Cocktail bars in Barcelona

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.

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.

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.

The man behind this hotel is an Egyptologist. That is not a line most rooftop bars can offer.

Jordi Clos founded the Derby Hotels Collection and also founded Barcelona’s Egyptian Museum, and he has furnished his hotels the way a collector would rather than the way a procurement department would. The Claris holds over 400 antiquities – more than seventy Egyptian pieces among them, plus Roman mosaics and sculpture, Turkish kilims, English furniture and work by the Catalan painter Josep Guinovart – with a small museum of its own on the first floor. The building is neoclassical, dating to 1883, and became a hotel in 1992. La Terraza del Claris has been up top ever since, back when nobody thought of a roof as somewhere to send guests.

What that buys you now is restraint. The terrace is small, low-lit and deliberately discreet, looking out over the Eixample rather than performing for it, and the pool stays reserved for guests – which means it never converts into a day club at two in the afternoon. The kitchen leans Mediterranean and seasonal, with dishes like a white asparagus vichyssoise with crab tartare, or rice with red prawns and beach squid, and the cocktail list is longer and better than a hotel terrace strictly needs.

Go when you want the view without the scene. Those are rarer than they should be.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Negroni is one of the best places in the city to have a cocktail. Internationally known to cocktail connoisseurs, it’s still a bit of an insider’s secret. Founder Javier, his partner Daniel and their barman Eduard are all excellent mixologists.

There is no menu. In the spirit of the tradition, simply explain what you’re looking for. Classics like the eponymous Negroni are expertly mixed, but you ought to go for one of the house creations. They’ve developed hundreds of house cocktails since they opened in 2004.

Try a Clair de Lune (tequila with lemon & kefir), Malaka (gin with ginger, lemon, lime & sour apple) or Peter Sellars (like an Old Fashioned but with passion fruit). They make their own bitters and syrups. For the quality, the cocktails are a steal.

You’ll find good music, strong cocktails and lots of locals at this unique neighborhood dive bar. Owners Romy and Rafael are on hand to ensure that everything runs smoothly, down to the tunes, a mix of everything from rock ‘n’ roll to indie to a more soulful disco and funk on weekends.

Decked out like your grandma’s living room, Foxy is gay friendly, family friendly… even dog friendly. And you can’t beat the prices, promos and happy hours. Try their house specialty strawberry or mango mojitos. Teetotalers will find excellent coffees and teas – a rarity late at night.

There’s a snack menu, including Argentine empanadas on weekends. It’s also a good place to catch televised sports as there’s a projector screen in the back.

DJ Fred Guzzo has been a fixture on the city’s soul scene for over a decade; he opened the legendary Café Royale and Diobar. Good news that he now owns his own place. The Born needed some freshening up, and if this eponymous jazz bar and restaurant is any indication of the direction we’re heading, we’re in luck.

Guzzo fuses great food and cocktails with urban art and soul, funk and jazz. Open every day from 6pm, the concept bar values detail and the handmade. Their new menu introduces platters meant to be shared; sample pickled clams, cockles and mussels, all native to Spain, or international dishes like ceviche, beef & basil gnocchi or organic seitan with okra, quinoa, herbs & sesame oil. Everything’s made fresh, including the cocktails.

From 8pm every night there’s a DJ, and live music on Sundays. The walls change with works by the city’s best street artists.

Since its opening in 2014, Ajoblanco has been the talk of the town. The interior of this venue on Tuset, a street known for its nightlife, is stunning. Superstar designer Lázaro Rosa Violán gave the place a fashionably vintage look with no detail overlooked: large mirrors, classic and retro lamps, wooden tables and an elegant bar at the entrance.

Owners José Lombardo and Kate Preston named their newest creation after the famous almond and garlic soup from the south of Spain. On the seasonal menu you’ll find tapas (crispy artichoke hearts, Jabugo ham croquettes, Galician-style octopus), mains to share (Basque T-bone steak, grilled lamb, lobster paella), as well as lighter dishes, salads and desserts. Despite its designer look, it is not expensive.

At night the place transforms into a lively cocktail bar with DJs and, especially on weekends, packs in a trendy, upscale crowd.

“Bar” isn’t a big enough word for a place like Collage. This small but sophisticated locale is much more than a drinkerie: part social club and part gallery, it’s a place to appreciate cocktails, art and the finer things in life – an homage to the bon viveur of yesteryear.

Created by Karina, Lorenzo and Fernando of cocktail catering service Mixology, Collage is a celebration of cocktail making as both social ritual and art form. Masters of their trade, the team’s passion for mixology can be tasted in each of their colorful creations; their drinks are both scientific experiments and work of arts, painstakingly concocted with top quality ingredients and impeccably presented. Mixologists Lorenzo and Fernando love to invent new cocktails, coming up with new creations to add to the mix of over thirty classics and originals, each of them well priced.

Choose from classics such as a Dry Martini, Gin Fizz or Cosmopolitan, aperitifs like a Spritz or Bloody Mary, and creative house cocktails such as the Strawberry-Basil Sour or Josephine Collins (like a Tom Collins with strawberry and passion fruit). Or warm up with flavored tequila shots like Sauza Gold with lemonsalt and a slice of cucumber. Of course, the bon vivant lifestyle isn’t complete without a bite to eat: though cocktails remain their forte, the bar also offers gourmet food at low prices, and each cocktail bought before 11pm comes with a free tapa. “Finger food” on offer include Goat Cheese Truffles with Sundried Tomato and Pine Nuts or Seafood-Mango Ceviche.

Like its cocktail menu, Collage is a blend of old-school classic and fashionable originality. Its rich colors and exposed stone give the bar the intimate feel of a ’50s gentlemen’s club, while Karina’s handpicked decorations add a quirky twist to its vintage glamour. As its name suggestions, the bar is a gorgeous mix-and-match of detail and design, with illustrations and postcards decorating the walls and old knickknacks scattered between retro furniture found at Les Encants market.

Upstairs the mezzanine lounge area displays exhibits by featured artists, selected by curator Elisa. More than simply decorative, these intertwine the processes of artistic and cocktail creation: each artist is asked to draw five cocktails, which are then brought to life by the Mixology alchemists. Refined but not pretentious, those with an appreciation for culture and quality cocktails will love this unique social club. Check out their Facebook page for news of workshops, courses, tastings and other events.