In the spring of ’05, two Irish couples arrived from San Francisco, California to bring us “Milk Bar & Bistro”. Milk offers us a modern and elegant option for the ever livelier nights of Barcelona’s old town.The bar is done like a millionaires drawing room with plush sofas, flirtatious pillows, gilded lacy red picture frames, antique chandeliers and incredible wallpaper designed by 50’s designer Florence Broadhurst. The patterns are evocative of the 20’s. Milk has large windows, sparkling blue walls and earth-toned floors. The space has a laidback style and in a city with so many hot bars you have to do something special to stand out. Milk has certainly achieved this.The Head Chef has created a distinctive menu which features exquisitively prepared and approachable food, served in an upscale setting, using locally selected produce purchased daily from the famous Boqueria market on the Ramblas. The menu changes seasonally. Popular dishes such as the mouth-watering “Milk hamburger” topped with the house sweet onion relish, served with wedges and tonkatsu sauce, “The Ultimate Caesar Salad” which has our homemade dressing, chapata croutons, smoked bacon, parmesan cheese and topped with a warm poached egg and of course the ever popular “Seafood Jumbalaya”, ensure that the food marches proudly out of the kitchen like a fine brass band. Milk has a famous cocktail list with legendary cocktails starting from €5. The Staff creates fabulous original concoctions with great flavours and names such as the “Dead Elvis” and the “Porn Star Martini” which is made with vodka, passion fruit liquor and passion fruit served with a shot of champagne. Ease yourself into one of the cushy dark brown sofas and order up the “La Leche Martini” made with a jolt of Spanish coffee to keep you going through the night.Milk has an incredible Brunch everyday from 10am to 4 pm. It is wise to book early from Monday to Fridays as it fills-up quickly. However, Milk does not take reservations for Brunch on Saturday and Sundays. Fabulous “Bloody Mary’s”, the healthy “very berry banana smoothie” and of course dishes ranging from the “salmon eggs benedict” to the “ultimate omelette” are sure to satisfy the hungriest of appetites. Expect to hear classic crooners singing in the background as you leaf through the complimentary foreign and local newspapers. It is a great start to anybodies week.Milk is sensational because it is still such a secret. Tucked down a narrow alley in the Barri Gotic (Old Quarter) it is fun to seek out. Its heathy atmosphere is in keeping with the spaces’ chequered past. It was once a famous absinthe bar with tarot cards being read, where the less desirable of Barcelona’s nights would once gather.