AIRPORT EATS AND SHOPS
If you’re in Barcelona’s airport, there’s a 50% chance that you’re catching an International flight, which means you’re there two hours ahead of time. I’ve always wondered if this mandatory two hours was about catching the plane and going through security or about shopping and eating.
In Barcelona’s airport it seems to be about shopping. While there is really not too much in the way of sit-down restaurants, there is lots to buy. Zara fashions, Calvin Klien, Furest, La Perla and Gonzalo Comella all have chic shops in the airport for your purchasing pleasure. What’s more, these shops stay open from 6am to 10pm catering to even the sleepiest shopper (who wants to buy clothes at 7:30am? Lots of people apparently…).
As far as lunch or a snack at the airport, options are surprisingly limited. There are several nice cafes throughout the terminals which have mock patio open-air seating and serve the usual coffee, orange juice, sandwiches (ham, cheese, tuna, and sausage) and pastries. Here they also serve ready-made salads, yogurt, and chips. There are also a couple Pans & Company cafes set up inside and out of the terminals.
Pans & Company (Bread and Friends) is much like the U.S. chain Subway sandwiches, but with a Euro-twist. It’s inexpensive and popular among Catalans and serves fast versions of favorites such as the Mediterranean sandwich (tuna, tomato, and olives), the ham and cheese (with Spanish ham), the hot cheese (three kids of melted cheeses including brie and Roquefort) and many other combos. To accompany your sandwich (or bocadillo as we call it here) you can order some patatas bravas (spicy fries) or a side salad and a coca-cola. Order the special and get the bravas, a drink and a sandwich for about €7.00; a great deal for airport eats.
Besides Pans & Company there are a few small shops offering packaged gourmet foods that you could easily purchase and snack on while waiting for the plane or in the plane. Try the Chocolate Factory for bon-bons and Vilaplana Gourmand for gourmet goodies.