Plaça Catalunya, 21 :
Catalunya 
: 
Probably the single most popular meeting point in Barcelona, due to its privileged position at the top of the Ramblas in Plaça Catalunya, this temple to all that is tacky and tawdry is an acceptable place to wait outside, but for god's sake don't go in, whatever you do! The atmosphere is unpleasant and makes the average Yates' Wine Lodge seem like the height of chic. There are far too many tellies covering every inch of wall and ceiling and they all seem to be continually showing either Twisted Sister or Quiet Riot music videos (which is fair enough, considering the name of the bar). It's noisy, packed with gormless wonders and exudes a soul-destroying plastic chain pub vibe. I suppose it's a notch up from McDonalds, but then, at least with McDonalds you can get in and out a lot quicker. On the plus side, the food is quite decent, if rather basic, and with it being an American establishment, the portions are gigantic. Also, they have a cunningly hi-tech system for making you wait for a table. As the restaurant is usually packed, you're given a remote-control style gadget which you take with you to the bar. You can then relax and enjoy a pint in comfort, knowing that you'll be buzzed when there's a table available. However, once that giddying technological fun is over, eating and drinking here is quite a depressing experience. Unless you're an American hair band fanatic hankering after some prime ribs, avoid this bar – you can do so much better than this!
Paul
