Bars in Barcelona

Opened in 2014, this UK-style brewery is one of Barcelona’s most central stops for quality brews. Their laser-sharp focus is admirable: they are a “beer company” first, not a brewpub – the beer comes first, everything else is secondary.

And the quality of their beers shines through. They launched with three beers and currently regularly produce seven, including Riba lager, Blacksmith imperial stout and deliciously hoppy Garage IPA. They carefully add varieties one at a time, making sure they nail each one. Garage round out their offering with a selection of beers from other brewers too.

The food is worth a mention as well: tapas, sandwiches and finger food like nachos are on offer. Garage also host frequent cultural events and support local artists.

Little did Alex know that his move from London to Brussels to pursue a career in politics would change the course of his life. As often happens when one goes to Belgium, it didn’t take long for him to discover the joys of Belgian beer. The lusty lambics. The sultry saisons. Then Alex met a Barcelonian called Carlota and found himself asking, “What if?”

A couple of resignations later, Alex and Carlota were setting up home in Barcelona. Alex began guest brewing Barna-Brew’s range of Moreneta beers, distributing them to local bars and picking up awards along the way. Spurred on by the success, he found a space to call home on the suitably chic Carrer Parlament, where he opened an industrial-scale brewery and a beautiful bar where you can quaff your way through the Belgian-Catalan inspired brews. Later, they moved to the trendy Born neighborhood

The “beermut” tapas are perfect sipping companions, while the meaty Moreneta Burger is proper beer-drinking grub. And they lived happily ever after.

Barcelona has no shortage of rooftops that treat the sunset as the entire program. Terrassa Pulitzer books DJs instead.

From May to October the terrace runs #BuenasTardesPulitzer, and the booking is the thing worth knowing about. Wednesdays go to concerts from the independent scene – pop, electronic, funk – while Thursday through Sunday rotates DJ sessions drawn from actual Barcelona clubs and collectives rather than whoever the hotel has on retainer. That single decision is why the crowd skews local, and why the lineups have got better year on year instead of settling into background music for people taking photographs of the skyline.

It helps that the space doesn’t read as a four-star hotel amenity. A block off Plaça Catalunya on Carrer de Bergara, it’s low wooden furniture, cushions in undyed colors and enough greenery to lose the building underneath you – closer to a friend’s very good terrace than to a lobby that happens to have gone upstairs. The kitchen works in sharing plates: truffle croquettes, Andalusian-style squid with citrus mayo, a chicken tikka sandwich, a properly made ensaladilla rusa. The cocktails hold up their end.

The season is short and the room is small, so check who’s playing and go on a night that suits you.

Resting at the foot of the Gothic Santa Maria del Mar church, this diminutive wine bar packs a colossal punch and is widely revered as one of the city’s very best. If you’re lucky enough to squeeze inside, you’ll find a few poser tables to perch at on the ground floor and a snug area on the upper floor.

Mainly, however, indoor space is reserved for more important things, like cases upon cases of wine. There are around 400 references in stock at any one time, 20 of which are available to sup by the glass. But of course, it’s the coveted outdoor terrace that steals the show, where a fortunate few get to while away an afternoon with the aromas of fine wine and the sonorous sounds church bells washing over them.

La Vinya del Senyor (“The Lord’s Vineyard”) is a harbor for hedonists – a religious experience, even for heathens.

Ernest Hemingway once said to “never sit a table when you can stand at the bar,” which makes me think he’d be rather impressed with this cozy little cocktail joint. It’s a shrine not only to the writer’s work, but also to the way he lived.

“I wanted to create a place where Hemingway himself would be happy to drink – where he could sit and relax at the bar and talk to the bartender,” explains Luca, the owner. It’s a gorgeous space. Green leather stools line a solid copper bar, complemented by dark wood paneling etched with the names of the master’s iconic novels.

Naturally, you can sip all of Hemingway’s favorite tipples, from the simple scotch & soda to gimlets and martinis. Start with a punchy Papa Double Daiquiri, just like Papa liked his, before moving on to the ultra-creative house concoctions. This is the place “to have and have another.”

What came before the Big Bang? God only knows. What’s for sure is that it’s long been a mecca for local musicians and traveling tunesmiths looking to share music on an intimate stage.

Hidden away down a backstreet in Raval, the Big Bang Bar is an atmospheric gem of a venue. With four open mic/jam nights dedicated to select genres – from jazz and swing to rock, folk and soul – as well as concerts from some of the city’s talented performers, there’s no wonder the place is regularly packed out. A cozy stage and a crystal clear sound system create the ambience, while the long narrow bar and giant screen projection of the stage add depth to the room and audience.

And what an audience. Quick to show warmth to nervous newbies and raise the roof for special talent, Big Bang Bar’s crowd make this a truly unique place.

Emulating ‘20s and ‘30s US Prohibition-era speakeasies, this tiny cocktail bar was inspired by the American tradition of Kentucky bourbon and rye whiskey.Old Fashioned was opened on 12-12-12 by founders Luca and Bruno, who formerly ran the bar at a luxury, 5-star Barcelona hotel. The pair soon filled the space with over 100 kinds of rye and bourbon, including the prized Pappy Van Winkle bourbon.

Whether you’re thirsty for a Bloody Mary, a passionfruit mojito, a pisco sour or one of their Old Fashioned cocktails, presentation is key here. One Old Fashioned, Your Ball’s in My Hand, comes in a black ball glass, cradled in a golden hand. Grab your drink and find your way upstairs to the Kentucky room, showcasing the owners’ visit to the Four Roses distillery.

Casually elegant, don’t you dare enter wearing baseball caps or flip flops. But do request the Rolling Stones… they’ll play it if you’re willing to stick your tongue out like Mick Jagger.

Stand toe-to-toe with some of Europe’s most revered underground house and techno DJs at Macarena, Barcelona’s tiniest nightclub. Under a single glitter globe, the DJ booth sits right in the middle of the dance floor at this blistering underground temple of groove, hosting both local and international talent.

But don’t let its diminutive size deter you – originally a tablao flamenco venue, this intimate space now boasts what is frequently hailed as the best sound system in Barcelona and has amassed a loyal following of non-commercial dance music fanatics. The atmosphere is warm and cosmopolitan, with a mix of friendly regulars and in-the-know night owls tearing up the dance floor on a nightly basis.

Whether you’re a die-hard dance devotee or are simply looking for something fresh and exciting, Macarena is pretty much guaranteed to provide the fix you’re after.

The area around Avinguda del Paral•lel has always been at the heart of Barcelona’s nightlife. Famed for its theaters and music halls since the beginning of the 20th century, it continues that tradition today, including the ever-popular club and concert venue Sala Apolo.

Founded in 1943 as a dance hall, the main room still retains that look and feel, but club nights range from Nasty Mondays and reggae with the Caníbal Sound System on Wednesdays to Nitsa, their Friday and Saturday electronic music session. Both the main room and second space La [2] de Apolo host live concerts Monday to Sunday, ranging from tour dates by major artists to Caprichos de Apolo, which offers a diverse selection of music from around the world.

La [3] lounge bar completes the picture.

In October 2018 Razzmatazz celebrated its 18th anniversary, so they must be doing something right. In fact, the Poblenou venue is arguably Barcelona’s most popular club, and has the international reputation to match. As well as their weekend club nights, Razzmatazz is a major concert venue with the main room (Razzclub) and room two upstairs (The Loft) hosting live shows.

With five spaces, clubbers are spoiled for choice, and they can mix and match their musical entertainment from DJs and live acts across the night. Based inside a complex of warehouse buildings, Razzmatazz is like a labyrinth, making it all the more fun to explore, from the cavernous main arena to intimate corners like Lolita (room three), the Pop Bar (room four) and the Rex Room (room five). The Loft is also the place to be for house and techno.

The younger sibling of Madrid’s iconic nightclub, which bears the same name, Marula Café’s sole goal in life is to pump “real music” through the veins of Barcelona.

Electronic beats are eschewed in favor of funk, disco, soul and Afrobeat rhythms, with timeless floor fillers from the likes of James Brown, Michael Jackson and Sly & the Family Stone setting the scene for serious dance-offs. Not too big and not too small, the vibe is fun and familiar and its super central locale – just off Plaça George Orwell – attracts a lively crowd of both local funkadelics and adventurous visitors who stumble beyond the boundaries of Plaça Reial.

Don’t miss The Presidentes or DJ Timber’s “We Funk” nights, and be sure to give up the funk at one of the legendary “Freaky Flo Parties.” Open nightly, it’s time to put on those hot pants and get up offa that thing!

After a false start owing to sound issues, the cozy nightspot in Poble Sec known as Laut has now made a name for itself as the credible, comfortable and cool club that Barcelona has been waiting for.

Its weekend bookings are selected by the team behind the Lapsus label, festival and radio show, and is unusually varied within the possibilities that electronic music can offer. There are no residents and few regular nights, so the publication of each month’s flyer attracts much interest from underground commentators. Leftfield successes have included the electro of CPU Records, tropical disco from Awesome Tapes From Africa and the IDM of B12.

Inspiration for the venue has clearly come from the promoters’ trips to Europe’s clubbing capital Berlin, evident in the clean sound, industrial fittings and Club-Mate in the fridges. This writer especially appreciates the sofa area, almost extinct in other discothèques, perfect for getting oriented in the early stages of an evening.

The club no longer stands alone on the street. It now connects through to Casa Montjuïc, the cinema and concert hall next door, with Tiberi Bar between the two for eating and drinking. Two brothers run the pair – Marco here, Edu at the Casa.

I love it when a plan comes together. I don’t suppose that Guillermo, Marcel and Marc would have imagined that they’d be running a rather successful vermouth spot when they began their foodie blog back in 2007, but swing by this sunny Eixample corner on a Sunday early afternoon and you will see an institution of the Catalan weekend in its most refined incarnation.

Doorstop-thick crisps, canned seafood, olives and almonds will satisfy the peckish, while beers and their own, house-brand vermouth are ideal to wash it all down (the more carefree can plump for a well-crafted Bloody Mary or G&T). Years of trawling the area’s most authentic bars have clearly given the lads their ideas for design, which is impeccable. You may have to wait in line to be served and hover around to get a precious stool, but once you’re settled, you’ll be in your element.

Steps away from the stunning façade of Palau de Musica yet far from the flow of mass tourism, Casa Lolea offers a charming, quality alternative to the overpriced pitchers of sangría that dot the plastic tablecloths of Las Ramblas. Casa Lolea ups the ante on the traditional vermouth bar, serving up a refreshing new brand of artisan sangría ideal for those looking to add modern flair to the Sunday tradition – or for anyone craving an after-work drink with a bit of fizz and plenty of sophistication.

Casa Lolea serves handcrafted and all-natural red and white varieties of sangría, as well as a tangy, herb-infused “gastronomic” sangría that is the perfect combination of spices, fruit and fizz. For spring, they are introducing a fourth variety of sangría made with white wine, elderberry and wild apple. For something a little stiffer but no less spectacular, sample one of their signature sangría cocktails, like a Lolita’s, made with vodka, orange juice, strawberries and sangría.

If a liquid lunch is not part of your diet, don’t worry, head chef Ramón (of Elsa & Fred fame) has got you covered. The non-stop kitchen offers breakfast, tapas and montaditos, and a weekly lunch special – soup and risotto, say. Try the foie micuit with onion marmalade & volcanic sea salt, cecina (cured beef) with semi-dried tomatoes & ricotta, or the salt-cured tuna with orange, scallions & almonds – all pair perfectly with a glass of sangría, wine or a house vermouth.

Thanks to its retro air and bright décor, Casa Lolea has brought a much-needed burst of style to Sant Pere Més Alt. It has also quickly become an elegant meeting spot for both urban foodies as well as young Catalans looking to revamp their grandfather’s Sunday afternoon tradition.

Most of the city’s rooftops come attached to a hotel, which means that whatever you’re drinking, you’re drinking it inside somebody’s amenity. Enter NIMURA, which sits on top of a paper shop.

The paper shop is Raima, and calling it that undersells it. Núria Raja opened it on Carrer Comtal in 1986, having worked out that a city full of designers, architects and illustrators had nowhere serious to buy paper. It has since spread across six floors of a building whose bones go back to 1513; a renovation left the original 16th-century walls exposed. Today it bills itself as the largest stationery store in Europe, and NIMURA is what happens at the top of it.

The framing is a meeting place for artists and creatives rather than a bar that happens to have a view, and the space is built for it: a gallery, a hall of around 220 square meters wired for sound and video, a bar, a terrace and the roof above. Programming runs on three things – music, art and drinks. Expect artist demonstrations, workshops with established and emerging makers, talks and concerts from people working in Barcelona right now. Even the furniture is second-hand, reclaimed and restored in-house, which puts it of a piece with the shop below, where everything on the shelves is raw material and somebody else is meant to make something of it.

Come up for a drink and you’ll probably end up at something. That’s rather the point.

Contracorrent Bar, a local neighborhood wine bar set off the beaten track, attracts a mostly Catalan-speaking, natural wine-loving crowd.

Walking past this bar, you might miss it. Unassuming and hidden away, it’s not the most obvious place you’d see and want to try. But step inside, and it’s a wine and tapas lovers paradise. Working with a selection of fresh and seasonal produce, they serve up high-quality tapas. We recommend: the Catalan “cap i pota,” prawns carpaccio and paprika; the Barbecue beef, spicy chimichurri and roasted garlic; and the cod brandade, creamed mushrooms and chardonnay caramel.

And, of course, you can pair all of this with one of the natural wines on offer. Each wine has been carefully chosen from nearby wineries and offers unique and varied flavors – perfect for pairing with the impeccable selection of food on offer.

Looking for somewhere totally unique to eat in Barcelona? Try Mikan. Offering a blend of cuisines from northeastern China, Japan and Korea, this restaurant and wine bar should be at the top of your list of new places to try.

During the day, this cozy restaurant nestled away in the Eixample serves a cheap and healthy set menu with both vegetarian and vegan options. By night, they’re an intimate wine bar with small plates to share and a selection of natural cuvées from small European producers – perfect for date night.

We recommend trying the bok choy with sautéed wood ear mushrooms, the carrot sesame and bean sprout salad, the miso soup, the wasabi mayonnaise prawns, or the fried potatoes with red shiso furikake. What’s more, they are hot on natural wines, so make sure to check out their selection while you’re there.

The Maiaia Vermuteria, nestled away with the Eixample Esquerra, is a vermuteria with family and tradition at its core.

Vermouth in the small towns and villages around Catalunya is not just a drink, it is a social act – an opportunity to relax outside of work and responsibility, a moment to come together to spend quality time with friends and family and enjoy one of the region’s most celebrated drinks. While based in tradition, Maiaia pushes the boundaries by offering a unique, modern twist on this much loved drink.

The bar’s menu specializes in vermouth and aperitifs, but also offers a selection of beers, wines and spirits. The team at Maiaia are constantly creating their versions of Catalunya’s most beloved drinks, so that customers can enjoy new flavors and mixes that they’ve never before tried.

If craft beer and pizzas are your thing, then you’ll most certainly like Brew Wild. After opening in Madrid, bar manager Carlos decided that Barcelona was a perfect site for another branch of this wildly popular bar. Unfortunately, Brew Wild BCN opened a short time before lockdown in 2020. Yet, since reopening, it has quickly become one of the city’s most sought after spots for good quality beers and pizza.

The great thing about this place is that it is a craft beer lover’s heaven. Offering 15 different taps and a fridge full of beer, they’re always on the lookout for the best local and national beers for their punters to try. What’s more, Claudio the pizza maker works tirelessly to provide the city’s best Scicillian style pizzas.

In terms of pizzas, we recommend trying the Vulcano – tomato, mozzarella, red pepper, chili, spicy salami, Nduja and absinthe – or the Brew Wild Pesto – tomato, mozzarella, bacon, provolone and pesto.

Opened in 2016 by Alberto Coromina and Joshua Wheeler, Cyclic specializes in mixed fermentations. Initially inspired by the traditional beers of Belgium, the pair have developed their own mixtures of yeasts and bacteria that they cultivate. They work in close coordination with the seasons of the year, nourishing their beers with a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. While they grow some on their family farm located in Alt Empordà, the rest come from small local farmers.

n 2019 they began experimenting with natural wines – making them without any additives, or filtering, using only locally sourced Catalan grapes, organically grown and naturally fermented with the indigenous yeasts and bacteria present on their skins. If you’d like to try their beers or wines, order online or head to the Cyclic bar attached to the factory in La Sagrera. We’ll see you there!

The newest wine bar in town, you can now head to Bocanariz and indulge in some of the best wines of the region and abroad!

Located on Carrer de Vallfogona, this cozy wine bar offers wine, nibbles and a charming atmosphere. The two owners opened it with the view to creating an easy and relaxed atmosphere for afterworks or weekend meetings with friends. They say ‘we have both traveled and lived in many countries from a very young age, countries with a winemaking tradition and an incredible gastronomic culture, something that prompted us to train in this field and to give life to this project.’

They are proud to accompany their wine selection with an impressive collection of jazz, soul, blues and funk vinyls. And if you’re interested in picking up a vinyl for yourself, they have a range of second-hand ones in collaboration with Discos Edison’s 10. Simply ask for the catalog if you are interested.

Among the flurry of one of La Rambla’s many Gòtic tributaries, Sub Rosa would be everyone’s regular watering hole, if only there was enough space.

Like all the best treasures, it’s unassuming enough to miss. But once you’ve stooped inside, you’re only a matter of seconds away from having a strong cocktail in one hand and change from a fiver in the other (it’s slightly more post-happy hour, but still a steal). Whether or not you manage to be the proud claimer of a seat, take a moment to admire the abundant décor: an array of framed photos, novelty trinkets and vintage tat.

There’s even loo entertainment in the form of kinky wallpaper – and ladies’ users look out for the peephole! Cocktail enthusiast, lager lad or teetotaler, you will find something you love amid the sultry vibe. Treat yourself to the passion fruit daiquiri and thank me later

Southwest of Barcelona is the municipality of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. This diverse neighbor has long stimulated artists, politicians and entrepreneurs alike. So when Jaume Ramón Espigol decided to showcase his impressive collection of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, is there any wonder he chose l’Hospitalet?

Founded in 1996, L’Oncle Jack is dedicated to the joyous, luxurious life of sipping Jack, socializing and listening to good music – such as by Frank Sinatra, who was probably Jack Daniel’s greatest fans (he was buried with a bottle of Jack by request). Live music is a common occurrence, with acoustic sets playing almost every Thursday night.

The owner’s whiskey collection is one of the bar’s most intriguing features, with an entire museum dedicated to it. If all that wasn’t enough, L’Oncle Jack’s unique shooter device serves up Jack Daniel’s at a very cool, -6°C (-21°F); it’s a contraption not found anywhere else in the world.

Stepping into Barcelona cocktail bar Dr. Stravinsky is like entering the refuge of a mad old alchemist – backlit bottles on shelves, effervescent test tubes and strange concoctions fermenting in jars.

In terms of pure visuals alone, it’s a hypnotic experience. Then you try a cocktail. Dr Stravinsky’s cocktails are out of this world. Their menu, the “cosmos of flavor,” is ingeniously designed to simplify your choice. I picked the Mexcate, a blend of cured cheese syrup with lime, mezcal, avocado, Jamaican pepper shrub and tequila. It was sublime. The preparation is a sensation in itself. With the rhythm, precision and flamboyance of a flamenco dancer, the bartenders shake, rattle and roll before delicately adding the finishing touches.

They’re masters of their art, knowledgeable and passionate about the entire process, adding an extra element to the experience. So prepare your senses, the doctor will see you now

Red sofas, dim lighting, marble table tops and a martini to die for – 14 de la Rosa transports us back in time to a 1920s France. This hidden cocktail bar in Gràcia offers coffee in the morning, vermouth in the afternoon and a killer cocktail by night.

Opened at the end of 2018 by Dean and Amandine, the bar oozes quality and simplicity, and gives off a timeless speakeasy feel that complements the creative neighborhood it belongs to. Choose from a range of classic cocktails, the Bloody Mary being their specialty, as well as signature cocktails such as a Tanqueray-based gimlet with a touch of smoked juniper and cava, or the Smoke & Sand, mixed with tequila, mezcal, orange and fermented tomato.

Or simply choose from a selection of beers and natural wines. If you’re feeling peckish, try one of the side dishes, such as the mozzarella with black truffle, or eggs with anchovy mayonnaise, the perfect accompaniments to a candle-lit evening.

You can have an excellent sandwich at Pastrami Bar where the fixings are produced by the capable hands at Rooftop Smokehouse. What’s more, the antique refrigerator door is the entrance to Paradiso, a speakeasy cocktail bar with a beautiful undulating, wood-ribbed ceiling and bar that give the sensation of being swallowed by a large marine animal. The show doesn’t stop there.

Paradiso serves up unusual and creative cocktails. Cocktails that smoke, cocktails that fly and the emblematic Mediterranean Treasure, which won head mixologist Giacomo Giannotti a World Class award in 2014. It’s made with vodka, sherry infused with oyster leaf, elderflower liqueur, agave syrup, coriander and egg white, and served in an oyster hidden in a treasure chest.

Paradiso is part of Grup Confiteria, started by a couple of friends with a penchant for nostalgic locals. Surprise is an essential ingredient, in the locale, in the concept and most importantly: in what you’re sipping on.

Barcelona is a low city. The Eixample tops out around eight floors and holds that line for kilometers, which means a terrace twenty-three floors up isn’t just high – it has the sky more or less to itself.

That terrace is Nobu Rooftop, on top of the Nobu Hotel in Sants, a few steps from the station and an easy train in from the airport. There’s a pool, loungers, shaded cabanas and a bar running cocktails and small plates, with the city laid out flat below and the Sagrada Família breaking the skyline in the middle distance. It draws sun-seekers through the afternoon and a livelier crowd once the light drops – and you don’t need a room key, which is not something you can say about every hotel roof in this guide.

The rest of the building rewards the trip. The Nobu restaurant proper sits on the 23rd floor, serving the Japanese-Peruvian cooking that made Nobu Matsuhisa’s name; he built the group with film producer Meir Teper and Robert De Niro, and it now runs across five continents. Nobu Bar handles premium sake, cocktails and light bites in a smaller, darker room, while Kozara works the other direction entirely – Mediterranean bowls, salads and smoothies, with terrace seating of its own.

Come up an hour before sunset and let the rest of the evening arrange itself.

Looking for a truly unique night filled with glamour, entertainment and surprise? Perhaps you want to plan an unforgettable experience for your friends or loved ones? Then venture to the The Barcelona Edition five-star hotel, discover a hidden door descending into a clandestine world and enjoy a modern, luxury nightlife experience.

The hotel’s downstairs Cabaret is Barcelona’s answer to a supper club, where all the senses are teased. The space mixes Studio 54 cofounder Ian Schrager’s creative approach with the subversive side of New York and Paris. Prepare to be enticed and captivated by the thrilling live music and performances, a sophisticated but unpretentious à la carte menu and bespoke cocktails.

Expect to be enchanted throughout the night by the interactive stage direction and impressive talent from the cast of artists.

Update (August 2026): Cabaret now runs as a private events space. For drinks or dinner, check the hotel’s other spots: Veraz, The ROOF and Punch Room.

With a name like Dr. Beer & Mr. Fried, you know what you’re getting when you walk into this trendy fried chicken joint on Raval. A champion of craft beer and fried food, the new arrival draws inspiration from US-style cajun and creole cuisine.

Featuring a limited menu, Dr. Beer & Mr. Fried shoots for quality over quantity. Chicken is marinated for 24 hours before being fried up and served. Whether you’re hankering for hand-cut fries and your favorite house sauce, a smoked tofu burger, or a delicious combo of chicken and waffles, you won’t go hungry here. And you won’t go thirsty either.

Choose from “mule” cocktails (Moscow Mule, Kentucky Mule…) or craft beer, including this month’s featured local brews from Edge Brewing and Garage Beer Co.

Designed by the world’s hottest hotelier Ian Schrager (of Studio 54 fame) and Barcelona tastemaker Lázaro Rosa-Violán, it’s no surprise that The Barcelona Edition hotel has become an instant hit with travelers and locals alike. Besides the refined yet understated rooms, this trendsetting urban resort conceals a slew of sleek spaces that Barcelonins will be proud to call their own.

On the ground floor, Bar Veraz is a handsome but informal, all-day restaurant serving creative Mediterranean dishes, local wines and craft beers. The leafy rooftop bar offers spectacular views and is one of the city’s most coveted spots for sunset sips. Hidden at basement level, the clandestine Cabaret restaurant offers a multi-sensory experience with its creative tasting menu, sultry cocktail bar and titillating dance performances.

For a dose of after-dark conviviality, the Punch Room is an intimate, oak-paneled speakeasy specializing in punch, cocktails and liberal self-indulgence.

Nuzzled away in the Fort Pienc corner of Eixample, not so very far away from the Arc de Triomf, El Puestu is one of those chic-but-chill joints that make casual dining in Barcelona such a joy.

The vibe is perfect for those impromptu meetups with friends, or when you want to impress someone special while keeping things low-key. Specializing in “vins i platillos” (wines and small dishes), the menu features bold but simple dishes that rely heavily on the quality of each ingredient rather than any sort of artifice. I’m talking smoked cod with fresh tomato and A-grade olives, perfectly steamed mussels, meatballs with cuttlefish, vinegar-marinated anchovies with paprika, and a Russian salad that local foodies are already raving about.

And yes, as you may well imagine, there’s great vermouth and a serious selection of natural wines from boutique bodegas. Definitely an address all discerning flâneurs should have in their mental rolodex.

Winter is coming, and there’s no better way to keep yourself warm than with a delicious cocktail in a cozy, friendly joint. Moe Aljaff and AJ White are the “schmucks” of the Two Schmucks bar – although we’d argue they are anything but!

This “five-star dive bar” is the result of Moe and AJ’s dedication and love for cocktail shaking, earning them a place in the Top 4 Best New International Cocktail Bars at the Spirited Awards in 2018. These schmucks worked the first six months of the bar’s opening themselves, on 12-hour shifts a day for six days a week, and not taking a penny of the profits. And by Jove, did it pay off.

Catering to the locals while providing exceptional service, this isn’t your average cocktail bar – it’s a vibrant, cheerful reflection of the cool, ramshackle and alternative vibe that seeps through the pores of Raval. They offer coffee, tea, soft drinks, apéritifs and cakes during the day, and cocktails, beer, food and a fair share of banter at night.

Anyone who’s met Stefano Fraternali and his wife Alejandra Delfino of the Vella Terra food and wine fair know about their incredible passion for natural wine. Garage Bar is their newest endeavor, a wine bar dedicated to celebrating and promoting the excellent natural wines and natural, artisanal foods featured in their annual fair.

Their stripped-down space, hidden on a quiet street in upper Sant Antoni, is a welcome addition to the growing natural wine scene in the city, offering wines by the glass, bottle and to take home. The tapas menu includes dishes made from organic produce grown locally. Small plates include simply dressed items like boquerones (anchovies) in olive oil with tomato tartare, octopus a la gallega, bruschetta with vegan sobrasada, steak tartare and a menu of fresh cheeses.

They also run craft beer and wine tastings, as well as a great Meet the Winemaker series, featuring regular visits from local, natural winemakers.

Sometimes I think “traveling like a local” is overrated. Locals are busy with everyday life, work, going to the gym, perplexing relationships and… normality. No, I want to travel, and indeed live, like the jet set, like the rich and famous, like a devilish debauchee.

And that’s why I’m recommending Azimuth, which is unquestionably one of the sexiest hotel rooftops in Barcelona. Its credentials are strong, what with being perched atop the glitzy new Almanac (5* grand luxury), and the views are everything you could wish for from your fling with the highlife. Sip a Manhattan by the pool and feed your ‘gram with golden sunset selfies. Take your friends, impress a date, or go alone and assume the role of someone far more glamorous than your true self.

This is a genuine glimpse of the good life we were all fantasizing about when we first arrived in Barcelona. A playground for the unbridled. An escape from your daily grind.

Bar Brutal – the natural-wine bar attached to the Can Cisa bodega on Carrer de la Princesa, in the Born – has been a quiet fixture of Barcelona’s low-intervention wine scene for years. The room is eclectic and unfussy, the kind of place that lets the bottles do the talking.

Specializing in biodynamic and sulphite-free wine, it keeps hundreds of references on hand, from deep, complex reds to bright, mineral whites. The kitchen plays along with a contemporary take on the classics – cured meats, cheeses, seafood and small plates built for sharing over a glass or three. The staff know the list cold and steer you well, whether you arrive curious or converted.

Between Can Cisa’s old-bodega bones and Bar Brutal’s natural-wine obsession, it’s the rare spot that updates the vermouth-hour tradition for the way Barcelona drinks now.

Casa Bonay has gone a long in offering an elegant venue dedicated to the appreciation of selectors with their bar Libertine, which serves as a hotel lobby, restaurant and cocktail bar with DJs at the weekends. The launch of Nica in 2018 took the concept to impressive new heights, creating something unique in Barcelona.

The space, located next door to Bonay, has been designed for intimate parties with the assistance of London audiophiles Amit and Aneesh Patel, whose bar Brilliant Corners is world famous among lovers of hi-fi sound. It is a room that sounds like none other in the city, with an incredible amount of thought gone into every detail to ensure the optimum listening experience.

It is one of the jewels of Barcelona’s underground. Check their Facebook page for upcoming events, typically held on Fridays.

You could be forgiven for thinking it unlikely you’d find one of Barcelona’s best music venues in the basement of a Greek restaurant, but that’s exactly what lies underneath the Born branch of the Dionisos eatery.

They’ve been busy putting on a variety of events since they reopened the space in 2016 with an emphasis on world music and live bands. They’ve welcomed London disco dons Love Come Down, proving that DJs and dance music are also welcome, and they’re open to experimentation with their programming. Another popular is the BCN Afrobeat Sessions party, with a mix of live music and DJs spinning Afrobeat tunes.

The space is impressive, with its exposed brick work and high ceilings giving an airier feel than you would expect from an underground space, yet still cozy enough to feel friendly. There’s also a dedicated mojito bar for those of us so inclined. Food, drink and dancing, what more could you want?

“A beer a day keeps the doctor away,” or at least that’s the motto at this glorious craft beer bar and bottle shop in Poblenou. Boasting over 200 different brews from every corner of the globe, this lofty space is all about education and discovery.

Owners Kim and Angie (a husband and wife duo) are passionate about sharing their knowledge and love for good brewing and run regular tasting sessions. They’re always happy to share their latest finds, so be sure to ask for recommendations and prepare to taste everything from classic Belgian Tripels to Catalan IPAs and sour American wild ales.

Don’t miss their homebrews, which include the hoptastic Júlia IPA, which is named after the couple’s daughter. Kim and Angie also produce a small range of beers for the annual La Fira del Poblenou beer festival, which sees more than 40 breweries come together to take over the neighborhood every July.

If you’re into Prohibition-era style speakeasies, you need to tip a few back at Gimlet. Founded in 1979 by local mixology mastermind Javier de las Muelas, Gimlet was the first of what is now a global empire of timeless cocktail bars, with the iconic Dry Martini at the fore.

Step inside Gimlet and you’ll discover a smooth jazz soundtrack, sultry black-on-ruby color palette and arching mahogany bar. But though this refined space is hailed as a benchmark of style and sophistication, the vibe is refreshingly relaxed and informal. Situated in the heart of Galvany, a quiet nook of Sant Gervasi, it’s a popular meeting point for local groups of friends and those looking to let off some steam after a long day at the office.

Ask head bartender Alex Rigol he’s the one with the perma-smile) to shake up your favorite tipple, or order the house special Gimlet, a sweet but beautifully balanced fusion of premium quality gin and lime juice. They don’t make ‘em like they used to.

Just off Plaça de la Concòrdia, Les Corts’ most well-loved plaza, a steady, welcoming light shines out through the shadows. La Llibreria, a self-dubbed “cocktail bar and book collection,” is the latest gem to appear in this neighborhood, and surely one of its quietest.

It’s an old-fashioned cocktail bar with a modern London look, albeit a little less flare but no less charm. They serve up a standard list of classic bar drinks, including White Russians, Bloody Marys and Gimlets. But the real treats are off-menu: the bartenders are happy to make you whatever tipple you fancy, plying you with gentle questions before whipping up the perfect antidote to a long day.

Prices are refreshingly reasonable too – all the more reason to help make this new venture a fixture on the scene.

Chefs Alain Guiard and Marc Martín are largely responsible for Sants’ current hipsterfication. La Mundana is a quintessentially trendy vermuteria, complete with suede and denim-clad staff and avant-garde lighting installations. But look beyond its voguish good looks and you’ll find an abundance of depth and sophistication.

Fifteen types of Catalan vermouth present the perfect excuse to nibble on gourmet Cantabrian anchovies, boquerones, and more progressive delights like Thai-style razor clam tartar with kaffir lime and fennel. Drawing on the chefs’ interest in food from Asia and the Med, main dishes include grilled foie with roasted pumpkin, quince and amaretto jelly, and octopus with Iberian bacon and a saffron salsa.

Sip on boutique wines handpicked from Spain’s best bodegas and finish with lavish desserts such as matcha tea and coconut with mango and meringue, and chocolate mousse with yuzu cream and marshmallow. Sants will never be the same.

A real hidden gem in the truest sense, La Caseta del Migdia is the kind of bar you’re not likely to happen upon without prior knowledge. Tucked behind the Castell de Montjuïc among the pine trees and boasting a great view of the sea below, La Caseta makes a perfect end point for a weekend walk. Not more than a few tables and BBQ sparingly scattered among the idyllic viewpoint, the bar’s charm is all in its casual and humble existence.

Open Wednesday to Friday nights and from midday at the weekends, pick your time right and you’ll either be treated to some laidback tunes spun next to a statue of Buddha or relaxing flamenco to soundtrack the night. April sees the venue embracing calçots season with a special deal including Moritz, botifarra and live gitano music all thrown in from 2pm.

Every good hotel needs a living room, and Libertine is Casa Bonay’s – the ground-floor lounge of a restored 1869 neoclassical townhouse on Gran Via, where dim lighting, gothic flowers and vintage furniture lend an autumnal calm at any hour. Tables sit well apart, made for conversations you’d rather keep private, and a dark wood bar runs the length of the room under money-green neon.

The cocktails are the reason to cross town: American bar consultant Eric Stephenson writes the menu, which wanders from aperitivos and sours through fizzes to a section literally titled tropical and mysterious – form enough to earn the bar its 50 Best Discovery listing. In 2024 the team canned the house style as Libertine Blends, a line of ready-to-drink cocktails born behind this bar. Alongside run natural wines, highballs and snacks borrowed from sibling Bodega Bonay – fried artichokes, chicken croquettes, tempura sardines.

The room works the full day, and daylight hours belong as much to laptops as to lunch – it’s a favorite spot for free coworking, with side tables where you’re welcome to set up, free wifi and power plugs at hand. Then from Thursday to Saturday local DJs take over with vinyl sets that push the lobby deep into the night.

This small tapas bar caters to those who believe in honest cooking. To owners Marta and Sergi, this translates to “simple recipes made with quality ingredients cooked to perfection.” Three years ago the Catalan couple adopted this theme and tossed in a dash of fun and creativity to design an eclectic family vibe around a seasonal tapas menu.

They pulled it off in this sweet little vintage-themed bar that sits next to the arthouse Cinemes Girona. Catch a movie after having a “sexy bikini” made with crunchy coca de cristal bread, or tapas like meatballs with mushrooms, octopus salad with avocado & pistachio, or baby potatoes with brava sauce, spiced just right. Choose one of a dozen local wines available at three euros a glass.

Whether you’re a vegetarian, a clean-eating carnivore or a sweet tooth, you’ll find something to munch on here. Nothing is fried and the dessert rotation is on point, with an olive-oil-and-salt drizzled Catalan black chocolate that’ll rock your world.

After a decade living in the US, childhood friends Andres and Toni returned home to Barcelona, fulfilled but with a sense of melancholy. They missed the warmth of the bars of their youth where they’d made new friends from all over the world and developed a passion for American craft beer and food.

Determined to keep an ember of the adventure burning, they opened Coco Vail Beer Hall, the embodiment of their golden years abroad. Intimate and laid-back, the “SoCal beach bar” vibes are achieved with friendly service and long rows of chunky wooden tables that are perfect for making new friends. 24 beer taps offer the best from Catalunya’s brewers and a hearty menu features soul food classics such as pulled-pork sandwiches, burgers, sweet-potato fries and the house-special chicken wings.

Stop by on Tuesdays for college night with cheap shots and mixed drinks from 11pm, Wednesdays for wine-bottle deals or Sundays, which are all about NFL. As Andres says: “This isn’t just a bar, it’s a feeling, a community.”

Tradition thrives at Bar Bodega Quimet, the old-school wine shop and bar that’s been an integral part of Carrer de Vic since 1954. Known for the quality of its products, this friendly, intimate locale draws in locals and tourists alike – an ideal spot for chatting over a glass of wine, vermouth, cava or an artisanal beer, perhaps accompanied by a few traditional dishes sourced from all around Spain.

Must-trys from the all-day menu include L’Escala anchovies, octopus with potato purée or broad beans with ham and poached egg, while the variado vermut del Quimet (vermouth variety platter) is an ideal option for sharing. You’ll also find a wide range of cheeses, hams, olives from around the country, Extremadura cured meats and more, while the bodega sells a vast array of wines and vermouths.

With no TV or radio to distract, this is a place for good talk, good drinks and good food. Good times.

Very much cocktail of the moment, the Bloody Mary goes far beyond the standard blend of tomato and vodka at this cocktail bar in Gracia. Opened last year by self-taught mixologist Alessandro and his partner Verónica, you’ll find no less than 10 versions of the much-loved drink on the menu here, from the truffle-infused Trufado to the basil and gin mix of the Mediterráneo – not to mention the obligatory El Clásico.

Combining their curious minds with a passion for gastronomy, Alessandro and Verónica hope to establish Bloody Mary as one of Barcelona’s top cocktail bars. They’re certainly on the right track: in addition to the signature Bloody Mary, they serve 20 gins and another 20 house creations, such as Tia Teresita (rum, pineapple and apple) and Alice in Wonderland (vodka, green tea, lychee and elderberry).

Throw in homemade syrups and infusions, snacks such as focaccia and nachos, and painstaking presentation with glasses and garnishes – the result is bloody good.

Pesca Salada has a serious specialty, and that’s gin & tonics – they even created their very own gin to make them with. Founded in 2015, Rawal is not just a great gin, but also comes in a great bottle. So great, in fact, that it won a European Design Award for its label.

For the last ten years, this bar has been a fixture on Carrer Cera, a small, charming space that maintains a sea-inspired atmosphere from its original incarnation as a fish shop. It combines a warm atmosphere, excellent soundtrack and great drinks at very reasonable prices. Get a Gin Fish, the classic gin fizz given an aromatic touch with elderflower and grape juice or try the Fumata Blanca, a unique blend of gin, sake, rosemary and lapsang souchong tea, which delivers a signature smoky punch.

They also have a wide range of tonics to choose from, imported beers, and simple but solid bar food to keep you sated, until the next time the sea calls.

If you’re familiar with Kælderkold, the revered Danish craft beer bar tucked away just off Las Ramblas, you’ll be pleased to hear its owners have upped the ante with another new bar in the heart of Raval.

Ølgod, which means “beer god” in Danish, boasts even more taps – 30 in total! – with even more of the best brews from Scandinavia, Spain and beyond. Physically bigger and decorated with ethereal paintings of mythical beings from Nordic fairytales, this clean and crisp space feels less exclusive than its older sister and more accessible to the more casual beer quaffer – in a good way.

Grab some friends and order a few nibbles from the tasty little tapas menu, such as nachos and guac, pickles, hummus and hearty vegetarian burgers, and try something from the “beer cocktail” menu, where names like Beer Pirinha, Ølgod Shandy and Nordic Sour are sure to arouse your curiosity.

Summer in Barcelona wouldn’t be summer without La Terrrazza. Since 1995 the city’s definitive open-air club has held the courtyard of a replica Balearic manor inside Poble Espanyol, the 1929 exposition village on Montjuïc – palms overhead, four bars, a balcony with the city glittering below and dancing under the actual sky from May to October.

The program has grown into a week-spanning affair. Sunset sessions start with the light still golden – Sunday’s Churros con Chocolate is the beloved fixture – and the night sessions run till dawn on house, techno, disco and electro from the city’s promoter crews and the club’s own RRR collaborations. The bookings carry real weight for a party under the open sky: recent seasons have sent DJ Seinfeld, Logic1000, Étienne de Crécy, Guy Gerber, Sofia Kourtesis and Mano Le Tough up the hill.

Three decades in, it remains the standard against which every Barcelona rooftop party gets measured – one of the longest-running clubbing institutions in the city, and still the best answer to a warm Friday. Leave the sportswear at home, and book ahead: the good nights sell out.