If you walk just a tad west of my daily coffeeshop in the Passeig Gracia, you hit the Diagonal--both of which are part of L'Eixample district. The shopping is top-notch (i.e., the shops that don't let you in unless the doorman is expecting you) and the buildings are mostly "Modernista" and the streets are long and wide and easy to cruise (bonus for the navigationally challenged).
I cruised through Diagonal into Lesseps (above) in order to visit an art shop that I'd spied from the 24 bus yesterday. I snatched up a picture I'm very excited about, provided I can fit it in my suitcase.
The art shop was not the only gem that gleamed my way through the bus window yesterday though. There was also Cafe Vienes Jazz Club. I have been hoping to find my way into a jazz club here, and I've discovered that before you can find your way in, you must find your way there; needless to say, my previous attempts had been spoiled. Not to be thwarted in today's effort, I had my coffee and then walked into Diagonal to check out Cafe Vienes (below). Good thing. The sign indicated you would likely be out of luck without a reservation.
So I put my name in with the bartender. He asked if it was para "comer" (to eat) or para "tocar" (to take [as in the music]). Since the prix fix was 120euros, and the sandwich shop down the street has my number, I opted for tocar with the presumption of beber as well. I'm glad I showered before returning. The place was utterly top-notch, perhaps one of the classiest events I'd been to. All the same, which these Catalonians seem to be gifted at, it was laid back, very comfortable and totally enjoyable. The guy making the ivory sweat was best of all, but the bassist and the vocalist were great, and of course, my crianza was too.
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