BARCELONA
Coco tips
There are a number of places on my ‘I will live here one day’ list. Barcelona is one of them. When I think of the jugs sangria, the boiling nightlife, the magical and picturesque squares, and the almost indescribable relaxation of this city, then I prefer to immediately pack all my gear to return to the Netherlands only next year. But I was already very happy when I got to be there for a few days last week. I visited my favorite old familiar spots, but also discovered a number of new places. Because there is so much to do and see in Barça, I present my favorites. Vamos amigos!
Tapas
On your very first evening, go to Ciudad Condal, for your portion of traditional tapas but also your Spanish temperament initiation. The waiters are very nice and quite loud. Just as it should be.
Cachitos is a tapas restaurant of a higher level. You eat deliciously there, but it is also muy romantico due to the stylish interior. Therefore, it is extremely suitable to go with your sweetheart, or with a Spanish fling you met yesterday.
Xaloc is a traditional Spanish restaurant with the best wines. It is a bit hidden in the El Gotico neighborhood (my favorite), but definitely worth the search. Moreover, you discover a lot of new places on the way there.
Restaurants
For all the Jettekes among us: you eat the most amazing healthy breakfast Flax & Kale. Where the food is served so beautifully that it is actually too pretty to eat. But you do eat it anyway, because after such a tasty meal, you can walk around Barça for hours. Believe me.
Gallito is my favorite restaurant on the beach for lunch. From a burrata salad to a green Thai curry, everything tastes wonderfully fresh.
El Nacional is really amazing! It is comparable to De Hallen in Amsterdam, but three times as beautiful. The choice is also endless. From cocktail bar to brasserie and from tapas restaurant to oyster bar. The place is very suitable for large groups.
The best sushi I have ever eaten in my life is without exaggeration at Ikibana. Because the restaurant mixes Japanese with Brazilian fusion, it creates the most amazing combinations. When my friend and I were served the foie gras, banana, and caviar roll, we didn't know where to look from happiness. Wow.
I am really a sucker for burgers and therefore become very happy from burger cafes like Makamaka. Try the Jamaica chicken burger, and you'll immediately know what I mean. The atmosphere in this place is pleasantly messy and therefore very cozy.
If you feel like different food, go to Fàbrica Moritz. You can order a delicious self-brewed beer, various sausages, or the best roasted chicken from the spit. Great for both lunch and dinner.
Drinks
Boca Chica is one of the most atmospheric bars in Barcelona. The interior suddenly makes you feel like you're in the ’50s. But the cocktails, they are incredibly 2015 and delicious. The handsome men making the cocktails are also a plus. So if you're looking for a nice bartender, this is your place. It is always packed, so make sure you end up there after your late-night dinner.
Ocaña is really my favorite place for a drink. The ambiance is funky, almost alternative. The colorful and extravagant male host, fully tattooed and pierced, seems to have walked straight out of the Now & Wow in Rotterdam. And that just happens to be one of my favorite nightlife spots in the Netherlands. On weekends, the club in the basement opens, and you can show that we Dutch also have a sense of rhythm. At least, we think we do...
Creps al Born is really one of those little bars you must know, otherwise, you'll just walk past it. You drink the most creative drinks and eat, as you probably guessed, the most delicious crêpes. And that goes down quite well in a drunken state...
Slow Barcelona is another nice cocktail bar and according to my Spanish amigo the best in Barcelona. The gin and tonic I ordered there tasted incredible.
Going out
Otto Zutz is a cool club with three floors featuring different music styles. The crowd is a good mix of locals and internationals. Monday is my favorite night.
One of the fanciest clubs in Barcelona is Sutton. You run into one FC Barcelona player after another. So expect bottles of vodka with fireworks, champagne, and high heels.
La Terrraza is a beautiful open-air club located against the mountains of Barcelona. Worth it just for the beautiful estate.
Shopping
You can shop very well on the Portal del Angel and Passeig de Gràcia. Here you will also find Zara’s, Berschka’s, and Mango’s, which are generally ten percent cheaper in Spain. But my favorite street is really Carrer dels Banys Nous, located in El Gotico. Here you will find the funniest art shops, cutest boutiques, and delicious delicatessens, such as the pastry shop Caelum. You really must go there for a piece of fig cake or carrot cake.
Further must-dos
The most delicious organic sandwiches can be found at the bakery shop Barcelona Reykjavik.
The beach in Barcelona can be overcrowded in the summer, so really relaxing is not possible then. So walk on to the piece of beach at the W Hotel, where you can rent a nice bed. Then you also know that your things are a bit safer, as there is plenty of supervision from the staff.
The best souvenirs for me are definitely food. For those staying at home (and yourself!), take some delicious serrano ham from the best jamónerie Enrique Tomás.
The most flavorful ice cream I had was at Manna Gelats.
All the aforementioned places can be quite far apart. If you have your driver's license, rent a scooter. You already have a really nice electric thing for ten euros per person per day.
