You know that place where just passing by makes you feel like you're in the Catalonia region ?? Welcome to El Born, a little piece of Spain in the middle of Copacabana!!
The famous tapas bar opened in 2013, under the direction of entrepreneur Antonio Rodrigues ( yes, the same owner of the best bar in Rio, Belmonte) and that detail alone was already a great indication that I would like what I was about to discover! There was no other way, the bar is super cozy, it's always crowded, it has the best sangrias in Rio de Janeiro and the tapas… hmm, I'll have to go back to choose the best one!!
Despite already having 3 years of success, I only now went to meet the El Born, in a lively meeting night for carioca bloggers!! It is right in the hustle and bustle of the south zone, on Rua Bolívar in Copacabana, close to the beach and is an excellent post beach in the summer (I can only imagine the happiness of having that cold sangria on a summer day at the beach!!!).
El Born: a piece of Catalonia in Rio de Janeiro
In addition to the characteristic environment inspired by the cool neighborhood of El Born, in barcelona (that I love!!!) , the menu is filled with different flavors of Catalonia with the right to very well thought out adaptations to use the ingredients from here!!
You drinks are incredible, signed by the mixologist Zan Andrade and every day there's news on the wall!!! I tried the Coucher du Soleil which is super refreshing and the rapadura mojito, I never imagined this combination but it just worked out very well and was super approved by everyone at the table!! the letter from drinks it's extensive and if I let it go I'd spend the night trying them all hahahahaha but my eternal love is for sangrias, especially when they're well made (I already mentioned that I chose the ones from El Born as the best in Rio, right?!!) .
At bleeding from El Born are made with red, white or rosé wine… I tried all three, I loved all three but my favorite was rosé wine!! You can ask and then come here and thank me for the tip hahahahaha.
For those who don't know, tapas are small portions of "anything" and are perfect to be enjoyed at a table with friends, with a lively chat and accompanied by a good drink. (they have the famous spanish beer Estrella Damn) and even by couples in a very romantic mood.
O El Born's menu it's quite extensive and hard to decide where to start, at least I have zero maturity when I see a thousand options and most of them look tasty… I ended up trying SEVERAL tapas and I won't even remember them all to tell you but let's go with my favorites!! !
Ah, the menu is at la carte but there is also option of the steering wheel covers (which the waiters pass to the tables with a tray full of options, like Belmonte's service) and cost R$ 9.00 each!!
You mouthfuls varied (toast with different flavors) they are always my favorites… I love them and the pesto and gorgonzola flavors with walnuts were just fantastic… I had to try them a few times to make sure they were as good as they are hahahahaha.
I also tried and loved the lamb kafta, papas bravas, little cheese ball with angel hair, the feijoada ball, the ceviche was incredibly good and the hole hot ( ???) that I had never heard of conquered my palate… what a good thing!! It's like a sandwich on fresh French bread, super crispy and well stuffed… I tried the dried meat and shrimp one and both were delicious.
O El Born already on the list #nosnatrip of favorite bars in Rio de Janeiro and for me, who love Barcelona, it's another place to remember how delicious this country and its cuisine is !!
El Born Gastrobar
Rua Bolivar, 17, Copacabana, RJ
Phone: 21 3496-1781
Open from Monday to Friday, from 5 pm to 2 am. Saturday and Sunday, from 3 pm to 2 am.