Barcelona Visitors Guide

Hey friends, here are some of the things we think will make your visit more fun!

Neighborhoods

Barcelona has lots of amazing and really diverse neighborhoods. Here is a brief overview so you know where to wander.

Barcelona Neighborhoods
The star is considered the center and is the division of the old/ancient city and many of the newer areas. Rather than north and south, the city maps are typically oriented from the point of view of the Mediterranean, with up being West-ish. So typically, it is referred to as left and right, up and down. 

Sidebar: Barcelona’s Best Coffee ‘n Books

We created a Google List of our favorite coffee & book spots (we think they go well together). We have some listed on this page, but the Google list will be the most up-to-date.

Download BCN BCnB


Sidebar: Food & Drinks

1, 2 & 3 Star Michelin

We will put down just a few of our favorite places in each neighborhood. Here are a couple of tips:

  • Download the Michelin app – the great places are countless. The photos show a screenshot of just the 1, 2 & 3 star Michelin restaurants within walking distance. This doesn’t show all their other recommendations.
  • Read Google reviews – they are pretty good
  • Barcelona Food Experience has a good blog and Instagram for some of the latest openings
  • Make reservations – The Fork app is a good place to make reservations for many of these; otherwise, just click on their website from Google Maps or Instagram
  • Old Bodegas – they are all over the place – they look old and cool and usually are – wander in for a vermut or copa de vino
  • Las Ramblas – don’t eat there… all tourist places, but the Boqueria market is worth a wander through to grab a walking lunch — also keep hold of your valuables around this part of town
  • You’re going to want to try some good Jamon Iberico. As they say here, Serrano & Prosciutto is what you feed your kids. Here is a good guide: Read about it here
  • Vermut — not just for martinis — Vermut is a drink all to itself, and often the Vermut de la casa is perfect.

Eixample

“The Expansion” We have lived in both Right and Left Eixample. Both great. The division between left and right is Carrer de Balmes — a couple blocks from Passeig de Gracia–literally the passage to Gracia. Eixample is where you will find the heart of Modernismo (modernisim) arcitecture, with never-ending, amazing shops and restaurants.

Restaurants

Walk up and down Caller Enric d’ Granados (one block South) in between Diputacio and Diagonal, as well as Concell de Cent – these are the happening street for restaurants – lots of good ones, but check Google ratings

  • Albe Barcelona – Lebanese Tapas – ask for seats in the window
  • Ali – Amazing Turkish restaurant
  • Billy Brunch & Garden – Breakfast – too busy on weekends, no wait on weekdays – sit out back
  • Boca Chica
  • Bodega Borras
  • Cervecería Catalana / Vinitus / Flauta – all the same – good, solid tapas
  • Compartir Barcelona – Disfrutar’s other restaurant – more traditional but still amazing and Michelin recognized
  • De Cruz Morales — this is our butcher, and their restaurant
  • Disfrutar – Three-star Michelin molecular gastronomy is the place – need reservations far in advance – expect a 4 to 6 hour experience and dropping a lot; In 2024, Disfrutar was named the Best Restaurant in the World and the best restaurant in Europe — the “Living Table” Chef’s Table is even more renowned and special if you can get in.
  • Inquiet – we rented out this place for Thanksgiving in 2023; Love the manager
  • Mont Bar – Fancier tapas
  • Oma Bistro – Sandwiches – just if you’re here for a while and want a sandwich–they’re pretty good
  • Parking – several restaurants, all good
    • Pizza
    • Pita
    • Sotano (tasty, tasty steaks)
  • Pepa Bar a Vins – Wine-focused, old library vibe
  • Robata – Japanese/Sushi
  • Rooq – Fried chicken sandwiches – owner graduated from ECU
  • Sartoria Panatiere — good pizza
  • Suru – Across from the market and hidden — a very small place to sneak away to

Groceries

  • Reserva Ibérica – Get your fresh Iberica cut while you wait–try the differences in the shop (maybe with some wine) and take home your favorites
  • La Castafiore – Italian fresh pasta
  • Mercat del Ninot – Local, traditional stands with meats, fruits/veggies, cheese, seafood
  • Colmado Quilez – Huge liquor store on one street
  • Colmado Quilez – Same place, different street – great deli and gourmet foods around the corner

Coffee

Download guide

Drinks

  • Curtis Audiophile Cafe – Vermut & a DJ – need a reservation
  • Sips — this bar was just named one of the Best Bars in the World. Check out the back room — you can make reservations through their Instagram link
  • Hemingway – The inside is small, but perfect; Also has outdoor tables
  • Morro Fi – grab a Vermut, and if they are full get one “para llevar” and enjoy on a park bench
  • Garage Beer Co. – Favorite brewery in town
  • El Nacional – Worth popping in for one drink just to see the surprising place
  • El Tros – Lovely little wine bar that also serves a few tapas (on our new street)
  • Tandem Cocktail Bar — Probably what we consider our local bar
  • Bodega Picarol — a great little bodega for a quick vermut

Bakeries

Sarria Sant Gervasai / Turó Park

Just up the hill from Left Eixample, the area around El Parc Turó has lots of nice boutiques and is worth a visit if you’re in town for a bit. Gaze or hike up the hill to Tibidabo and Sagrat Cor for a great view of Barcelona.

Restaurants

Coffee & Bakeries

Gracia

An old suburb that is now part of Barcelona, it is a super cool area with good restaurants, narrow streets, & squares to grab a drink and some tapas. They take siesta seriously, so best after about 5pm or so.

Restaurants

  • Berbena – Small and amazing – our current favorite – make reservations – ask for chef’s table
  • Brabo – The best steak. Just, the best. Sit downstairs — better ambiance
  • Fonda Pepa – The menu is handwritten in Catalan — ask them to translate — cannot miss with any of their options
  • Formatgeria –  Not a restaurant, but a great cheese shop
  • Parallelo – One of the two best gelato spots in town. Also, on Glovo!
  • Tangana

Coffee & Bakeries

Drinks

  • Bodega Marin – OLD, gritty, vermut and wine from barrels
  • Elephanta Gin Bar – You can get a flight of Gin Tonics
  • Old Fashioned – Get your high-priced Pappy here

El Gotic

The old city with tons of history and great shops & restaurants. Calle Laietana separates El Gotic from La Ribera & Las Ramblas separates it from Raval. This area is worth wandering around and getting lost, grabbing a drink, then getting lost again. Make sure to see the Roman Walls and Jewish Quarter.

Restaurants

  • Lots of great restaurants—just need to add; Wander the narrow streets past the cathedral to find some good ones

Coffee & Bakeries

  • Dumas

Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera

(including El Born)

A favorite–old windy streets. You will get lost here for sure, but that’s okay. So many cool places to wander into.

Restaurants

  • Bar del Pla – Casual
  • Cal Pep – Popular, make reservations
  • El Set – lovely charcuterie trays, wine, and other simple tapas; takes reservations
  • Narciso – Italian sandwiches; There is one in Left Eixample too

Coffee & Bakeries

Drinks

  • Collage  – Craft cocktails, now rum focused
  • Dr. Stravinsky – Craft cocktails
  • El Xampanyet – Order a bottle or two of their famous, bottled in-house sparkling Xampanyet! – No reservations here, but worth going
    • Pro tip: If you can’t get into El Xampanyet, sit in the bar or outside at Bodega La Puntal next door (and only the bar or outside) – same owners, and you can order it there
  • Story – the best Vermut de la Casa around
  • Paradiso – Deli up front, a speakeasy in the back

EL Raval

Dirty, grungy, awesome. But know where you are and keep your wallet tucked away! There is no vibe like a weekend night Raval vibe.

Restaurants

Coffee & Bakeries

Drinks

St. Antoni

Some of the most amazing restaurants in the city, including those from El Barri (The group from the creative director of El Bulli — worth googling)

Restaurants

Drinks

Poble Sec

Visit Blai for some Donostia (San Sebastian) pinxos or on your way to the Olympic stadium.

Restaurants

Sants

Sants is a train station, but also has some great spots, especially around the places listed here.

Restaurants

Coffee

Drinks

La Barceloneta

The beach! Also, a very cool old neighborhood with great old bodegas. The further north you go, the more chill the beach. Go too far north, and the more nude the beach.

Coffee

Port Vell

Sail or take a peek all the amazing super yachts. Then wander back through Gotic or El Born.

El Poblenou

The start-up part of the town–also on the Mediterranean. Not necessary to visit unless you’re here for a while, but if you do have time, this “start-up hub” has some really neat spots and great beaches.

More

Here are some links to a bit more information about the various parts of town. Visit all of them if you can.

Places to visit & things to do

Museums and art

There are so many museums–we’ve only hit the surface. Google and visit the ones that sound fun. If you’re looking for some galleries, the streets around Concell d’Cent are loaded with galleries. Fun to browse — the Limna App can help you with valuing if you’re interested in pricing.

In addition to formal art, there is lots of great street art around the city too. Gracia, El Born & Raval seem to have the highest concentration. Here is my Instagram Petsolt Aveces that is just for photos of street art.

Day trips

Language

Yup, it isn’t Spanish. But Spanish (Castelleno) works everywhere. And English works almost everywhere too. But if you want to endear yourself to the locals, here are a couple of Catalan phrases:

  • Good Morning – Bon dia.
  • Good Afternoon – Bon Tarda.
  • Good Night – Bona nit.
  • Please – Si us plau.
  • Thanks – Gracies or Merci.
  • Cheers – Salut.
  • Do you speak English? – Parla angles?

Books

We love to read books that take place in the place we’re visiting. Here are a couple to consider…

  • Cathedral by the Sea – Very Pillars of the Earth about building Santa Maria del Mar in El Born – plenty of middle ages Barcelona history
  • Fear and Loathing in La Liga — Yep, there are a lot of reasons Barça and Real Madrid don’t get along
  • Shadow of the Wind – takes place in our neighborhood & Barcelona over several years and books. It is a series–but you can read just the first or all of them.

Transportation

First… walk.
The city is very walkable and safe. We walk everywhere.

Taxis

You can walk anywhere in the city. If you’re feeling like you want to take a taxi, they are easy to grab on the street. You can also use the app Free Now which will call a taxi if you are out and can’t find one. There is Uber too, but they can’t use the taxi lanes, so we stick with taxis.

Metro

Pretty easy to navigate. There are several within a couple of blocks of pretty much anywhere — can be a good way to move around.

Trains

Trains go to Montserrat, Sitges, and all kinds of other great places. But there are a few stations, so make sure to check for the right one. If you’re heading further, the high-speed trains will connect you to places like Madrid, Lyon, & Paris.

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