Sugarclub

For those who have never been to the Sugarclub, it has a hint of secrecy to it, as if it were a clandestine meeting place. Finding the restaurant / bar / lounge, which is tucked into a covered passage-way next to the World Trade Centre, requires some guesswork if you haven't been there before. There are no signs and the girl handing out flyers on the windy pier doesn't arrive until shortly before midnight. After midnight, the tables are cleared away and Sugarclub becomes a trendy nightclub, featuring different musical styles every night, from soul and R&B to house.

Type of cuisine: Nouvelle/fusion

Typical dishes: Fusion food is all the rage in this city and the Sugarclub is no exception. The menu features Japanese and Thai inspired dishes like Thai vegetarian spring rolls and tuna tartar with ginger and yucca tempura, coconut soup with prawns, Middle Eastern delicacies like hummus with anchovies, Italian classics like bruschetta with bufala mozzarella, basil and tomatoes and Mediterranean seafood specialities, steak tartar in a caper sauce with steak fries and grilled gilthead bream with tomato confit and aubergines.

Atmosphere/décor: The double glass doors lead into a space that celebrates the minimalist aesthetic that has been the Barcelona mantra of cool for the past couple of years. The entrance features a modern interpretation of the chandelier that resembles an inverted, red Mayan pyramid and a warm but dimly lit bar with slick, geometric tables. A thick, black cord separates the bar from the spacious, predominantly white restaurant beyond. Crescent-shaped, white booths overlook the restaurant's main area, framed by long, draping white curtains reminiscent of a 1940's film noir. Foor-to-ceiling windows look out across the harbour to the glittering seaside promenade and funky projections flicker behind the restaurant bar. Something about the location makes it seem like a different city, but the pretty people and standard house beats are unmistakably Barcelona. 

Our restaurant critic says...

Unfortunately, the food isn't the Sugarclub's forte. Every dish is well-prepared, well-presented and perfectly edible, but is, in the end, quite ordinary. The true highlight are the desserts. From a variety of tasty treats, including chocolate fondue, apple and cinnamon pie and homemade tiramisu, the waiter recommended the cheesecake ice-cream in a red berry sauce, which is absolutely delicious. The waiters are very friendly and efficient, coming by frequently with a basket of different kinds of bread and refilling drinks without being intrusive.  

The Sugarclub seems to be more about atmosphere, décor, cocktails and fashionable outfits than truly great food. It isn't a particularly original place, opting for the safety of trendy house music and a cool, minimalist look instead of anything new or risky, but it does have a spectacular location, excellent service and good cocktails.