Exotica Brunch

Barcelona’s brunch scene has become a high-stakes arms race of avocado mash and sourdough, but Exotica Brunch on Carrer de Trafalgar isn’t interested in playing it safe. It’s a neon-lit, flora-draped shrine to mid-morning indulgence that feels less like a café and more like a tropical fever dream. Located on the edge of Sant Pere, just a stone’s throw from the Arc de Triomf, this place understands that we eat with our eyes first, but it doesn’t use the aesthetics as a crutch for mediocre cooking.

Walking in, you’re hit with a visual riot: hanging greenery, vibrant murals, and the kind of energy that suggests people have finally stopped pretending to work, regardless of what the calendar says. It’s loud, it’s busy, and it’s unapologetically international. If you’re looking for a quiet, dusty corner to nurse a black coffee and a dry croissant, keep walking. This is where you come when you want your breakfast to have a pulse.

The menu is a deep dive into high-concept comfort food, leaning heavily into bold, creative interpretations of the classics. The Eggs Benedict here aren't just poached eggs on bread; they are an event. The truffle version is the heavy hitter—rich, earthy, and decadent enough to make you forget your cholesterol for forty-five minutes. Then there’s the Pink Hummus Toast, a vibrant spread that looks like a painting and tastes like a garden. But the real closer, the dish you'll be thinking about on the flight home, is the Pistachio French Toast. It’s a thick, pillowy slab of brioche drenched in a pistachio cream so green and intense it should probably be regulated. It’s sweet, salty, and entirely necessary.

What makes Exotica stand out in the crowded field of brunch in Ciutat Vella is the execution. In a city where 'Instagrammable' often translates to 'tastes like cardboard,' the kitchen here actually gives a damn. The eggs are consistently runny, the bread is high-quality, and the coffee—including their signature Blue Latte—is treated with the respect it deserves. It’s a testament to the fact that you can have the flowers and the neon signs without sacrificing the soul of the food.

The crowd is a mix of stylish locals, digital nomads, and travelers who followed the scent of truffle oil from the Gothic Quarter. The service is fast-paced and efficient, though on a Saturday morning, you should expect a wait. It’s the kind of place that reminds you why brunch became a global phenomenon in the first place: it’s a celebration of the unnecessary, a way to turn a meal into a performance.

Is it a bit much? Absolutely. Is it a tourist trap? No. A tourist trap implies you’re being cheated. Here, you’re getting exactly what you paid for: high-octane flavors, stunning presentation, and a vibe that kicks the hangover right out of your system. It’s one of the most creative restaurants near Arc de Triomf for a reason. If you want the quiet life, go elsewhere. If you want a protein rush to the cortex wrapped in a tropical aesthetic, pull up a chair and order the truffle eggs. You won’t regret it until the bill comes, and even then, the memory of that pistachio cream will carry you through.