Guidebook for Barcelona
Food Scene
Lots of seafood but other food as well. Extensive wine list with many organic and unusual wines. A bit pricy but well worth it. Reservations advised, though you can usually reserve for the same day.
96 personas locales recomiendan
Can Cisa/Bar Brutal
14 Carrer de la PrincesaLots of seafood but other food as well. Extensive wine list with many organic and unusual wines. A bit pricy but well worth it. Reservations advised, though you can usually reserve for the same day.
Normal Catalan food, quite good. Friday and Saturday nights you will need a reservation.
140 personas locales recomiendan
Bar del Pla
2 Carrer de MontcadaNormal Catalan food, quite good. Friday and Saturday nights you will need a reservation.
Habana Vieja
2 Carrer dels Banys VellsAuthentic Cuban restaurant, nothing for vegetarians here.
Real croissants (Spanish ones are made with lard and lightly glazed with a sugary substance - ick), and other delicious baked goods.
94 personas locales recomiendan
Pastelería Hofmann
44 Carrer dels FlassadersReal croissants (Spanish ones are made with lard and lightly glazed with a sugary substance - ick), and other delicious baked goods.
Seafood place where you choose the fresh seafood from what looks like a fishmongers in the front and choose how you want it prepared. Pay by weight. They don't take reservations so queuing is usually required. This is one of several locations in Barcelona.
339 personas locales recomiendan
La Paradeta
7 Carrer ComercialSeafood place where you choose the fresh seafood from what looks like a fishmongers in the front and choose how you want it prepared. Pay by weight. They don't take reservations so queuing is usually required. This is one of several locations in Barcelona.
Excellent super fresh seafood as well as a few meat dishes. This is a long counter and no reservations so either show up a bit before opening time or be prepared to wait. You can order a bottle of cava from the friendly and amusing staff while you wait for a seat. Always full of tourists, but don't be put off by that, it's very good. There are a couple of tables in the back but require booking well in advance.
131 personas locales recomiendan
Cal Pep
8 Plaça de les OllesExcellent super fresh seafood as well as a few meat dishes. This is a long counter and no reservations so either show up a bit before opening time or be prepared to wait. You can order a bottle of cava from the friendly and amusing staff while you wait for a seat. Always full of tourists, but don't be put off by that, it's very good. There are a couple of tables in the back but require booking well in advance.
Sister restaurant to better known Cal Pep. For those who want a table rather than the ambiance (and wait) of the counter at Cal Pep. Reservations recommended.
20 personas locales recomiendan
Restaurant El Passadís del Pep
2 Pla de PalauSister restaurant to better known Cal Pep. For those who want a table rather than the ambiance (and wait) of the counter at Cal Pep. Reservations recommended.
Basque style tapas. Take a plate and help yourself, don't throw the pinchos (toothpicks) on the floor because that's how they know how much to charge you! Wash the tapas down with a sidra. The best of this style of restaurant in the area (though a Basque person will tell you that there is no good Basque tapas place in Barcelona).
49 personas locales recomiendan
Euskal Etxea (Restaurant)
1 Placeta de MontcadaBasque style tapas. Take a plate and help yourself, don't throw the pinchos (toothpicks) on the floor because that's how they know how much to charge you! Wash the tapas down with a sidra. The best of this style of restaurant in the area (though a Basque person will tell you that there is no good Basque tapas place in Barcelona).
For a quick cheap meal. Pizza is best in the neighborhood. They also have lasagna, parmigiana, and other dishes and nice desserts. Take away primarily but they have some seating as well.
13 personas locales recomiendan
Les dues Sicílies
22 C/ dels CardersFor a quick cheap meal. Pizza is best in the neighborhood. They also have lasagna, parmigiana, and other dishes and nice desserts. Take away primarily but they have some seating as well.
Top quality seafood restaurant with a famous chef and eye-watering prices. A meal you will talk about for a long time afterwards.
Estimar
3 Carrer de Sant Antoni dels SombrerersTop quality seafood restaurant with a famous chef and eye-watering prices. A meal you will talk about for a long time afterwards.
Located in the Southwest corner of the Born Cultural Center, restaurant is operated by local brewery Moritz. Good Catalan food.
20 personas locales recomiendan
El 300 del Born
12 Plaça ComercialLocated in the Southwest corner of the Born Cultural Center, restaurant is operated by local brewery Moritz. Good Catalan food.
When you're tired of the "Mediterranean Diet" and want a good bowl of noodles. Vegetarian options, craft beers on tap and sake.
15 personas locales recomiendan
Grasshopper Ramen Bar
9 Plaça de la LlanaWhen you're tired of the "Mediterranean Diet" and want a good bowl of noodles. Vegetarian options, craft beers on tap and sake.
Decent sushi that won't bankrupt you. Because you can't eat tapas and tomato bread every day. Open late.
10 personas locales recomiendan
Sushi Ya 2
3 Carrer del CometaDecent sushi that won't bankrupt you. Because you can't eat tapas and tomato bread every day. Open late.
Top quality sushi with prices to match. Most sushi restaurants in Barcelona are run by Chinese people and are low quality. This is the real deal, comparable to good places in Japan or the US.
45 personas locales recomiendan
Shunka
5 Carrer dels SagristansTop quality sushi with prices to match. Most sushi restaurants in Barcelona are run by Chinese people and are low quality. This is the real deal, comparable to good places in Japan or the US.
For a special Japanese meal. Reservations needed, not cheap.
36 personas locales recomiendan
Koy Shunka
7 Carrer d'en CoponsFor a special Japanese meal. Reservations needed, not cheap.
Excellent coffee bar. Only open weekends. Other times go to the El Magnifico shop around the corner on Carrer de l'Argenteria.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Mag by El Magnífico
10 Carrer de GrunyíExcellent coffee bar. Only open weekends. Other times go to the El Magnifico shop around the corner on Carrer de l'Argenteria.
Picnic
1 Carrer del ComerçGreat American style brunch. They make a mean bloody mary.
Good local food at reasonable prices. House wines good. Friendly staff.
21 personas locales recomiendan
Restaurant Petra
13 Carrer dels SombrerersGood local food at reasonable prices. House wines good. Friendly staff.
Costa Pacífico
13 Plaça de Sant Agustí VellExcellent ceviche and aguachiles.
Gourmet Mexican food. Not the place for a bowl of nachos smothered in gooey "cheese".
21 personas locales recomiendan
Tlaxcal Cantina & Taquería Gastronómica
27 Carrer del ComerçGourmet Mexican food. Not the place for a bowl of nachos smothered in gooey "cheese".
Decent tacos, but the main reason to come here is to have drinks on the terrace. Great staff, fun atmosphere.
El Comalito
11 Carrer de Cremat Gran i XicDecent tacos, but the main reason to come here is to have drinks on the terrace. Great staff, fun atmosphere.
Murivecchi
59 Carrer de la PrincesaSolidly good Italian food. Relaxed atmosphere.
Basically a place to buy coffee (beans or ground) but they serve fresh coffee as well. El Magnifico is a well deserved name.
61 personas locales recomiendan
Cafés El Magnífico
64 Carrer de l'ArgenteriaBasically a place to buy coffee (beans or ground) but they serve fresh coffee as well. El Magnifico is a well deserved name.
Bacoa Burger
15 Carrer del JudiciHigh quality burgers. Vegetarian options.
Tasty Argentinian empanadas. Good place to grab a meal before or after going to the Renoir cinema to see a movie where the lips move at the same time the words come out.
28 personas locales recomiendan
Restaurante El Laurel
140 Carrer de FloridablancaTasty Argentinian empanadas. Good place to grab a meal before or after going to the Renoir cinema to see a movie where the lips move at the same time the words come out.
Drinks & Nightlife
Rubi Bar
6 Carrer dels Banys VellsVery popular, young crowd, friendly staff.
Ale&Hop
10 Carrer de les Basses de Sant PereCraft beers both international and local. Healthy snacks.
Popular cocktail bar, with excellent cocktails and international crowd. Gets very crowded at peak times, spilling out into the Paseo del Born. Great place to meet people.
21 personas locales recomiendan
No Sé
21 Passeig del BornPopular cocktail bar, with excellent cocktails and international crowd. Gets very crowded at peak times, spilling out into the Paseo del Born. Great place to meet people.
Cocktail bar specializing in gins. Pretty large space inside, compared to most bars in the neighborhood. Very popular with a younger international crowd. Quite busy on weekends. Good place to meet people.
29 personas locales recomiendan
The Lime House
31 C/ dels CardersCocktail bar specializing in gins. Pretty large space inside, compared to most bars in the neighborhood. Very popular with a younger international crowd. Quite busy on weekends. Good place to meet people.
El Xampanyet
22 Carrer de MontcadaA Barcelona institution.
Unique cocktail bar. You need to see it to understand. Relatively new but with excellent reviews.
27 personas locales recomiendan
Dr. Stravinsky
5 Carrer dels MirallersUnique cocktail bar. You need to see it to understand. Relatively new but with excellent reviews.
Local dive bar with the only pool table in the neighborhood. Good atmosphere, fewer tourists.
Bar el Círculo
11 Carrer dels Banys VellsLocal dive bar with the only pool table in the neighborhood. Good atmosphere, fewer tourists.
If you want something that feels kind of like a pub, but you don't want to go to a cookie-cutter Irish bar. Good selection of beers both on tap and in bottles. Steady local crowd as well as lots of tourists passing through,
Black Horse
If you want something that feels kind of like a pub, but you don't want to go to a cookie-cutter Irish bar. Good selection of beers both on tap and in bottles. Steady local crowd as well as lots of tourists passing through,
Shopping
Stalls with every sort of food plus a grocery store for items not found in the fresh food stalls. More useful than the more famous Boqueria market on Las Ramblas as its not crammed wall to wall with tourists. A couple nice spots to eat here as well.
501 personas locales recomiendan
Mercat Santa Caterina
16 Av. de Francesc CambóStalls with every sort of food plus a grocery store for items not found in the fresh food stalls. More useful than the more famous Boqueria market on Las Ramblas as its not crammed wall to wall with tourists. A couple nice spots to eat here as well.
Because you don't want your Barcelona souvenir to say "Made in China" on it. Fun souvenir shop with authentic local products.
Recordis Barcelona
43 Carrer de la PrincesaBecause you don't want your Barcelona souvenir to say "Made in China" on it. Fun souvenir shop with authentic local products.
Impressive array of high quality Catalan sausages (Botifarra) as well as other meat products and a nice selection of cheeses.
13 personas locales recomiendan
La Botifarreria de Santa Maria
4 Carrer de Santa MariaImpressive array of high quality Catalan sausages (Botifarra) as well as other meat products and a nice selection of cheeses.
Magatzem Escola
13 Carrer ComercialSpecialty wine and liquor store. Wide ranging selection and knowledgeable staff.
Wine and liquor store with large selection, also gourmet food.
40 personas locales recomiendan
Vila Vini Teca
7 Carrer dels AgullersWine and liquor store with large selection, also gourmet food.
Essentials
Normal grocery store. No actual supermarkets in this area, this is the closest thing.
133 personas locales recomiendan
Condis
19-29 Carrer de la Riera de TenaNormal grocery store. No actual supermarkets in this area, this is the closest thing.
Slightly upscale grocery store with very good wine selection (in the back down the stairs). Open until 11 pm.
11 personas locales recomiendan
De tot al Born
17 Passeig del BornSlightly upscale grocery store with very good wine selection (in the back down the stairs). Open until 11 pm.
Simply Basic Bomarket
45 Carrer del Rec24 hour convenience store.
Hot and cold baths, massages, spa. Hidden in plain sight, an unusual and special spot that will make you forget you are in the center of the city.
65 personas locales recomiendan
Aire de Barcelona
22 Passeig de PicassoHot and cold baths, massages, spa. Hidden in plain sight, an unusual and special spot that will make you forget you are in the center of the city.
Getting Around
Aparcament Saba Catedral
s/n Av. de la Catedral24 hour access.
Jaume I station
Closest Metro stop. Yellow Line 4 stops here.
Closest train stop for local commuter lines. Also metro Red Line 1 stops here.
299 personas locales recomiendan
Arc de Triomf station
s/n Pg. de Sant JoanClosest train stop for local commuter lines. Also metro Red Line 1 stops here.
Local and medium distance trains terminate here. To get to airport take any train from here and change at next stop (Paseo de Gracia) - simply get off and on the airport train at the same platform. Airport is within Zone 1 so you can use your Zone 1 T-10 ticket to go to the airport, making this the cheapest way of getting there.
155 personas locales recomiendan
Estació de França
Local and medium distance trains terminate here. To get to airport take any train from here and change at next stop (Paseo de Gracia) - simply get off and on the airport train at the same platform. Airport is within Zone 1 so you can use your Zone 1 T-10 ticket to go to the airport, making this the cheapest way of getting there.
Parks & Nature
Closest park, largest park within the city limits (much smaller than Montjuic though), contains the Catalan Parliament as well as the Zoo. On the weekends the rest of the park is a zoo as well, actually more like a circus... literally.
2289 personas locales recomiendan
Parque de la Ciudadela
21 Passeig de PicassoClosest park, largest park within the city limits (much smaller than Montjuic though), contains the Catalan Parliament as well as the Zoo. On the weekends the rest of the park is a zoo as well, actually more like a circus... literally.
Large park on a big hill just outside the city limits. Many things to do here including the Miro Foundation museum, the old fort, lots of botanical gardens (including a really impressive cactus and succulent garden), the stadiums from the 1992 Olympics. Lots of walking up and down slopes required, or you can cheat and take the cable car.
1300 personas locales recomiendan
Montjuïc
Large park on a big hill just outside the city limits. Many things to do here including the Miro Foundation museum, the old fort, lots of botanical gardens (including a really impressive cactus and succulent garden), the stadiums from the 1992 Olympics. Lots of walking up and down slopes required, or you can cheat and take the cable car.
Large park outside of town, accessible by FCG railway (from Plaza Catalunya). Not landscaped, this is a pretty wild area. Lots of hiking trails, popular with mountain bicyclists.
187 personas locales recomiendan
Parque Natural Collserola
92 Ctra. de l'EsglésiaLarge park outside of town, accessible by FCG railway (from Plaza Catalunya). Not landscaped, this is a pretty wild area. Lots of hiking trails, popular with mountain bicyclists.
Entertainment & Activities
Snowboarding and Skiing between Xmas and Easter. Grandvalira is much larger than Vallnord, the other option in Andorra, stretching nearly 2/3 of the way across Andorra, all connected by slopes and lifts. It is just possible to make it from one end to the other and back in a day if you keep moving. A local company called Estiber runs affordable all-inclusive weekend trips from Barcelona. Check their website.
Grandvalira Sector Soldeu
Snowboarding and Skiing between Xmas and Easter. Grandvalira is much larger than Vallnord, the other option in Andorra, stretching nearly 2/3 of the way across Andorra, all connected by slopes and lifts. It is just possible to make it from one end to the other and back in a day if you keep moving. A local company called Estiber runs affordable all-inclusive weekend trips from Barcelona. Check their website.
Movies in the original language, usually English, with Spanish subtitles (look for the letters VOSE - Version Original Subtitulado en Español). Located in a small shopping mall so there are food options nearby.
100 personas locales recomiendan
Yelmo Cines
km 6 N-150Movies in the original language, usually English, with Spanish subtitles (look for the letters VOSE - Version Original Subtitulado en Español). Located in a small shopping mall so there are food options nearby.
Movies in the original language, usually English, with Spanish subtitles (look for the letters VOSE - Version Original Subtitulado en Español). Good Argentinian empanada restaurant, El Laurel, across the street.
140 personas locales recomiendan
Renoir Floridablanca
135 Carrer de FloridablancaMovies in the original language, usually English, with Spanish subtitles (look for the letters VOSE - Version Original Subtitulado en Español). Good Argentinian empanada restaurant, El Laurel, across the street.
For when you just need to go bowling, Ilusiona bowling alley on third floor of large shopping mall.
277 personas locales recomiendan
Diagonal Mar station
For when you just need to go bowling, Ilusiona bowling alley on third floor of large shopping mall.