food & drink

Otsu’s Chef and founder Fer Villanueva opened the Poblenou spot after years working in tech and marketing, looking for a way to bring together food, creativity, and design. Even the name sets the scene: otsu refers to a Japanese idea of work done well. The result is a minimalist, Japanese-inspired space where breakfast and coffee are the focal point. The regular menu is Japanese-inspired, for example, a Tokyo Breakfast of rice, slow-cooked egg, bonito, umeboshi and coffee broth, and Onsen Eggs with labneh and spiced oil. 

The real fun, though, is in the Weekend Specials. Villanueva and her team use them to experiment with ideas inspired by anything from travel and Japanese traditions to books, art and museum visits. Previous creations have included Michelangelo's David turned into a white-chocolate ice cream, and the tarot-inspired ice creams that recently went viral on Instagram. At Otsu, the best thing on the menu might just be what’s around the corner.