Masedy Coffe Lounge & Restaurant

Les Corts is the part of Barcelona that doesn’t give a damn if you’re there or not. It’s a neighborhood of wide, sun-bleached avenues, towering apartment blocks, and people who actually have places to be. It’s not the Gothic Quarter; nobody is trying to sell you a plastic bull or a lukewarm paella. And right there on Avinguda de Madrid, sitting like a glass-fronted bunker of caffeine and carbs, is Masedy Coffe Lounge & Restaurant.

Let’s be clear about what this is. It’s a hybrid—a mutation of a bakery, a lounge, and a Mediterranean bistro. It’s the kind of place that tries to be everything to everyone, which usually results in a disaster, but here, it somehow functions as the neighborhood’s primary fuel station. You walk in and you’re hit with that specific Barcelona soundtrack: the high-pitched hiss of the espresso wand, the rhythmic thud of the portafilter being knocked out, and the low-level hum of locals arguing about whether Barça’s midfield is actually falling apart.

The aesthetic is modern, clean, and perhaps a bit corporate-adjacent, but don't let the 'Lounge' branding fool you into thinking this is some high-concept mixology den. This is a place for the 'menú del día' and the mid-morning 'bocadillo.' The bakery side of the operation is legit. The glass cases are packed with pastries that haven't been sitting there since the 1992 Olympics—flaky croissants and ensaimadas that actually shatter when you bite into them. But the real soul of the place is in the bread. The 'bocadillos' here are the heavy hitters. We’re talking about real, crusty barra de pan that requires some jaw work, stuffed with jamón or tortilla. It’s simple, honest, and cheap enough that you won't feel like a mark.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the 3.7-star rating. In a world of inflated 5-star reviews written by bots or people who think a free glass of cava is a personality trait, a 3.7 is almost refreshing. It tells a story of reality. Research suggests the service can be, shall we say, 'leisurely.' The staff isn't there to blow sunshine up your skirt; they’re there to move plates of pasta and burgers to a crowd that’s often in a hurry. There have been mentions of hiccups with the payment process—the 'pay' issue—which is the kind of minor bureaucratic friction that defines the true Spanish experience. If you’re looking for a choreographed ballet of service, go to a hotel lobby in Eixample. If you want a plate of pasta or a solid burger in a place where the person at the next table is actually from the neighborhood, you stay here.

The menu covers the Mediterranean basics without trying to reinvent the wheel. You’ll find pastas that are functional and filling, salads that haven't been tortured by a squeeze bottle of balsamic glaze, and a daily menu that offers the kind of value that’s becoming a ghost in the city center. It’s the kind of place where you can sit with a laptop for an hour or hide from the afternoon heat with a cold beer and a plate of olives.

Is it a 'destination' restaurant? No. You don't cross the Atlantic for Masedy. But if you find yourself in Les Corts, perhaps wandering back from a pilgrimage to Camp Nou or just trying to find a corner of the city that feels lived-in, this is your spot. It’s honest. It’s a bit rough around the edges when the lunch rush hits. It’s exactly what a neighborhood lounge should be: a place to sit, eat, and watch the real Barcelona go by outside the window.