Hi guys,
Firstly, I know there's a lot of stuff about Barcelona on here already, that's partly why I'm creating a new link because I got nowhere using TT's joyous search engine. Please humour me on this.
I'm finally making it over to Barcelona for a long weekend next weekend (23-26 Nov) after about 5 years meaning to (during which time I committed the cardinal sin of visiting Madrid and Andalucia before Catalunya). I'm a male Brit, late-20s, not so much into my art museums (though I know Barcelona is supposed to have some amazing ones) and obviously planning to wander around gaping at the architecture of Gaudi and co and gawping at the tourists on Las Ramblas. I've also gone and got myself a seat for the Barca-Huelva game on the Sunday, which should be an interesting experience.
Anyways, one of the things I always love when travelling is finding any of the interesting local beers of places I go to - as you might imagine, I had a whale of a time in Belgium and the Czech Republic amongst others - so I was wondering if any of the locals could enlighten me as to any beers particular to Barcelona or Catalunya. I think the main commercial one is Estrella, but I'm interested in whether there are any local specialities or anything, or any bars that specialise in good beer - I'm aware I'm coming at this from an English perspective and there may be no such things, but I figure it's worth asking!
Also, I'm going to be hitting the guidebooks and getting an idea of all the usual kinds of stuff to see around town (and might try to get over to Monserrat for the day if I'm organised enough...) but was thinking, if you could recommend one thing that doesn't normally make it onto the tourist radar, what would it be? (And how would one get there from the central area of the city?)
Thanks in advance for any advice on this! Cheers,
Pat
Regarding the beers, in the last year or so "Moritz" has become quite popular. it is made in Barcelona, and is a very old brand, though it was not working for decades. Some (two or three) year ago, they re-opened it again and has become one of the most popular.
Also, there are some bars which brew their own beer. One of them is "La cerveseria Artesana", in the Gracia area (Martínez Campos street, 19).
You really MUST go to see La Sagrada Familia. It's Gaudi's last work and it's amazing. It's under active construction and it is on schedule to be completed in the early 2020s. I suppose it's debatable as to whether or not it should have been completed. Some people argue that it should have been left unfinished as a memorial to Gaudi. They've had to use modern construction techniques to get it completed as in Gaudi's day, everything was done by hand and it took forever. Making it worse, he constantly revised his plans for it, so nobody really knows what his final vision was. However, I think that if we could ask Gaudi for his opinion, he would want it completed and he would be OK with the modern construction.
One thing that doesn't get a lot of tourists is that there is some kind of city museum that shows Roman foundations that were uncovered in Barcelona. It's not incredibly exciting, but we liked it enough and it's definitely not on the usual tourist radar. I don't remember exactly where it is, but it was no problem to get there via metro.
There's nothing wrong at all with going to Madrid and Andalusia first. I'm quite fond of Andalusia, but Barcelona is my favorite city in Spain.
#2: I guess you mean Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat
This museum has 2 sites, the one with the Roman ruins is located in Plaça del Rei (close to metro Jaume I, L4). The other location is in Monestir de Pedralbes (L6 Reina Elisenda FGC), and this I guess may fit as one thing that doesn't normally make it onto the tourist radar but IMO well worth it :)
Another of may favorite places are the Palau de la Musica and the Hospital de Sant Pau. The first one is next to Jaume I metro stop and the second is 5 minutes walking off Sagrada Familia, so both are easy to reach. A must if you love architecture, Barcelona had other geniuses at work apart of Gaudi :)
Montserrat.. yes you can make it if you organise yourself well. There are combo tickets of train+cable-car (and even including lunch, but I never done that so I can't tell). You may get these at the FGC station in Plaça Espanya (the trains to Monistrol de Montserrat depart from there). It's an underground station, it may be tricky to find, do not confuse it with the metro station at the same square.
However, there is plenty to do and see in barcelona itself. Explore the different neighborhoods and find "your" places. Joining a bike tour may be a good idea to have a good and fun overview of the old town. Upon arrival, go to the tourist info office underground Plaça Catalunya, they will gave you lots of information about current activities, things to do, itineraries, etc
I don't usually drink beer, so I can't help on this part ... I do prefer a glass of chilled cava, if possible "brut nature" ;o)
Belsa beat me too it; her suggestions.
Estella Damm is one of the most common beers and is good. My favorite is Voll Damm, also by Estrella. It is a German-style "Alt bier." If you like darker, stronger beer, I recommend it. Also, try Cervessaria D'Or on the corner of Rambla Catalunya and Consell de Cent. They have beer on tap and a large selection of bottled beers. Good "tapas," sausages, sandwiches, and "platos unicos" also.
Badger
Muchos gracias!
Definitely appreciate the suggestions, and will try and shoehorn as many of them into my long weekend as I can. Thanks, guys and girls!
Pat
Maybe of no interest to you, but Barcelona is Cava (Spains Champagne equivalrnt) and Wine country - if you fancy a change from the cervezas try a Bodega tour - a few ideas here.
Heh, I read your post title with Beer and Broad recommendations as a request for recommendations for beers and broads. As in, girls. Maybe that's not the word you use in your country. But it was a funny image.
Otherwise, I was just here reading the Barcelona recommendations as I will be there on Thursday.
Shannon - no, that wasn't the intent. I kind of associate people using the word "broad" for a girl with mobster movies set in the '20s! British slang would probably be "bird" or "lass", although "chick" is used a fair bit these days. I'm off on Friday. Only three more days of work to survive.....
Oh, and sampling some Cava is something I kind of intended to do at some point, it's just that cerveza is more my usual cup of tea. If you know what I mean.
Pat
PS This being Catalunya, are people going to laugh at me (more than is normally the case) when my very rudimentary espanol has the lisping sounds of Castilla? I heard the Catalans are more like the South Americans and don't really do all the th's.
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