La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
A golden Barcelona oldie, tunnel-shaped Karma is small and gets quite tightly packed (claustrophobic for some) with a good-natured crowd of locals and out…
Must-see nightlife in Barcelona
La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
One of Barcelona's oldest cocktail bars, Boadas is famed for its daiquiris. Amid old monochrome photos and a polished-wood bar, bow-tied waiters have been…
La Ribera
Alongside the Gothic arches of what remains of the Sant Agustí convent cloister, this pleasant cafe-bar is particularly good for people with children –…
La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
Inspired by Prague's bohemian tearooms, this bright and buzzing temple to steaming brews in the heart of the old Jewish quarter is a much-loved local…
Barcelona
House-made negre (black) and blanc (white) vermouth (€2 to €3), served with a slice of orange and an olive, is the speciality of this stylish…
Barcelona
La Fourmi is a small, cosy spot for a cocktail or a bite, no matter the time of day; it draws a mix of students, old-timers and hipsters. Drinks range…
Barcelona
Views over the entire city from this balcony bar, restaurant and club at the base of the Funicular del Tibidabo make up for sometimes patchy service. The…
Barcelona
Top barista Jordi Mestre's seasonal, fairtrade coffee beans (which you'll spot all over Barcelona) are roasted on-site at this uncluttered, beamed cafe…
La Ribera
Dealing almost exclusively in Catalan drops, El Disset is a sleek, candlelit wine, cocktail and tapas bar that also does tastings. Thin torrades (toasted…
La Ribera
There’s often a queue for tables on the buzzy boho garden terrace at this relaxed community cafe-bar. It's set in the shade of a fig tree hidden away in a…
Barcelona
Open for over a century, Raïm is alive with black-and-white photos and paraphernalia of Cubans and Cuba. It's like being in a bar in Old Havana, with…
La Ribera
Moss-green paintwork, marble tables and a black-and-white check-tiled floor mean a timeless look for this popular little cafe-bar, ideal for either a…
Barcelona
A loyal crowd of regulars swings by teensy check-floored Syra for takeaway coffees (€2 to €3), accompanied by delicate Moroccan pastries, cookies and…
L'Eixample
Desperate for a drink, but equally in need of clean laundry? LaBar is the place for you: a relaxed spot with low-hanging lights, wooden tables and chairs,…
Barcelona
Now run by the third generation of owners, this corner bar overlooking Plaça de la Revolució de Setembre de 1868 is an animated spot to sip on a house…
L'Eixample
An intimate terrace wreathed in jasmine and other greenery, gazing out onto Plaça de Catalunya with Montjuïc and Barceloneta in the distance, the Hotel…
La Ribera
Sample the Hofmann culinary school’s signature, prize-winning mascarpone-filled croissants alongside El Magnífico coffee at this cosy, locally loved…
La Ribera
With its boudoir lighting, €4 mojitos and home-distilled gins, Rubí is where the Born's cognoscenti head for a nightcap – or several. Push through the…
Barcelona
Newspapers plaster the wood-panelled walls and ceilings of this split-level bar (hence the name). Read the headlines of yesteryear while reclining in an…
L'Eixample
Some formulas just work, and this place has been working since the 1970s. Set up some guitars in the table-packed back room, add some cheapish preprepared…
Barcelona
This great little neighbourhood bar is a small slice of Barcelona history. It was here (and on the surrounding block) that the popular Olimpia Theatre…
L'Eixample
Beneath an artistic wooden ceiling installation resembling a forest of giant matchsticks, this brilliant craft-beer bar has 30 brews from around the world…
El Raval
A French-cabaret theme (with lots of Piaf on the stereo) pervades this tiny, cluttered classic, which has been going, on and off, since the end of WWII,…
Barcelona
A popular meeting point in the 'hood, Chatelet has big windows for watching the passing people parade and a buzzing, art-filled interior with decorative…
Barcelona
A theatrical elegance marks the interior of this small, chandelier-lit lounge just off the Rambla del Poblenou. Deft bartenders stir well-balanced…
La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
A drinking den that has undergone several transformations over the years now treats you to the sounds of great Manchester bands, from Joy Division to…
Barcelona
With its spacious light-filled interior of concrete floors and columns, rotating local art exhibitions on the walls and thoughtful touches (flowers on the…
La Cervecita Nuestra de Cada Día
Barcelona
Equal parts beer shop and craft-brew bar, minimal-decor La Cervecita has a changing selection of at least 15 unique beers on tap from around Europe and…
La Ribera
With good vibes anytime of day, this old-school cocktail bar is run by much-loved Barcelona DJ Fred Guzzo, who is often at the decks spinning his…
L'Eixample
Along fashionable Passeig de Sant Joan, modern-rustic El Viti ticks all the nouveau-tavern boxes – black subway tiles, soaring ceilings, open-brick walls,…
La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
For a dash of 1980s nostalgia, Polaroid is a blast from the past, with its wall-mounted VHS tapes, old film posters, comic-book-covered tables, action…
El Raval
This altar to kitsch is a dingy dance hall that has transgressed since the 1920s, and for years starred the luminous underground cabaret figure Carmen de…
La Ribera
Relax on the terrace in the shadow of the Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar or crowd into the tiny bottle-lined bar. From Priorat to Languedoc, the wine…
Barcelona
Come summer, this re-created Balearic-style mansion attracts squadrons of beautiful people, locals and visitors alike, for a full-on night of music …
Barcelona
Named after the prized cocktail ingredient, this mojito-loving spot has an upstairs bar where you can peruse the first-rate house-infused gins (over 20 on…
El Raval
The dimly lit ship-like interior, with low wooden beams and cocktail shakers and literature displayed in glass cabinets, is just a taster at this elegant…
Barcelona
Bamboo fish and pots of herbs dangle from the ceiling at this barefoot-chic beach bar on Platja de la Barceloneta – a stylish setting for fresh juices,…
El Raval
In business since 1860, this unchanged corner bar is dark and intriguing, with Modernista decor and a mixed clientele. There are some great original…
Barcelona
At this fun, smart cocktail bar with vintage style (tiled floors, marble bar), wines are all natural and from Catalonia, while subtly creative cocktails (…
Barcelona
A glass cabinet piled high with ripe cheese (over 50 varieties), sourced from small-scale European producers, entices you into this small, white, cleverly…
