BARCELONA
favorites
I’ve got a couple of cities jotted down on my ‘places I intend to live someday’ –list. Barcelona is one of them. Just thinking about the liters of sangria, the seething nightlife, the magical and picturesque little squares and the indescribable tranquility of the city, makes me want to pack my amenities immediately and not return home for at least a year or so. But just being there for a few days last week was great too. I dropped by all the old familiar places I love, and also discovered a couple of new dainty little hotspots. Since there is so much to do and see in Barça, I hereby present you my favorites. Vamos amigos!
Tapas
Spend your first night at Ciudad Condal for some traditional tapas and also for a bit of a Spanish temperamental hazing. The waiters are the friendliest and very boisterous. Exactly how it should be.
Cachitos is a tapas restaurant of a higher caliber. The food is delicious and because of the very stylish interior it is also muy romantico. This place is very suitable for a date night with your lover or with your Spanish fling you met the night before.
Xaloc is a traditional Spanish restaurant with a great assortment of wines. It’s hidden in the El Gotico area (my favorite) but it is well worth the hunt. Plus, on your way there you’ll come across a ton of other charming and fun places you’re going to want to discover.
Restaurants
For all the health freaks among us: Flax & Kale is the place to be for a great and very healthy breakfast. The food they serve looks so pretty that it’s almost (almost) too pretty to eat. But you’ll do it regardless, because after such a savory meal, you’ll be ready to stroll around Barça for hours. Believe me.
I find Gallito to be the best place to go to for lunch. From burrata salads to green Thai curries, everything tastes deliciously fresh.
El Nacional is amazing! This place is composed of different areas so your choices are endless. From a cocktail bar to a bistro and from a tapas restaurant to an oyster bar. The ideal place to be if you’re with more than just a party of two.
Without exaggerating, hands down the best sushi I have ever had is at Ikibana. Since the restaurant fuses the Japanese and Brazilian kitchen, the best cooking combinations are conceived. When my boyfriend and I were served the foie gras, banana and caviar roll, we didn’t know what to do we were so excited. Wow.
I’m a sucker for hamburgers so when I see burger bars like Makamaka I was a very happy camper. Give the Jamaican chicken burger a try, then you’ll know precisely what I mean. And not to forget; the atmosphere of the joint. Engaging and disheveled and very very enjoyable.
In the mood for a different kind of bite, then drop by Fàbrica Moritz. Here you can order your own home made brew, different sausages and the best roasted chicken from the spit. Great for lunch and for dinner.
Drinks
Bar Boca Chica has one of the best atmospheres in all of Barcelona. The interior transports you back to the 50’s. But the cocktails, they were very 2015 and delish. As were the men who made them. So if you’re on the lookout for an attractive bar tender, this is the place to be. The place is always packed so make sure you get there just after your late night dinner.
Ocaña is personally my favorite place to grab a drink. The ambiance is funky, almost alternative. The colorful and extravagant male host, all tatted up and pierced, looks like he just walked out of some exorbitant club. And luckily, that’s what their basement turns into in the weekends.
Creps al Born is one of those bars you just need to know about, or odds are you’ll walk straight past it. They serve the most creative drinks and snacks, and you probably already saw this one coming: phenomenal crêpes. And those get chowed down rather nicely after a drink or two…
Slow Barcelona is another great cocktail bar and according to my Spanish amigo, it is the best in Barcelona. The gin-tonic I ordered definitely tasted increíble.
Going out
Otto Zutz is a rad club with three floors with different music genres. The public is a great mix of locals and internationals. Monday’s are my fav nights there.
One of the fanciest clubs in Barcelona is Sutton. Chances of running into one of FC Barcelona’s players here is inevitable. What to expect when you’re here: bottles of vodka with fireworks, champagne and sky high heels.
La Terraza is a beautiful open-air club located in the hills of Barcelona. Worth visiting, even if it is just for the view.
shopping
Portal del Angel en Passeig de Gràcia is a great place to go shopping. You’ll find a ton of high street labels like Zara, Berschka and Mango, which all happen to be nearly 10% cheaper here in Spain. However, my absolute favorite shopping street is Carrer dels Banys Nous, located in El Gotico. This street has the funniest art shops, cutest little boutiques and pastry stores like Caelum. THE place to go to for a heavenly slice of a fig pie or carrot cake.
other must do’s
The most appetizing biological sandwiches can be found at the Barcelona Reykjavik bakery.
The beach in Barcelona tends to be over crowded in the summer, so finding a place to sit and relax can be quite the struggle. So head on over to the W Hotel where you can book a lounge bed. You know all your belongings will be safe, under the supervision of the staff.
I find food to always be the best souvenirs. So buy a piece of the delicious jamón serrano at the best jamónerie Enrique Tomás for everyone back home (and for yourself).
You will find the tastiest ice cream at Manna Gelats.
Some of the above mentioned places aren’t necessarily located next door to one another. Therefore, if you have your license, rent a scooter. You can rent them for only ten euros a day per person.
