Review: Casa Calvet

Tell me: What’s this place all about?
We wouldn’t blame you if you walked straight past Casa Calvet without even realizing you were in the presence of a Gaudí. Everything seems so…normal. Look up, however, and all the elements are there: attic balconies with wrought iron railings, a curved roof, stained glass with painted leaves. Built in 1899, Casa Calvet was one of Gaudí’s earliest works and, likely, his most pared back. Speculation points more towards the conservative demands of his boss rather than a lack of artistic flamboyance, however. It was built as a work and living space for textile manufacturer Pere Màrtir Clavet, and there are many homages to him: a ‘C’ (for Calvet) above the door, plus busts of the patron saints from Calvet’s hometown.

What should we expect to see here?
You'll want to arrive hungry. Since 1994, Casa Calvet has been a restaurant. After changing hands in 2019, it’s now China Crown—a Chinese restaurant that’s somewhat of a culinary curveball given the aesthetics. The former boardrooms and accounting offices on the ground floor now host Asian cuisine tasting menus, with much of the décor, from lamps to doorknockers, as Gaudí left it.

What kind of stuff will we find on the menu?
For the famished, there's a nine-course tasting menus start from at €48. Or there’s an a la carte menu that’s more extensive than Gaudí’s back catalogue, blending the classics—sticky, crispy-skinned Peking duck, say—with surprises, like spicy cashew king prawns and red tuna. Factor in the typical entrance cost to a Gaudí site that you’ve saved, and it doesn’t end up being a huge splurge.

Who comes here?
Those feeling a little tapas-ed out (if that’s possible) who want to shake up their dinner options —or wander-bys who happen to stumble into somewhere with greater cultural significance than they were expecting.

Got it. So, then, what, or who, do you think it’s best for?
It’s ideal for a special occasion meal with fellow Gaudí geeks. Though maybe one to skip if you like your Gaudí loud and proud.