Review: Els Sortidors del Parlament

First impression?
In a past life, Els Sortidors del Parlament was a motorcycle workshop; today, the high arches of a garage remain, but the engines have been replaced with giant barrels-cum-tables, tall stools, and huge tasting spaces. The walls are artfully industrial: perfectly flaking plaster, retro ceiling fans, and an enormous wire chandelier full of little birds. There’s a lot to talk about before wine even comes up. But, oh, it will.

Cool. So who’s there?
A super-chilled-out crowd of locals, tourists, and, on our last visit, a perky little chihuahua who seemed to be the only soul not drinking. There’s lots of laughter—the kind that usually accompanies an irresistibly good wine list.

How are the drinks?
The wines are sourced globally, although there’s a strong contingent from Catalonia, as expected. You can either order a bottle or a glass, or pick a bottle from the on-site wine shop (where prices have evaded a bar markup) and add €4 for corkage. There’s also a good selection of craft beers (both on tap and in bottles) and a gamechanger of a house vermouth.

Worth ordering something to eat, too?
A well-stocked snack menu: smoked fish, cheese boards, stuffed peppers, cockles, quail-egg omelets, and a particularly tomato-y pan con tomate (local crusty bread rubbed with tomatoes, olive oil, and salt).

Did the staff do you right?
Extremely friendly; everyone's excited to give you a tour of their space and its offerings. The server also managed to find us an emergency charger for a dead phone, which, in 2018, qualifies as lifesaving.

Wrap it up: what are we coming here for?
It’s such a relaxed little place. You can enjoy wine with friends, family, a partner—whoever, really—without feeling like you need to order lots of food or hustle out of there so the table can turn.