Across from the Estacio de Francia is Lulu El Born. A small corner cafe, floor to ceiling windows with bar seating clinging to it and a few tables. Outside are the most coveted tables (despite the passing traffic) Tolix chairs, metal tables and sweet clusters of fresh flowers in clear vases.
The menu they propose comprises of open-faced sandwiches on bread from Baluard bakery (good call). Besides that, there are various breakfast bowls: chia (6.5), homemade granola (6), smoothie bowls(8) and the like. Lulu matches local breakfast ‘deals’ with a mini breakfast menu like a croissant & coffee (3).
If avocado on toast is your thing, this is where you can get a generous one. Being pretty adept at avocado on toast, I opt for salmon on cream cheese with plucky capers and long discs of cucumber (9). The slice of bread is so long that the tartine has been halved and one sits atop the other slightly.
I have a cafe con leche with beans from the local roaster El Magnifico.
It’s a Saturday when I visit and every seat is taken. There are two people serving, Katie is one of them. I sweep the small room and spot a woman with a long ponytail in the cupboard sized kitchen sending out food. “There are only 3 of you?” I balk at Katie. “We tried 4 but it seemed too many for such a small place,” Katie tells me. Despite this, everything is prepared to order with a note on the menu stating “Preparation up to 15-20 minutes.”
You wouldn’t spot it at first glance but Lulu is a vegetarian (at a push, pescatarian) cafe. There are no warm dishes. Besides the tartines and the breakfasts, there are a couple of salads and some snacking bits. Think hummus or guacamole with nachos & olives.
There are drinks too: organic wine, IPA beer, and cocktails which ensures Lulu is full into the night.
Lulu El Born (Cafe, Bistro, Bar)
Av. del Marquès de l’Argentera, 7
08003 El Born
facebook.com/barcelona.LULU
www.lulubarcelona.com
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