This is the kind of no-frills neighborhood bar in Horta-Guinardó that does one thing and does it exceptionally well: the bocadillo de lomo. Don't come expecting ambiance or Instagram-worthy decor — this is a straight-up, old-school bar de barrio where the sandwich is the star. If you want to eat like a local in Barcelona without the tourist markup, this is your spot.
A no-frills Horta neighborhood bar where the bocadillo de lomo is so good, one reviewer called it the best pork fillet sandwich in all of Barcelona.
Don't come in a rush — service moves at neighborhood pace and the regulars like to chat. Order the bocadillo de lomo and nothing else; that's what you're here for.
The best lomo sandwich in Horta, no frills attached
El Cau Encantat is the kind of place you'd walk past a hundred times without a second glance — and that's exactly the point. Tucked away on Carrer d'Arenys in Horta-Guinardó, this is a proper neighborhood bar, the sort where the owner probably knows half the customers by name. There's no slick branding, no curated playlist, no design-forward interior. Just a counter, a few tables, and a grill doing the real work.
What brings people here — and what earned it a loyal following — is the bocadillo de lomo. One reviewer called it the best pork fillet sandwich they'd had in Barcelona, and that's not faint praise in a city that takes its sandwiches seriously. The pork is cooked to order, juicy and well-seasoned, stuffed into good bread with nothing fussy to distract from it. It's the kind of simple, honest food that doesn't need a marketing campaign.
Is it perfect? No. The service can be slow when the regulars are chatting, and if you're looking for a spot to impress a date, this isn't it (as one Tripadvisor reviewer bluntly noted). But if you want to eat well for a few euros in a place that feels like the real Barcelona, skip the tourist traps in the center and make the trip up to Horta. Go for the lomo, stay for the authenticity.