Housed in the luxury (5*) Mandarin Hotel, Moments is one of only three two-Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona.
The Vibe
Fine fabrics and a powerful colour palette of coffee-black, cream and gold come together to create a hushed cocoon of tranquility, pierced only by the gentle clatter of the kitchen in the distance. The fully-suited service staff were effortlessly delicate, floating to our table to guide us through the menu and wine options.
The Food
We opted for the tasting menu (€166 per person), which comes in the form of a passport (they even stamp it for you at the end of the meal) and is playfully named ‘The Trip’. The experience takes you on a whirlwind culinary tour through 14 different dishes, each representing a different country.
Beginning in Barcelona, we started our gastronomic voyage with a creative version of ‘pa amb tomaquet’, a signature local dish, with strawberries instead of tomatoes, anchovies and wine from the D.O. Alella. Salty and sweet and just… “Wow!”.
Picking up the pace, the tour took us to Hong Kong, where we enjoyed duroc pork dim sum, before heading back to Europe for a Parisian macarons with foie, green celery, apple and armagnac, and then to Madrid for chorizo and cod.
I really can’t express how beautiful the presentation was, how elegantly it was delivered and described by our waiter. Yes, it will look good on your Instagram feed, but this is all about flavour and texture.
The New York mini burger and french fry added an extra dimension to the adventurous spirit of ‘The Trip’, but it was the fresh and zesty Bangkok monkfish with coconut that captured my imagination, presented like an abstract Joan Miró painting on the plate.
From 2-star to 5-star…
Retire to the hotel’s exclusive rooftop ‘Terrat’ terrace for a coffee or cocktail and reflect on your culinary world tour whilst watching the sun set over Barcelona’s most exclusive boulevard.
Verdict
If you’re feeling adventurous and in need of a double dose of decadence, Moments is the perfect fine dining experience. The service is smooth, the setting stylish, everything you’d expect from a 2-Michelin starred restaurant on Barcelona’s exclusive Passeig de Gracia boulevard.
Sensational stuff.
Make it Happen
Reserve a table for lunch, splash out on the tasting menu and ask the sommelier, Fernando Pavón, for his wine recommendations. Be sure to visit one of the two terraces for a post-meal drink. And, what the hell, why not stay for a couple of nights and make your Barcelona experience one to remember.
Book a table at Moment 2-Michelin-Starred Restaurant
Book a room at the 5* Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Address: Mandarina Oriental Hotel, –40, Passeig de Gràcia, 38, 08007 Barcelona
