BARCELONA: What to Do, Eat, Sleep, Drink, and Dance

EIXAMPLE BARCELONA

INSTAGRAM: @YANTASTIC

THE CAPITAL OF CATELONIA

Attention all lovers of architecture, food, fashion, fun…and football! On the count of three, I want you to say the name of your favorite city…. one…two…three! Okay, now how many of you blurted out ‘Barcelona’ without thinking twice?

Barca (we’re on a nickname basis) is one of the most visited places in Europe- which will come as no surprise to anyone who has been. The city is bursting with life, and with our help, you will leave with a little bit of a Spanish flair (and possibly bursting pants).   

P.S I was talking about European football.

WHERE TO STAY

On the Water

HOTEL ARTS

INSTAGRAM: @HOTELARTSBARCELONA

Hotel Arts is the fanciest hotel on the water and the place to stay in the summer. The view of the Mediterranean is one of the best in town and it is a few steps away from all of the busy nightclubs. The hotel is a thirty minute walk from the main action of the city, so that can be a good thing (quieter at night) or bad thing (you want to be the one making the noise) depending on what you’re looking for. The hotel comes with a fully equipped gym and spa, but be warned- Wi-Fi isn’t included (whhhhhat?!).

W Barcelona is everything but a typical chain hotel- it is one of the most fun places in the city. Not only does it have a great view, but there are tons of in-house activities that you can sign up for (who doesn’t want to learn how to surf?!), a busy bar to hang out in at night, and floor-to-ceiling- windows in every room so that even if you’ve stay at the bar a little too late the night before, you can still take in that view. The hotel is far from the main parts of the city and nothing is really within walking distance, so it would be a commitment to a beach holiday. The hotel comes with a fully equipped gym, spa, and an amazing pool area.

The Cool One

Soho House Barcelona is the coolest hotel in the city. Located in the Gothic Quarter- the area with the trendiest clubs, bars, and restaurants- the hotel is within walking distance of everything. Soho House always does a great job designing their hotels, and this one will not disappoint- expect tiled floors, brick ceilings, and quirky chandeliers. The hotel comes with a fully equipped gym, Cowshed (their in-house brand) spa, and a movie theatre. Oh, and the best news- you don’t have to be a member to stay there!  

The Fancy Classic

THE VIEW FROM MANDARIN ORIENTAL ROOFTOP

The Mandarin Oriental is the OG fancy hotel- every single detail is accounted for down to the scent in the lobby (it’s Fornasetti, btw). The hotel is on Passeig de Gràcia, so you are right in the city center. Rooms are minimalist but still feel comfortable. The breakfast buffet is honestly the stuff dreams are made of- they literally have everything- Spanish, American, Chinese, and Japanese breakfast foods.  The hotel comes with a fully equipped gym, spa, and a gorgeous rooftop pool.

The Getaway

LITTLE BEACH HOUSE

INSTAGRAM: @CONDENASTETRAVELLER

Little Beach House is a seventeen-room art deco hotel by Soho House half an hour outside of Barcelona. Soho House brings the usual cool to the hotel- lunch is served in a common area where you pick from what was caught fresh that day, there is a DJ booth at the bar, a beautiful pool area, and a full Cowshed spa that offers treatments on the outdoor terrace.

WHAT TO DO DURING THE DAY

Arts and Culture

You can’t discuss Barcelona without spending a good amount of time on Antoni Gaudi. His architectural style is so special and specific to Barcelona that you could easily (and happily) spend an entire trip just looking at his works throughout the city.

LA SANGRADA FAMILIA

INSTAGRAM: @DORPELL

La Sangrada Familia, designed by Gaudi, is the symbol of Barcelona and one of the most incredible structures ever- ever. The church has been under construction for over one hundred years and will probably never not be under construction. Every inch of the space has been designed with symbolism and imagery, so it is best to have a guide take you through and explain everything. Lines are always crazy to get in, so be sure to get there first thing in the morning or book a guide who has a line bypass.

PARK GUELL

INSTAGRAM: @LUKASMALKEIWICZ

Park Guell is a stunning park designed by Gaudi where you can admire his work in an outdoor setting and take in an amazing view of Barcelona. Gaudi actually spent time living in the park and you can see his house!

You can also take a look at some of Gaudi’s other incredible designs at Casa Mila and Casa Batlo (both on Passeig de Gràcia).

 The Picasso Museum, a beautiful building in itself, has one of the most extensive collections of Picasso paintings and drawings. If you don’t understand what is so great about Picasso, this is the place to go and learn.

TEATRE-MUSEAU DALI

 Teatre-Museau Dali is a museum dedicated to Dali that you will love if you’re a fan of his work or hate if you are not the biggest fan. The museum is fun and playful, but probably only worth a stop if you’re going to Gerona for a day trip.

PALAU DE LA MUSICA BARCELONA

Palau de la Musica Catalana is a concert hall with a seriously breathtaking interior… like wow. If there are any performances on while you are in town, you should definitely try to get tickets- the acoustics are amazing and they have had some of the world’s top performers on that stage. If you can’t get tickets to anything, tours are offered with their in-house guides.    

MERCADO LE LA BOQUERIA

Mercado de La Boqueria is one of the most incredible markets we have ever visited (we go to them in every city, so this is a major statement). You can find every sort of fresh seafood, meat (definitely get a cone of Iberico ham), cheese, olive, fruit…the list goes on, but what we loved were the dishes prepared by the vendors. We had some of the best empanadas and paella (better than what we had in Valencia) ever. Also, the watermelon juice there is the best drink on a hot day.

Outdoors

You will get the most incredible panoramic view of the city from the top of Montjuic.  If you are feeling sporty, you can climb the mountain by foot, but if you are not training for the Olympics, you can take the cable car up to the top. Speaking of the Olympics, the area around the mountain has the pool from the 1992 Olympics as well as a number of museums, a theatre, and a castle.

BOGATELL BEACH

INSTAGRAM: @MR.VIEW

 Bogatell Beach is the main beach in the city and is full of restaurants and shops. We enjoyed sitting out on the sand during the day, but would advise against eating or shopping there because the area is super touristy. Here’s a fun fact: the beaches in Barcelona are all artificial- sand was imported when the city hosted the 1992 Olympics- before that, the coastline was industrial.

P.S. Park Guell definitely counts as an outdoor spot that is worth visiting.

WHAT TO DO AT NIGHT

A Wild Time

OPIUM NIGHTCLUB

INSTAGRAM: @OPIUMBARCELONA

Nightlife in Barcelona is wild. Absolutely wild. Port Olímpic is lined with nightclubs both on and off the beach- Opium and Pacha are the most famous ones in town and get super rowdy as the night turns to morning. Brace yourself. 

Drinks

If you are in the mood for cheap drinks and some no-frills fun, you can literally walk into any bar in the Gothic Quarter for a drink or two.

El Born district is the place to go for a trendy and sophisticated night- one of our fav spots was Paradiso- a speakeasy behind a pastrami bar.

BAR MARSELLA

INSTAGRAM: @ISAMUKO

If you have seen Vicky Christina Barcelona you will probably recognize Bar Marsella. Every A-lister (Dali, Hemmingway, Gaudi..) has visited, but they make everyone feel welcome- be warned, they are known for their absinthe.

For a gorgeous panoramic view of Barcelona and a few cocktails, you can stop by Mirablu, located on the top of Mount Tibidabo (the highest view in the city). Pro tip: get here before sunset and sip on your drink while watching the sun go down.

Mamine Mojitos is the place to go if you love mojitos- they freshly squeeze all of their juices in house and are regarded as having the best mojitos in the world (okay, maybe just Barcelona but we say the world).

A Night of Culture

For a fancy night at the opera, you can catch a performance at Liceu Theatre- people pull out all the stops for their outfits, it’s a big deal. At Casa Mila  (remember, from the Gaudi section?) you can sign up for the nighttime experience where you tour the house and watch a bunch of videos explaining the building- the final one is on the rooftop and gives you an incredible view of the city at night. And yes, drinks are available. You can also visit Gaudi’s Casa Batllo at night where you start with a tour of the building and end with a live concert- performers change every night.

CASA MILA

Free and Fun

FONT MAGICA MONTJUIC

INSTAGRAM: @LALBERTET

Font Magica on Montjuic is magic fountain show that has light and music playing in sync with the water jets. The show is really popular, so expect big crowds and get there early to secure a good spot. Oh, and did we mention there are fireworks?!  

SHOPPING

You will find all of your high-end designer stores on Passeig de Gràcia. If you are looking for a one-stop-shop for all of your luxury needs, Santa Eulalia is your spot.

 Loewe is a high-end brand best known for their leather and is the pride and glory of the Spanish fashion industry. You can find a number of these boutiques throughout the city, but their flagship is on Passeig de Gràcia. Here’s what we learned: the brand is actually pronounced ‘low-ev-eh’. 

La Manual Alpargatera is the place to go if you are looking for authentic Spanish espadrilles that won’t break the bank. There are so many styles and colors to choose from that you will definitely be able to find something (or somethings) that suits your fancy.

Zara comes from Spain, so you definitely have to make a stop at their flagship on Passeig de Gràcia, even if it’s just to take a peek.

Cereria Subria opened in 1761 and is the oldest existing candle shop in Barcelona. The artisans hand design and paint every candle and you will be blown away by what they create. I’m pretty sure we spent over an hour looking at everything and picking out which ones we would be able to pack in our suitcases.

CERERIA SUBRIA

INSTAGRAM: @OH_LOVELY_PLACE

WHERE TO EAT

You were probably wondering… are we ever going to mention the most obvious part of Spanish culture? Have we forgotten about tapas!? Fear not, dear friends. We would never do such a thing.

FYI, for those who need a refresher, tapas are these cute little bite-sized snacks that are generally meant to be eaten with your hands. Locals meet at bars before dinner (around 5 or 6 in the evening) to catch up with friends and have some wine (or beer or sangria or all of the above) and tapas. We loved pretty much every single tapa (is that how it works?) we tried, but if you’re looking for a beginners guide, we suggest: patatas bravas, croquettas, pan con tomate, and of course, some Iberico ham and manchego cheese. You can’t really go wrong with any bar, but Paco Meralgo is our fav spot for traditional tapas and Petit Comite for a more formal experience.

TAPEO

Tapeo is a casual spot that locals go for lunch or dinner… and is one of our favorite restaurants ever. Period. Our first time there we ended up ordering literally every single item on the menu and then went back the next day. Every dish is the best dish, but no matter what you do, be sure to order the buratta. You should make a reservation in advance because it’s busy and lined up all day and night.

Food: 9.8

Vibe: 7.4

Botafumeiro is known as Barcelona’s top seafood restaurant. You will pay a lot for your meal, but you will get a white tablecloth, top-notch service, and great food. You can’t go wrong with any of the fresh fish and seafood options, but the dish that stood out most to us was the ‘juicy rice with lobster’.

Food: 8.2

Vibe: 7.6

Dos Palillos is a foodie’s heaven and one of the hardest reservations to get because the seating is so limited. Chefs prepare the dishes and then serve them to you directly, so it can get a bit awkward if you are a fussy eater (just ask our mom). The menu is a really interesting mix of Asian dishes prepared with Spanish ingredients. We loved it, but it is definitely not for everyone.

DOS PALILLOS

INSTAGRAM: @500HIDDENSECRETS

Food: 8.8

Vibe: 8.9

Nino Viejo is one of the five restaurants Albert Adria (pastry chef from El Bulli and brother to Fernan Adria) opened in Barcelona. This is a casual and fun Mexican taqueria.

Food: 7.8

Vibe: 7.4

TICKETS

TICKETS

Tickets, another Adria brothers’ spot, is probably the most famous restaurant that every foodie has put on their Barcelona bucket list. With one Michelin star, a constant ranking on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and the coolest interior design, Tickets hits that perfect middle ground of having an approachable menu that isn’t boring and being innovative without being gimmicky. You will find traditional tapas menu items that are prepared using ‘molecular gastronomy’- your order of olives come as spherified olive juice in the shape of olives that explode in your mouth. Your meal will definitely be more expensive than a traditional tapas spot, but you won’t have to rob a bank to eat there. Insider tip: order the cheesecake for dessert. Don’t ask questions or look it up, just trust us.

Food: 8.7

Vibe: 8.9

BUTTER AT LASARTE

Lasarte is the place to go for a meal that tastes as good as it looks- and it looks like actual artwork. This three Michelin Star restaurant is definitely a splurge, but well worth it. The inside is the perfect hybrid of super-fancy and comfortable: white tables and waiters in suits with high ceilings and earthy accents (stones from the area as table decor). The service is impeccable and the staff are happy to joke around with you and make sure you have a special night. The butter plate was stunning- and we are not using that word lightly- and we just had to ask for more bread to finish it all up because it was that delicious.

Food: 9.4

Vibe: 9

Snacks and Dessert:

MONIBIRIC

You will see Monibiric shops all over the city and we highly recommend you make a stop to try as many types of Iberico ham as possible. Iberico pigs are exclusive to Spain and create a really special flavor because the only thing that these pigs eat are black acorns. The people who work there are happy to explain the aging and curing process, and give you samples while you learn, so you will leave an expert. Our favorites were the Iberico nuggets.

Any dessert lover will go wild for Rocambolesc, the dessert outpost opened by Jodi Roca, one of the brothers behind El Cellar de Can Roca (a real treat of a meal for anyone visiting Gerona). Every single option on the menu of ice-creams is stunning (seriously) and delicious.

FINAL THOUGHTS

With some of the best restaurants and bars, museums and beaches, Barcelona is a destination that doesn’t require much selling. Anyone at any age or stage in their lives will quickly fall in love. The people are warm, the city is constantly buzzing, and we feel like we’ve really perfected that Spanish flair.

AREAS EXPLAINED

Barcelonetta: the best-known beach in the city. The area is always busy and is lined with bars and restaurants. Definitely worth a visit!  

Eixample: the original design for this area was to have each block be a self-contained community and to cut the corners off of every street to allow for trams to turn. While the trams were never used and the blocks never became communities, the architecture is definitely worth a look.

Las Ramblas/Gothic Quarter: the center of the city- winding narrow streets that are lined with bars, restaurants, and shops featuring local artists.

El Born: the trendy area of the city

WHEN TO VISIT

Late spring and early fall are best because you can take advantage of the beach and walk everywhere without the crazy summer crowds.

HOW TO GET THERE

There is an airport in the city and there are multiple flights in and out every day from most major airlines.