After five years in a quiet corner of Wan Chai, Catalunya has a fresh name and snazzy new location in the heart of Central
Named after one of the most (in)famous streets in the world, La Rambla has shed its previous identity as the oddly placed Catalunya restaurant on Oi Kwan Road—a confusing pocket between Causeway Bay and Wan Chai with nary a stream of potential clientele. Over the years, we’ve observed a dwindling of guests as newer and trendier openings put Catalunya on the back burner, but still enjoyed popping in on occasion for a G&T and a plate of truffled ham and cheese bikini sandwiches.
And now, five years later, there’s a new name, new face, new feel. Now operating as La Rambla by Catalunya, the restaurant has staked out a piece of IFC real estate—the former spot that housed Isola—and on a Tuesday night, the dining room was as packed as its namesake Barcelona boulevard. The new restaurant benefits from an alluring terrace overlooking Victoria Harbour, and an updated aesthetic (by designer Stanley Kwok, who has lent his keen eye to major hotel groups) that favours cool grey marble, wood, bronze and teal-toned velvet over the blood-red and black of its previous incarnation.
Framed illustrations of marble-eyed children by Barcelonan artist Javier Calleja line the walls, while a small tree stands proudly center, lending the room a layer of whimsy to offset the otherwise ultra slick interiors. It’s raucous, with music and animated chatter amplified by the solid furnishings. In the daytime, this is a glorious spot for lunch and brunch—the latter, should it be anything like Catalunya’s legendary weekend offering, will undoubtedly become the primary reason to pay La Rambla a visit.