MONTY'S

Horta-Guinardó is not the Barcelona you see on the postcards. There are no Gaudí chimneys here, no overpriced sangria pitchers, and mercifully, very few people carrying selfie sticks. It is a neighborhood of steep hills, laundry hanging over balconies, and people who have lived in the same square kilometer for three generations. In the middle of this unvarnished reality sits Monty’s, located on Carrer del Dr. Letamendi. It calls itself a bar and grill, but that’s a modest cover for what is essentially the culinary heart of the barrio.

Walking into Monty’s feels like being let in on a secret that the rest of the city hasn't figured out yet. The air smells of the plancha—that glorious, hot metal slab where meat meets fire—and the low hum of local gossip. This isn't a place designed by an architecture firm to look 'industrial' or 'vintage.' It just is what it is: a clean, well-lighted place where the floor is meant for walking and the tables are meant for eating. It’s the kind of environment that demands you put your phone away and actually taste your food.

Let’s talk about the savory side of the ledger. The croquetas here are a masterclass in what happens when you don't cut corners. They are crisp on the outside, giving way to a center so creamy it’s borderline indecent. Then there are the bocadillos. In a city increasingly obsessed with brunch and avocado toast, Monty’s remains a bastion of the great Spanish sandwich. Whether it’s lomo, tortilla, or whatever else they’ve got fresh, it’s served on bread that actually has a crust, the kind that puts up a fight when you bite into it. It’s honest, functional, and deeply satisfying fuel for the soul.

But then comes the curveball. You don't expect a neighborhood grill in a residential district to have a pastry game that could rival a downtown boutique. The cakes at Monty’s are legendary among the locals for a reason. We’re talking massive, towering slices of homemade heaven—carrot cakes that are actually moist, cheesecakes that don't taste like cardboard, and chocolate creations that are unapologetically rich. It’s a bizarre, beautiful juxtaposition: you finish a plate of grilled meat or salty tapas, and then you pivot to a slice of cake that looks like it was made by a grandmother who wants you to gain five pounds. This is the 'merienda' culture at its absolute peak.

The service is exactly what it should be: efficient, familiar, and entirely devoid of the fake 'hospitality' found in the city center. They know their regulars by name, they know how they like their coffee, and if you’re a newcomer, they’ll treat you with a polite curiosity as long as you aren't a jerk. It’s a place where the price point actually reflects the reality of the neighborhood, making it one of the best cheap eats in Barcelona for those willing to make the trek north.

Is Monty’s worth the ride on the L5 metro? If you want to see the real Barcelona, the one that exists when the cruise ships leave and the sun goes down over the hills of Horta, then yes. It’s a reminder that good food doesn't need a PR firm or a Michelin star. It just needs a hot grill, a talented baker, and a neighborhood that knows a good thing when they see it. Come for the croquetas, stay for the cake, and leave feeling like you’ve finally seen the city’s true face.