Billy Brunch

Brunch. The word itself usually makes me want to reach for a stiff drink and a dark room. It’s often a cynical exercise in overpricing eggs and masking cheap sparkling wine with industrial orange juice. But then there’s Billy. Tucked away on Carrer de Bailèn in the grid-like sprawl of Eixample, Billy Brunch isn't trying to be your quiet, contemplative Sunday morning. It’s a loud, clattering, caffeine-fueled engine of a restaurant that has somehow convinced half of Barcelona to stand on a sidewalk for forty-five minutes just for a crack at a frying pan.

You see the chicken logo first—Billy, the mascot who looks like he’s seen some things. Then you see the crowd. If you’re looking for a 'hidden gem,' keep walking. This is a destination. It’s a high-energy space of stripped-back brick and concrete where the air is thick with the smell of roasting coffee and sizzling bacon. The floors are worn, the brick is exposed, and the staff moves with the kind of frantic efficiency you only see in places that are perpetually slammed. It’s chaotic, yes, but it’s a controlled chaos that respects the ingredients.

Let’s talk about the shakshuka, because that’s why you’re here. It arrives in a heavy iron skillet, a bubbling, crimson sea of spiced tomato and bell peppers with two eggs poached directly in the fray. It’s messy. It’s vibrant. It’s the kind of dish that demands you tear off a hunk of bread and go to work. It’s not delicate, and it shouldn't be. It’s a protein-heavy, spice-forward wake-up call to the cortex. If you’re feeling particularly self-destructive or just genuinely hungry, the English Breakfast—the 'Full Monty'—is a plate of unapologetic honesty. Beans, mushrooms, grilled tomato, eggs, and bacon that hasn't been messed around with. It’s the ultimate hangover cure in a city that knows a thing or two about late nights.

For the health-conscious or those who actually enjoy fruit in the morning, the acai bowls are legitimate. They aren't the watery, sad versions you find in tourist traps near La Rambla. These are thick, cold, and topped with enough granola and fresh fruit to make you feel like you might actually live forever. But the soul of this place is in the savory. It’s in the way they handle eggs and the way they don't apologize for the wait.

Is Billy Brunch worth the hype? If you hate crowds and you want a hushed, white-tablecloth experience, stay away. You’ll hate it. But if you want to be where the action is, if you want to sit among locals and expats arguing over the previous night’s exploits while diving into a plate of food that actually tastes like something, then get in line. The service is surprisingly friendly for a place this busy—they haven't let the fame turn them into jerks yet.

This is breakfast in Eixample stripped of its pretension. It’s a reminder that good food doesn't have to be complicated; it just has to be done with a bit of swagger and a lot of heat. Just remember: they don't take reservations. You show up, you put your name on the list, and you wait. Use that time to walk around the block and admire the architecture of the Dreta de l'Eixample. By the time your table is ready, you’ll have earned that first sip of coffee.