THE JOURNAL
Photograph by Along Dusty Roads
Although Mr David Millar is best known for his exploits on two wheels (Mr Millar won the first stage of his debut Tour de France, went on to complete 17 seasons in the sport and now runs the cycling brand CHPT3), he is also well-versed in eating and drinking, and doing it all well. We can vouch for it, having interviewed him over dinner a few years back. This bodes well for the guide we asked him to pull together on his adopted hometown of Girona. Below, find out his favourite places to eat, drink and be merry in this Catalan hotspot.
Where to eat
Plaça del Vi 7
“Catalonia is a culinary hotbed. Previously, there was elBulli, now there is El Celler de Can Roca, both of which have topped many world’s-best-restaurants lists. Personally, I prefer food that’s a bit more down to earth, and my favourite restaurant in Girona is Plaça del Vi 7. It serves tapas in a French bistro-style environment – the best of both worlds. Although if you have the time, travel 20km out of town and go to Can Boix, in a hamlet called Vilamarí. It’s my local, and I may be biased, but it’s truly exceptional.”
**Plaça del Vi, 7, 17004 Girona **
Where to drink
Sunset Jazz Club
“There are lots of places in Girona and it’s best to bar-hop and soak up the different atmospheres, but if there’s one place to finish up then it’s the Sunset Jazz Club. This place is a serious jazz cafe and the atmosphere feels timeless. If you want somewhere to go and drink and talk (unless there’s live music, in which case everybody is deathly silent) into the small hours then this is it. A Girona institution.”
What to do
Photograph courtesy of Eat Sleep Cycle
“The first thing to do is to walk the wall that surrounds the old town – it gives you great views of the city and the surrounding landscape before you go deeper into the alleyways of the old town. If you’re into cycling, then Girona is a place to be, it is home to over 100 professional racing cyclists and has rapidly become the cycling capital of the world. Get in touch with Eat Sleep Cycle who can cater to all your cycling needs.”
**eatsleepcycle.com **
Where to stay
Hotel Carlemany
“The best place to stay in Girona is Hotel Carlemany. It’s the only hotel in the centre of town that offers top-quality service and attention to detail. The restaurant is fantastic and the bar is award-winning. The rooms have all recently been refurbished and the service is what you’d expect from a big city luxury hotel.”
What to wear
“Girona is not a big city so there are few sartorial expectations. You can wear what you want, although it’s best not to stand out. The people are quietly elegant and prefer not to show off. Girona is a place where people go about their business and leisure without having to adhere to trends. Your biggest takeaway from visiting Girona will be its timelessness – it has a history which spans over 2,000 years. The whole Mr P. collection would do just nicely.”