Edits

25/25

Barcelona

Spain's second largest city, Barcelona has long proclaimed itself hipper, smarter and trendier than its rival Madrid. With cutting-edge design, plenty of trendy shops, a forward-thinking mayor and, crucially, a beach, who dares to disagree?

 

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Essentials

01 Say the Catalan "gràcies" with a soft c, not "gracias" with a "th".
02 Most bars don't have waiter service - order at the counter, but pay when you leave.
03 Taxis are cheap.
04 The taxi supplement from the airport usually isn't added on the meter, but your driver will charge you it.
05 A VOSE film means it is in its original language with subtitles.
06 Shops close for two hours at lunch, between 14.00 and 16.00, and all day Sunday.
07 Exceptions to the Sunday closing: supermarket Opencor, the Maremagnum shopping centre and Chinese/Pakistani-run supermarkets, especially in Raval.
08 Closing times are almost always strictly enforced: 03.00 for bars, 06.00 for clubs.
09 Unlike other parts of Spain, you won't get free tapas with your drink.
10 The right side of the Ramblas on the map is safe; the left side (Raval) is a dodgier, especially at night.

Hotels

One independent and easy
The 5 Rooms 
Pau Claris, 72
+ 34 93 342 7880
thefiverooms.com

Dependable chain
Hotel AC Diplomatic
122 C/ Pau Clarís
+34 902 292 295
ac-hotels.com

Premium
Omm
265 Rosselló
+ 34 93 445 4000
hotelomm.es

Dining

Fast breakfast
Meson del Café
16 Llibreteria
+ 34 93 315 0754

Business breakfast
Café Veranda
Hotel Arts, 19-21 Marina
+ 34 93 221 1000

Mid-morning coffee
Café y Té
92 Rambla de Catalunya
cafeyte.com

Working lunch with colleagues
El Trillo
3 c/ Àngels
+ 34 93 443 9317

Need-to-impress-clients lunch
Mantequeria Ravell
313 c/ Aragó
+ 34 93 459 3956

Lunch on your own
Bar Daguiri
59 Grau i Torras
+ 34 93 221 5109

Afternoon tea/drink
Semon
31 Ganduxer
semon.es

Dinner on your own
Flash-Flash
25 Granada de Penedès
+ 34 93 237 0990

Dinner with colleagues
Xalet
31 Avenida Miramar
+ 34 93 324 9270
xaletdemontjuic.com

Private dinner
Speak Easy (by invitation)
162-166 Aribau
+ 34 93 217 5072

Big dinner with partner clients
Botafumeiro
81 Gran de Gracia
+ 34 93 218 4230
botafumeiro.es  

Drink after dinner
Marmalade
Riera Alta 4-6
+ 34 93 442 3966
marmaladebarcelona.com

Late drinks
Dry Martini
162-166 Aribau
+ 34 93 217 5072

Late bite
Trobador
(Kitchen open until 01.30)
122 Enric Granados
2 Rambla Catalunya
46 Ferran
+34 93 416 0057

On the tiles
Discoteque
Poble Espanyol, Montjuïc
Avda Marqués de Comillas
+34 93 511 5764

 

Reading

Books and CDs
Fnac
4 Plaça Catalunya

Thank yous

Flowers
Floristería Navarro
Open 24 hours a day
320 c/ Valencia

Shopping

Something you can't get anywhere else
Juve & Camps cava
Vila Viniteca, 7 Agullers
vilaviniteca.es

Lost luggage - where to buy dress shirts, socks and undies
Axel Hotel Boutique
33 Aribau
+ 34 93 323 9393

Something for the kids
Toys from Palacio del Jugete
8 c/ Arcs
+ 34 93 318 1283
palaciodeljuguete.net

Something for someone you love
Chocolates from Cacao Sampaka
292 Consell de Cent
+ 34 932 720833
cacaosampaka.com

Something for yourself
Design from Vinçon
96 Passeig de Gràcia
+ 34 932 156 050
vincon.com

Two hour tour

01 Park Güell
c/ d'Olot

02
Casa Milà
92 Passeig de Gràcia

03
CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona)
5 Montalegre
+ 34 933 064 100


Limousine/car

Limousine Rental
+ 34 902 372 000
limorent.com

Transport

Public transport
A 10-journey pass for the city centre, bus and metro included, costs €6.90

Rent a bike
Bicing
Bikes can be picked up from one of the dozens of stations across the city
for a nominal registration fee.
bicing.com

10
Fitness

Good Gym
Hotel Claris
150 Pau Claris,
+ 34 934 876 262

Running route
Along the Carretera de les Aigües on Tibidabo

Alternative diversion
Head down to the Atlètic-Barceloneta swimming club where the pools look out to the beach beyond.
Much more civilised than braving the beach and its hordes. Open in winter.
Plaça del Mar
Barceloneta
+ 34 93 221 0010

Credits

Writer: Andrew Losowsky

25/25

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