The popular restaurant Casa Pagès, located at Llibertat Street, 19 in the heart of Gràcia, celebrates seven decades of life since its founding in 1956. Initially, the premises sold ice bars and distributed drinks such as La Casera and Estrella Damm. The name comes from a family who owned a farmhouse on the Arrabassada road. During the 60s, the establishment evolved, partially becoming a butcher shop and a bulk wine cellar.
The local history took an unexpected turn in the late 70s when authorities closed it down for organizing illegal poker games, an event that led the owners and caught customers to jail. In 1981, Pedro Barros took over the business, reopening it in 1982 after a renovation. His son, Alberto Barros, the current head of the restaurant, recalls that the place was a meeting point for workers and public figures like former president Pasqual Maragall.
“"Many people come alone just to see who they run into. We have history, we have tradition. We are original, authentic, and we offer classic dishes, like fried eggs with ham or the trinxat de la Cerdanya."
Alberto Barros took control of the business at a young age, adapting it to survive various economic crises while maintaining the identical aesthetic from 1982. Recently, they hired chef Fernando Cuenca to reinforce the spirit of the 80s by recovering the 'esmorzars de forquilla' (fork breakfasts). These include traditional dishes like fricandó, capipota, and meatballs, alongside menu classics such as the sandwiches Freud (chicken with brie cheese) and Socrates (loin with cheese and peppers).
