A favorite for business and leisure dining, Barcelona is easily accessible just off the Merritt Parkway. Located in the 1940s Hi Ho Motel, the decor is a stylized throwback to the 1970s, complete with private booths, artsy wallpaper, and homey photographs. But rest assured, there's nothing '70s about the marvelous Spanish and tapas table d'hote. An annual winner in CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE's "Best Of" competition, the menu of small plates, large plates, and dishes for the table offers guests the opportunity to graze, sample, be as adventurous as they like. Family-friendly by day, after dark and on weekends, Barcelona slips into its second personality, that of social hotspot. It is then that the expansive square bar and lounge area become the focal point of an upscale meet-and-greet scene. And when temperatures permit, guests take the socializing outdoors to Barcelona's delightful 85-seat patio.