Barcelona
Barcelona Pavilion by Mies Van Der Rohe
A Mediterranean port city, home to avant-garde chefs, artists, and architects, and filled with surreal works from Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Juan Miró, and Antonio Antoni Gaudí. Here is our City Guide to Barcelona, Spain.
STAY
HOTEL CASA FUSTER Set in a grand Catalan Modernist-style building in the Vila de Gràcia neighborhood near Gaudi’s Sagrada Família
MAJESTIC HOTEL & SPA Located in the Eixample district not far from Gaudí's La Pedrera, and open for over 100 years. Dine at Chef Nandu Jubany’s Petit Comitè inside or have drinks at La Dolce Vitae rooftop.
GRAN HOTEL LA FLORIDA On Tibidabo mountain overlooking the city and the Mediterranean Sea near Gaudi’s Park Güell and and Casa Milà.
EL PALACE BARCELONA Salvador Dalí and his wife Gala, once lived in the Royal Suite at this historic hotel. The Roof Top Garden was designed by Antoni Falcón, and features over fifty plant species, fountains, pergolas and a swimming pool, inspired by the Barcelona of the twenties.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL Conveniently located next to Gaudi’s Casa Batlló. Dine at Moments or Blanc by Chef Carme Ruscalledas restaurant, and take in the city view from the rooftop bar.
HOTEL ARTS Towering 44 floors above the sea, this hotel by Ritz-Carlton includes Enoteca, a two Michelin star restaurant, a rooftop spa, and two outdoor pools overlooking the ocean.
SOHO HOUSE With a location in the Gothic Quarter and in Garraf — each property captures a different side of Barcelona's personality – from the city to the beach.
CASA CAMPER A hotel in a converted 19th-century Gothic building in the Raval neighborhood. Make a reservation at Dos Palillos restaurant inside- the brainchild of Albert Raurich who spent nearly a dozen years as head chef at Ferran Adrià's El Bulli.
HOTEL CLARIS In a former 19th-century palace, this hotel features original art and offers a rooftop restaurant.
HOTEL MIRAMAR Set in a 1920s restored palace within gardens on Montjuïc Mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, close to the Museu Picasso and Palau de la Música Catalana.
COTTON HOUSE Housed in a 19th-century neoclassical landmark and a 10-minute walk from Antoni Gaudí's Casa Batlló.
MARGOT HOUSE A boutique hotel cross the street from Gaudí's Casa Batlló.
HOTEL PRAKTIK BAKERY For its third location in the Catalan capital, Praktik Hotels paired with Baluard, one of Barcelona’s best bakeries, to create the first hotel-bakery in Spain located one block from Gaudí’s La Pedrera and a short walk from the soaring spires of La Sagrada Familia.
CASA BONAY A charming boutique hotel in the center of Barcelona in a restored building dating from 1856. We also love the coffee, pastries, and attractive staff at Satan’s Coffee Corner inside.
ABAC Located in a historic home, this boutique hotel has a garden, a spa with a hammam, and a two Michelin star restaurant by Chef Jordi Cruz.
SIR VICTOR Previously Hotel Omm, set in a futuristic modern building by Juli Capella with a Michelin star restaurant, Roca Moo, by the same team as El Celler de Can Roca in Girona.
MERCER HOTEL A small hotel in the Gothic Quarter that incorporates Roman ruins from the first century A.D mixed with seventeenth-century exposed columns in the inner courtyard. The property also has a restaurant by a Michelin-starred chef, and a vermuteria, a traditional bar with tapas and vermouth.
SERRAS HOTEL Housed in a historic mid-1800s building by Francesc Daniel Molina, the same architect of Barcelona’s famed Placa Reia where Pablo Picasso had his first art studio in 1896. The rooftop terrace restaurant overlooks the Barcelona waterfront.
DINE | DRINK
TICKETS Opened by Chef Albert Adrià (of Bodega 1900, Hoja Santa, Enigma, and Pakta fame and brother of renowned El Bulli Chef, Ferran Adrià). Tickets is a tapas restaurant with decor that references the movies, including an actual ticket booth counter. Reserve early!
MERCADO DE LA BOQUERIA The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria is a large public food market in the Ciudad Vieja district with an entrance from La Rambla, not far from the Liceo, Barcelona's opera house. Visit Pinotxo Bar, considered to be the best tapas spots in Barcelona, run by local celebrity Juanito Bayen. El Quim de la Boqueria is another option for tapas or breakfast (eggs complete with ham, foie gras, mushrooms, prawns, or squid) before perusing La Boqueria.
LA XAMPANYERIA Order chorizo and a glass of the house rosé cava before heading to the beach.
ELDISET Next to the Passeig del Born, El Diset offers great local wine and delicious tapas.
PEZ VELA Order the seafood paella and champagne sangria, and enjoy the seaside views.
MARTINEZ Located in the mountains of Montjuic with gorgeous views of the port. Have lunch here after visiting the Joan Miró Museum.
CASA GUINART A Tapas spot near La Bocqueria.
RESTAURANT GUELL Conveniently located near Gaudi’s Park Guell should you become hungry after exploring.
SATAN’S COFFEE CORNER Excellent lattes and pastries are served at this café inside Casa Bonay.
ECLIPSE The bar at the top of the W Hotel is a scene, but worth it for the sunset views (and watermelon martini).
NUMERO NUEVE Order the mandarin cocktail at this bar in El Born.
VILA VINITECA A major Spanish wine distributor, Vila Viniteca opened in 1932 and is now a third-generation family-run business. A wine shop and gourmet grocery across the street offer cheeses and cured meats.
FORN BALUARD The smell of sourdough bread greets you from blocks away at this bakery run by Anna Bellsolà, a fourth-generation baker famous for her baguettes and Italian loaves.
ANDREU A tiny ham and cheese shop with a bar makes for the perfect stop for pintxos after work- don’t miss their baguettes with jamón de bellota.
LA PALLARESA Churros con suizo (melted chocolate with whipped cream) is the specialty at this Xocolateria Xurreria in the old Gothic Quarter around the corner from Plaça del Pi.
LES GENS QUE J’AIME Founded in 1967, this dark, cozy bar in Eixample's district is reminiscent of an old-fashioned library.
MIRABLAU A Tibidabo mountain location affords amazing, panoramic views of Barcelona.
MAMAINÉ Home of the best mojitos this side of Cuba.
BAR MARSELLA Founded in 1820, Bar Marsella is famous for having serving absinthe to the likes of Dalí, Hemingway, Gaudí, and Picasso.
BAR CAÑETE A family-founded restaurant that is part traditional tapas bar and part restaurant with an open kitchen.
QUIMET Y QUIMET A quirky tapas bar that serves only preserved food— the walls are lined with cans and jars.
BAR TOMÁS DE SARRÍA A classic spot for tapas in Sarría— famous for their patatas bravas.
EL XAMPANYET A popular, standing-room-only tapas bar in Born with cava to accompany the snacks.
LA TAVERNA DEL CLÍNIC A classic choice for tapas in Eixample.
CAL PEP One of Spain's finest tapas restaurants, Cal Pep was once listed as high as No.31 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
LA TAVERNA DEL SUCULENT Taverna, with its bright red exterior, is the little sister of nearby Suculent by Carles Abellan, a former protege of Ferran Adrià. Order the crispy tortillitas y jamón.
GRANJA M. VIADER A fifth-generation family-run establishment— a Spanish take on the traditional American diner, one with pastries and thick hot chocolate.
CINC SENTITS Cinc Sentits serves a four or six-course tasting menu of Catalan cuisine that changes seasonally— from line-caught fish from the Mediterranean coast to artisanal cheeses from Catalonia to organic butter and beef from the Pyrenees, all paired with local Catalonian wines.
CAN PINEDA Traditional Spanish cooking… order the rice with mushrooms.
BOTAFUMEIRO A warm family restaurant where you're just as likely to see dignitaries as local celebs. Sit at the bar for a late lunch.
FLASH FLASH Flash Flash Tortilleria is a Barcelona classic, and a great option for a late-night snack.
XIRINGUITO ESCRIBÀ Paella with a side of spectacular views.
LA BALSA A wooden patio surrounded by a verdant garden serving up Mediterranean food.
GALLITO A part of the family-affair restaurant group that is also behind Madrid’s Ana la Santa and Bosco de Lobos. Sit on picnic tables on the terrace with views of the beach and enjoy the fresh Mediterranean food.
PASSADÍS DEL PEP This 30+ year-old institution is located down a long hallway in a nondescript apartment building, which opens up into a traditional dining room with stone walls, white tablecloths, impeccable service, and no menu in sight as owner Joan Manubens Figueras prefers to serve whatever looks freshest at the market.
SUQUET DE L’ALMIRALL Quim Marqués, a fourth-generation chef serves up seafood fresh from Barcelona's harbors—most of their ingredients are purchased at the local fish market, steps away from the seaside restaurant in Barceloneta. Order the suquet— their signature steamed shellfish bowl.
CAN MARTI A casual restaurant in the mountains— best accessed by a hike along the Carretera de las Aigües, offering simple food with great views of the city. The best place to enjoy a calçotada.
FABRICA MORITZ A historic brewery dating back to the mid-1800s, but renovated in 2012 by celebrated French architect Jean Nouvel. The space also includes a restaurant, wine bar, and bakery.
MONT BAR A tapas bar in Eixample with most ingredients coming from owner Ivan Castro’s hometown of Mont village in the Aran Valley.
MITJA VIDA A vermuteria, or vermouth bar, from the same owners as Morro Fi, with parquet flooring and a long marble bar.
APOTHEKE German for “pharmacy,” this subterranean bar on the Plaça Reial was opened by renowened Berlin bartender, Mario Grünenfelder.
BOCA CHICA A Lázaro Rosa-Violán designed bar with an extensive cocktail list above Boca Grande restaurant. The Apartment, a lounge on the top floor, can be reserved for private events.
DRY MARTINI A 30+year-old Barcelona institution and original creative cocktail laboratory helmed by tuxedoed bartenders.
TANDEM A tiny bar in L’Eixample without a menu, offering rare Japanese whisky to small-batch gin.
IDEAL COCKTAIL BAR Open since 1931, this English-style bar specializing in gin and tonics is still operated by the original owners grandson, Jose Maria Gotarda.
ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
CASA BATTLÓ Try and visit during “Magic Nights” hosted during the summertime at sunset, concluding with rooftop drinks and live music at this Gaudi masterpiece completed in 1904.
LA SAGRADA FAMILIA The Basílica de la Sagrada Família is a large unfinished Roman Catholic basilica designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
PARK GÜELL An outdoor park and museum designed by Gaudi featuring colorful, whimsical mosaic designs and stunning city views
JOAN MIRÓ FOUNDATION The Fundació Joan Miró is a museum dedicated to the modern artist atop Montjuïc close to Olympic stadium. Have lunch at Martinez restaurant after your visit for stunning views and seafood.
CASA MILA Casa Milà, popularly known as La Pedrera or "The stone quarry"— a reference to its unconventional rough-hewn appearance, is a modernist building and the last private residence designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, built between 1906 and 1912.
MUSEU PICASSO The Museu Picasso houses one of the most extensive collections of artworks by the 20th-century Spanish artist Pablo Picasso— over 4,251 works to be exact, one of the most complete permanent collections of works.
CAMP NOU Watch an FC Barcelona match at this stadium— the largest in Europe, and the fourth largest football stadium in the world.
FUNDACIÓ GALA About an hour and a half by train, this museum is dedicated to artist Salvador Dalí in his hometown of Figueres in Catalonia. In fact, the artist is buried in a crypt below the stage.
MUSEU CAN FRAMIS A museum by Architect Jordi Badia showing local contemporary Catalan artists from the last 60 years.
LA PLATAFORMA A gallery and studio workspace for artists, featuring a constant stream of evening events from art sales, to openings, to food and drink tastings— this a hotspot for young artists and a great place to discover young talent.
LA ESCOCESA An art studio, co-working space, and a gallery with an ever-evolving display of graffiti on the walls outside.
FUNDACIÓ ANTONI TÀPIES The collection at Fundació Antoni Tàpies is comprised of works by the artist— a distinguished painter and Barcelona native. Tàpies's diverse body of work touches everything from the abstract to Surrealism, sculptures, and his textured, layered "matter paintings." The museum sits in an old publishing house that was originally constructed in 1880—and many architectural details have been preserved.
CAIXAFORUM CaixaBank is Spain's largest bank, and its foundation, La Caixa, is one of the largest in the world. CaixaForum, their signature cultural program offers cultural programs such as art exhibitions, live music, kids programs, film screenings, and more. The Barcelona iteration, housed in a renovated textile factory, is one of the largest in the country.
MUSEU NACIONAL D’ART CATALUNYA MNAC is the national museum of Catalan visual art.
THE BARCELONA PAVILION Located below the National Museum of Catalan Art in Montjuïc Park, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the 1929 International Exposition, considered one of the most influential modernist buildings of the 20th century. In fact, the now-iconic Barcelona chair was designed specifically for the building.
CASA VICENS Gaudi’s first house and first major project, situated in the Gràcia neighborhood. It was built between 1883 and 1885, although Gaudí drew up the initial plans between 1878 and 1880.
SHOP
LA MANUAL ALPARGATERA Similar to Antigua Casa Crespo in Madrid, La Manual is where you shop for authentic Spanish espadrilles. With roots that go back to the Spanish Civil War, it’s no wonder the handmade slip-ons, slides, lace-ups, and wedges have amassed a cult-like following among locals.
AOO This hole-in-the-wall garage located steps away from the Passei de Gracia is a real find, housing designers Marc Morro and Oriol Villar's wooden furniture along with the re-release of Catalan designer Miguel Milá's rattan chairs.
BEATRIZ FUREST The Furest family has been in the apparel business since 1898, and Beatriz’s namesake accessories line includes Italian-leather totes, clutches, loafers, and flats with multiple locations throughout Barcelona.
IRIARTE IRIARTE Carolina Iriarte makes handcrafted leather bags, sold at two beautiful apartment-style workshops and boutiques in Barcelona.
ALTAÏR Hailed as the most extensive travel-centric bookshop in all of Europe, 30-year-old Altair is an essential stop for globetrotters. In addition to multi-lingual guides and maps for destinations far and wide, the shelves chock-full of biographies, memoirs, and specialty tomes on everything from flora to fauna to architecture.
LA COMERCIAL Taking up a significant stretch of El Born’s best shopping street with a designer roster that includes Carven, Comme des Garçons, Fornasetti, and Kenzo broken up into six distinct boutiques— two men’s, two women’s, plus a concept shop, and a home décor store.
JEAN PIERRE BUA Established Parisian fashion houses, as well as emerging designers, are all represented at this boutique.
LA CUINA D’EN GARRIGA A gourmet grocer—perfect for picking up ingredients to a Catalan aperitif complete with Morro Fi vermouth and earthy Arbequina Olives.
EN LINEA BARCELONA Covering the ground floor of a modernist building designed by Bernardí Martorell i Puig in 1924, and home to the very best of 20th-century design from Eames lounge chairs to Barcelona day beds by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
BAGUES MASRIERA This jewelry store has been open since 1839 and located in the modernist Casa Amattler since 1950 with designs that still draw heavily from the Art Nouveau period.
JAIMIE BERIESTAIN Chilean Interior Designer Jaime Beriestain’s concept store in Eixample with decorative objects, a cafe, wine bar, and a flower shop.
THE OUTPOST A well-curated menswear shop with shoes and accessories.
SANTA EULALIA Historically, this 170-year-old design house has been in the business of haute couture, and while they still produce a house line for women and custom tailoring for men, it is now devoted to luxury labels, including Balenciaga, Lanvin, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Givenchy, and Nick Wooster.
Text: Veronica H. Speck Contributing Editors: Morgan Lopez, Danielle Roque Photo: © Fundació Mies van der Rohe