drabs, at Eroica Caffè Barcelona.
A place that, as Miguel says, aspires to be the meeting place for everyone: bike lovers, coffee lovers, Italian pasta chasers and any type of person has the door open. “The idea is to be like the town casino: that you can go with your friends, with your partner, with the entire family, to be alone or to meet someone. May something always happen and always have a good time,” says Miguel, who laughs when mentioning that, although it is not mandatory, the star topic of the conversations is always cycling.
The best cycle tourism and the best pasta, at the Eroica Caffè Barcelona
It was mandatory to talk to Miguel about his experience as a cyclist with the Eroica Caffè Barcelona. With several routes on his website, everyone's favorite is that of Quatre Parcs. A long route, 150 kilometers and more than 2500 meters of elevation gain, that crosses four different natural parks and that returns to the establishment at its end. The best way to get to know Barcelona and its surroundings without getting off your bike. With somewhat shorter modalities, Miguel recommended that we do the master test, to enjoy its splendor.
Finally, it was inevitable to talk about food. What menu do you recommend to a cyclist who comes to Eroica Caffè Barcelona for the first time? "Fresh pasta. Carbohydrates are the best thing after a route. “A dish of artisan pasta with a basil pesto, the basis of the tradition of Italian cuisine”. After lunch, Miguel is clear: “Good coffee. Our coffee machine is a chore. The first legal doping of cyclists was coffee.”
An incredible place in a wonderful city. The best pasta dishes accompanied by the best coffee. Several routes to get to know Barcelona and to comment on after hitting the pedals. The next time you come to Catalonia you have an unmissable appointment with this mecca of cycle tourism: the Eroica Caffè Barcelona.
