Grand Hotel Central

Great hotel, so close to everything and central. Fabulous breakfast and rooftop pool (although it can be busy at times). It's also close my favourite restaurants: Cuines De Santa Caterina (+34 (93) 268 99 18) in the Caterina Market and Set Portes at Passeig de Isabel (+34 (93) 319 29 50).

If you are visiting Barcelona, no doubt you will end up at some point at the Boqueria market. While you are there, don't miss a trip to the counter at  for breakfast or lunch. Have a glass of wine or cava and any of the fresh tapas, but you absolutely have to try the garbanzo beans. I never got the name of the dish, so I always asked for 'lo del garbanzo.' In a city full of amazing food, this was our favorite dish, which we returned specifically for the next day. And Juanito, always bow-tied and twinkly, is delightful to be around.

Brilliant seaside dining at Kaiku (+34 93 221 90 82) in La Barceloneta,  just a 10-minute walk from the Grand Hotel Central down to the seaside. The atmosphere is laid-back (including paper tablecloths), but the food is fresh and beautifully prepared. We shared plates, so that we could taste more of the menu and had a beautiful green salad sprinkled with shaved fois gras and a lovely fruity reduction dressing, the most tender calamari, tuna carpaccio...etc. Everything was delicious, and though the menu is in Catalan, the service was friendly, and happy to help with difficult decisions. Reservations are a good idea, especially if you hope to have lunch outside with a view of the beach.

I was over in Barcelona for the marathon and, after having a great race with a big personal best, a few cavas were in order. In the Mercat de la Boqueria, there's a tapas bar called El Quim (no sniggering please). If you can wriggle your way to a seat, you'll find superb tapas, and a constantly topped-up glass. Of course, that may have something to do with wearing a medal round your neck...

The Grand Hotel Central is cool and in an excellent spot on Via Laietana, you literally walk out of the door and in to the thick of Barcelona life. Las Ramblas is a few steps away and Port Olimpic is a short cab ride away and has some great clubs - Shoko and Catwalk - and some fabulous restaurants including Opium. We were out until 5am each night and wandering around each day. Highly recommended.

Just round the corner from the hotel is the fantastic Mercat Santa Caterina, a food lover's paradise in a fantastic building. But better still is the restaurant, Santa Caterina Cuines. It takes its produce direct from the market. It feels buzzy and exciting and the food was great. Better still, because people were coming and going all the time we never had long to wait for a seat.