Empanar House

Avinguda Diagonal is a long, straight, unforgiving concrete scar that slices Barcelona in two. It’s where the city’s architectural ego is on full display—all glass, steel, and the kind of modernism that feels a little too clean, a little too planned. But tucked into the Sant Martí stretch, at number 97, there’s a place called Empanar House that manages to put some soul back into the neighborhood. It’s not your grandfather’s dusty Argentine bodega, and it’s not a sterile corporate cafeteria. It’s something else entirely: a hybrid of a specialty coffee shop, a gourmet bakery, and a neighborhood hangout that actually gives a damn about what it puts on the plate.

When you walk in, the first thing that hits you isn’t the smell of old grease—thank god—but the sharp, clean aroma of high-end espresso and the buttery, golden scent of dough hitting the oven. The decor is intentional. It’s got that polished, industrial-chic aesthetic that usually signals a place designed for Instagram, but here, the substance actually matches the style. You’ve got the high ceilings, the warm wood, and the kind of lighting that makes even a hungover Tuesday morning feel manageable. It’s a place where digital nomads nurse matcha lattes while locals stop in for a quick hit of protein and caffeine.

Let’s talk about the empanadas, because that’s the name on the door. These aren't those leaden, deep-fried bricks you find at the tourist traps near La Rambla. These are baked to a precise, flaky golden brown. The 'Carne Picante' has a slow, creeping heat that respects the beef rather than masking it. The 'Humita' is a creamy, corn-filled nod to tradition that tastes like someone’s grandmother was involved in the recipe, even if the kitchen looks like a laboratory. They’ve taken the humble street food of the Southern Cone and elevated it without making it precious or annoying. It’s honest food wrapped in a damn good crust.

But Empanar House plays a double game. They’ve leaned into the 'health food' and 'espresso bar' labels with a sincerity that’s hard to hate. The brunch here is a serious contender for the best in Sant Martí. We’re talking avocado toast that actually features ripe fruit, poached eggs with yolks that run thick and rich, and bowls that don't feel like a punishment. And the matcha? It’s the real deal—vibrant, grassy, and whisked with the kind of obsessive care usually reserved for heart surgery. It’s the kind of place that reminds you that 'healthy' doesn’t have to mean 'boring' or 'tasteless.'

The crowd is a microcosm of the new Barcelona. You’ve got the tech workers from the nearby 22@ district, young families from Poblenou, and the occasional traveler who wandered off the beaten path in search of something better than a frozen pizza. It’s a neighborhood spot in a neighborhood that is still figuring out its identity, and Empanar House is helping define it. It’s professional but not cold; stylish but not exclusionary.

Is it perfect? Nothing is. If you’re looking for a gritty, old-school dive where the waiter insults your mother and the wine comes in a chipped glass, this isn't it. It’s polished. It’s curated. It’s very 2025. But the quality is undeniable. Stop in for a quick empanada on the go, settle in for a long brunch with a cocktail, or just grab a damn good cup of specialty coffee—either way, you’re getting the real thing. In a city that is increasingly being hollowed out by low-effort tourism, places like this—that actually care about the craft of a simple pastry and the pull of an espresso shot—are the ones that keep the lights on.