48 Hours in... Brilliant Barcelona
Catalonian native Irene Soto gives us the hot spots to hit.. well away from tourist trap Las Ramblas
Food
It's a custom to eat something small with your drinks and the owners of the bars like to serve small dishes of something salty to encourage the people to drink more, but actually you can have a complete lunch ordering different tapas.
Cal Tomàs:
Known for having the best patatas bravas in all Barcelona. It's an old-fashioned Catalan bar. It’s quite far from the centre (Plaça Catalunya), but very easy to get there by tube or tram. Located in the Sarrià neighbourhood, you can have a nice walk around the area after your tapas. A perfect plan. It really seems like you’re in a village instead of the city. eltomasdesarria.com
Lolita Taperia:
This is a cool place if you’re looking for something modern and in the city centre. It is next to Mercat de Sant Antoni (Sant Anthony Market) and University Square. It closes late at night and the kitchen remains open until very late, so it is a good place to have a cocktail, dinner or just a beer with tapas. lolitataperia.com
Antiga Fàbrica Moritz:
Located next to University Square (5 min walk from Plaça Catalunya). The moritz is a Catalan beer company and they have restored the old factory where they used to make the beers, converting it into a cool tapas bar. It’s perfect for the beer lovers as you can pair beers with food and it all results a delicious "Catalan experience". moritz.com
Partying
There a couple of decent nightclubs and are both in the centre. They play live music, and all kind of types of DJ sets. Both of them are super cool and underground, visited by the people that live in the city.
Sala Apolo: Is an old theatre converted into a nightclub. It has two floors, one of which is a cool mezzanine. The prices are good and music is amazing. It’s in Paralel, about 15 mins walking from Las Ramblas. The dress code is informal and you won’t have problems getting in unless you’re super drunk.
sala-apolo.com
Sidecar: It’s an old-fashioned nightclub. Very underground. They play alternative hits and do a lot of live music. You walk into to the bar and the nightclub is downstairs. Dress code is informal but they can be quite strict as it's in Plaça Reial and can be full of tourists.
sidecarfactoryclub.com
Jamboree:
Next to Sidecar, Jamboree is Latin style with a lot of jam sessions and funky groove stuff to see and hear. masimas.com/jamboree
Marula Cafe:
A very small bar open until 3am. They play live music and is always a cracking night, muy bien. marulacafe.com/bcn
Culture Vulture
From Plaça Catalunya, Catalonia Square, there are three small routes worth visiting:
The south route: Les Rambles, to the "Gothic Quarter", "El Born", " La Barceloneta" finishing with a good lunch by the sea.
The north route: Passeig de Gràcia or "Gràcia Quarter", which is more modern and cool. Look out for The Gaudi houses there.
The west route: Les Rambles, the "Raval Quarter", and the "Poblesec Quarter", which is a bit more underground, not too touristy and full of old- fashioned cheap bars.
Other places include the Gaudi modernist park (Parc Güell), CCCB (Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona) and the MACBA (Contemporary Art Museum of Barcelona).
Make sure you head to the top of Mt. Tibidabo for an unmissable view of Barcelona and a up close view of Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor.
You've got to see it with your own eyes!
A place to crash
Barcelona is full, I mean, really full, of cheap Airbnb options, but if you like hotels heres a few great options.
Poble Nou Iluinon Hotel:
Super cool hotel in Poble Nou (10mins walk to the sea, 10mins by tube to the centre, and a cool place). For a weekend (from Friday to Sunday), a double room can be available for 153€.
ilunionhotels.com
Youth Hostel Pere Tarres:
Next to Sants Station, it’s fun. (1km from the centre), For a weekend stay, 100€. m.peretarres.org/alberg
Guest House Des Artistes:
In the “Eixample Quarter”, 200m from the centre. It’s cheap but it’s cool. For a weekend stay, 80€.
desartistes.es