Discover the historic Granja Viader

Granja Viader is an institution in Barcelona that has been serving up the most divine hot chocolate and churros, as well as other tempting desserts, for over 125 years. With four generations in the family business, you’ll be mad to miss a chance to stop by this charming old-fashioned diner during your visit to Barcelona.

Table of Contents

The History

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This historic establishment can be dated all the way back to 1870 when it was a dairy first. In the 1900’s Marc Viader Bas took over the business and continuously created new methods and processes to apply to his business. This led to the appearance of Cacaolat in 1931, one of the most popular chocolate milkshake drinks in the country. As you sit in the café today, you can still see old Cacaolat memorabilia and packaging adorning the shop’s walls as a reminder of the Granja’s long history.

Granja Viader has now passed through the hands of four generations where some of the same recipes by their great grandparents are still used today. If you’re interested in knowing more about the history of Granja Viader you can find a complete and in-depth article on their website here.

Related article: Barcelona for the chocolate addicts

The Food

Photo by su-lin via Visualhunt

The star of the show has got to be their chocolate. Most guidebooks on Barcelona feature Granja Viader and will tell you to try the xocolata amb melindros (delicious thick hot chocolate with ladyfingers) or the infamous suïs (hot chocolate with cream). Dip your hot chocolate with churros or try the soft spiral-shaped pastry from Mallorca called ensaïmada. Other desserts also include cheesecake and famous crema catalana, Catalonia’s version of the creme brûlée.

In summer, you can find a cool relief with an horchata (a milky drink made from ground tiger nuts), leche mallorquina (sweet milk flavored with cinnamon and lemon), or a refreshing granita.

If you haven’t got a sweet tooth, there is also a deli counter with a great range of cheeses including the local Mató cheese, cured meats, and croquettes. If you’re struggling to find a place to sit down there’s always the option to take some treats away with you, a perfect addition to any picnic!

Location: Carrer d’en Xuclà, 4-6

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* Main photo by chambrayandcurls via Visualhunt