Barcelona is undoubtedly one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and has everything you could desire ; great weather, mouth-wateringly delicious food, diverse architecture and a young and lively atmosphere. Situated in the North-Eastern part of Spain, Catalonia, it is the second largest city and is the center of Catalan language and culture. Barcelona has been marred by many difficult times in history, a lot of it in the past one hundred years, but is a city that is constantly moving, evolving and reinventing itself. Not one to shy away from its individuality, the city’s skyline is an unabashed ode to the future, all the while paying homage to its roots. While tourism has changed the city immensely over the last decade, it has always kept its unabashed, unpretentious personality ; that’s just what Barcelona is.
Eat
– Bágoa. One could say that the decor is pretty commonplace if one is used to Formica furniture and modern seating, however the food is nothing short of extraordinary. If you are looking for a place to hang out with the locals, grab some highly enjoyable Spanish wines and savor the local delicacies, Bágoa is where you should go. Try their specialties : Jamon Canario (flavourful slow roasted ham), salchichón (cured sausage), jamon iberico and, as rumour has it, the best bocadillos in town.
– Mercado de la Boquería. Undoubtedly the most famous market in Barcelona, but once you step into the close-knit stalls and ogle the exquisitely curated tables overflowing with their edible wears, you will not be able to leave without buying yourself more food than you can carry (or eat for that matter!). Walk over to the fish market next door, full of a magical array of shimmering fish and delicate fresh seafood. Although El Quim de la Boquería is one of the most famous tapas bars in town, don’t be tempted by all the tapas bars nearby, most of them are expensive traps to entice tourists!
– Quimet i Quimet. This place is a classic on the Barcelona food scene. They do not take reservations, so get here early as tables are few are far between, and sample the Catalan classics. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff what they recommend, you may be pleasantly surprised!
– Bar Pinotxo. No restaurant list would be complete without mentioning this restaurant. For many, this is the best restaurant in the Boqueria market, for the rest, the best tapas restaurant in Barcelona. Grab a portion of spinach with sea salt, caramelised pork loin or grilled calamari with cannellini beans.
– Pallaresa Xocolateria Xurreria. This place is an institution of culinary delights. It’s been open since 1947, and probably hasn’t changed since it opened. Grab yourself a traditional cup of thick hot chocolate a la tassa, a few churros, and enjoy. For even more Catalan decadence, order a suiza: hot chocolate topped with unsweetened whipped cream. Another excellent spot for churros con chocolate is Granja Viader, steps away from the Mercado de la Boquería.
– Mosquito. Remember the days when restaurants would give the table a piece of paper with the menu, and you had to check off the quantities of what you wanted to order? Well they still do it here. It’s legitimately heaven for dim sum and dumpling lovers. It’s an eclectic mix of Asian sharing dishes in a funky decor, special mentions for the Bang Bang Chicken, Pork and Kimchi Shuijiao dumpling, and the crispy duck.
– Zero Patatero. Highlights are the beef tartare, patatas bravas, locally caught fish with a wild mushroom sauce, as well poached egg in cream. The wine list has a good selection or organic and natural wines, which are reasonable and well balanced.
– L’antic Bocoi del Gòtic. It’s become harder and harder to find great local honest Catalan cuisine in the last few years. With the influx and increase of tourism, many places cater to visitors and offer expensive and low quality tapas; well not here. Reservation is a must, the menu is short and is largely cured meat, salads or coque de recapte (a Spanish ode to pizza). They have shared plates, as well as the usual appetizer, main and dessert combinations too.
– La Delicias. Unpretentious local tapas restaurant. It’s off the beaten path and is about about a ten minute walk from Parc Güell. Everyone eating here will be people living around the streets near the restaurant. Absolutely no pretense in this eatery, everything from the decor to the food is uncomplicated and seasonal.
– Disfrutar: Helmed by El Bulli veterans, this is the only Michelin restaurant you should book in Barcelona. Yes, Albert Adrià’s Tickets, Bodega 1900 and Pakta are memorable experiences, but Disfrutar is more of a meal than a spectacle. Diners and critics are raving about their tasting menu, one of the best odes to El Bulli’s days.
– La Cova Fumada. This super authentic, family-run fresh seafood experience is the birthplace of the famous “bomba de la Barceloneta”, a fried mashed-potato croquette, and they are famous for their grilled squid and sardines.
Drink
– Granja M Viader. One of the most popular drinks in Spain was invented here: cacaolat. Five generations of people are still preparing the same hot chocolate (since 1873). The decor is sparse with old fashioned marble tabletops, but nothing encompasses the Catalan spirit than sitting down for a chat, with a hot drink and warm churros in hand. Try the crema catalana, máto (cottage cheese with fruit) and the cured hams.
– Bar Cañete is a Barcelona mainstay for classic tapas and an unmatched, lively atmosphere. Get ibérico and great tapas at the bar. Another contender would be La Plata, which feels like the La Buvette of Barcelona in all the best ways.
– Rubi. This place is more of a rare pearl than a ruby. Discreetly lit with a plush boudoir vibe, it is a great place to start or end your evening!
– BierCab. The delightful decor is the first thing that will hit you, with a very stylish sculpted wood ceiling. But it’s not the interior design you are here for, it’s the ridiculous amount of craft beer on tap (over thirty!). The cuisine is international (try the sea bass ceviche, the Beligian mussels as well as the spicy chicken wings) as well as the Catalan specialties (try the cured local hams and the patatas bravas).
– Ginger. The interior of Ginger is wonderfully wood paneled with dark green plush chairs and has an old-timey vibe about it. You can’t leave without sampling their Old fashioned, their Rye Whiskey and margaritas.
– Dr Stravinsky. This is the brain-child of Antonio Naranjo, the famous cocktail-maker, and it feels like walking back in time into an apothecary’s medicine cabinet. Everything that you see in the jars, bottles and little compartments are made on the premises; this is local drink-sourcing and making 101. The menu is a trip in itself: whatever you want, you can find on their solar-system inspired menu/map.
– Morro Fi. The Eixample area is fun and a tad quirky, and Morro Fi is just that. A lively little vermouth bar, a trend that has come back around (as most things do after a few years). Served with ice, orange slice and olive, you can have your vermut with some great hard cheeses, sea food, cured ham and epic rustic fries, ask for their special aperitivo sauce. It’s delicious. Morro Fi is cheap and cheerful, and is a boisterous crowd pleaser.
– Story. Just a few meters from Dr Stravinsky, this funky space is a good choice for both food and drink. The decor is library themed, and there is often live music to be found. We were impressed by the soft lighting and plush furnishings. The cocktails, wines and beers on offer are varied and well executed by staff who are also multilingual.
– Monvínic. The sommelier of Monvínic Isabelle Brunet has curated a varied international wine list that changes weekly, and is as divine as it is well thought-out. Around thirty or so wines are available by the glass, and a few hundred are by the bottle.
– Marlowe Bar : Situated in the popular Born area of Barcelona, it stands on what was previously the bar named Gimlet (that had operated there for over forty years). It has stayed true to the character and philosophy of the classic cocktail bar, with cocktails that seem to have been teleported from another era: delicious, timeless and perfectly balanced.
Do
– The MACBA. This contemporary art museum is one of the most divisive museums in the city, but what is undeniable is the buildings remarkably stark architecture designed by american Richard Meier.
– Fundació Joan Miró. The museum can be found on the Monjuic hill in and contains many of the artists work, that he donated during his lifetime, but also that of other artists. The foundation itself was born out of Miró’s desire to have a space for experimental artists to showcase their art. You can also find pieces from other famous world renowned artists such as Rothko, Magritte, and Chillida, to name but a few.
– El Museu Picasso. The museum was created from Picasso’s long time friend Jaume Sabatès’ personal collection, and now houses one of the world’s largest collections of the artists work. It has over four thousand works of art on permanent display, from ceramics, to paintings to engravings.
– El Parc Güell. No visit to Barcelona would be complete without a stroll in Gaudí’s astounding park; an ode to nature, but also to the unique. Found in the Gracía neighbourhood in the north of Barcelona, the park is beautifully set in the Collserola hilltops, the view is unparalleled. You must now reserve online for a specific time and date, as well as pay a fee per person, but the price now includes a bus up and back down.
– La Sagrada Família. Another magnificent example of Gaudí’s imagination is the unfinished masterpiece that is the Sagrada Família. It has been in construction since 1882, and is it believed that it will be finished in 2026 (the centenary of Gaudí’s untimely death). Most of the architecture of the Basilica was inspired by nature, one can see columns inspired by trees, fruit topps spires as well and staircases that resemble mollusks.
– Montjuic. The view at the top of this hill are truly breathtaking. You can see the city of Barcelona, with its various unique architectural monuments, but also the Barceloneta and the meditarenean sea. Hike up the hill or take a cable car up or down, and for any first-time traveller to Barcelona, it is a great way to discover a more laid-back and picturesque part of the Catalan city.
This review was written by In The Loup contributor Roxane Laslett.