Paradero
By Michael Mueller
“Knowing when and where to stop makes the difference” – a fitting motto for a place called Paradero (a stopping point). On Comte Borrell, at the edge of Sant Antoni, it’s earned a steady weekend line for doing two things well at once: serious specialty coffee and a brunch worth lingering over.
The coffee comes from local and international roasters, pulled on La Marzocco machines, so the cup holds up next to the plate. And the plate is the draw. The kitchen runs a tight, made-to-order menu with plenty for vegetarians and vegans: avo toast on sourdough with guacamole, feta, confit tomato and pomegranate; huevos benedictinos on brioche; Turkish eggs poached into spiced yogurt with smoked paprika and dukkah; a mushroom toast with smoky eggplant and goat cheese. For bigger appetites, the roast beef focaccia with pickled cabbage and Gruyère does the job.
The room is homey and unhurried, which is the point – they don’t take reservations, so turn up early or be ready to wait with a coffee in hand. Worth the pause.