Barcelona has an excellent range of cafes and bars. Below you will be able to read about some of the most popular ones together with an overview over the different areas
Barri Gòtic/ the gothic Quarter
The Barri Gòtic is one of the most popular areas with most bars in Barcelona. Barcelona is supposedly one of the cities in the world with most bars per square meters and in this zone there are bars on every corner. Especially the streets Carrer Ample, Carrer Avinyo, Carrer Escudellers and Plaça Reial are packed with bars.
In the Barro Gòtic area you have the famous Pipa Club. This place is one of the most famous bars in Barcelona. It is supposedly a club and not a bar, and because of this it can stay open when the bars open. It will not close before around 2:30 in the night while other bars have to close around 2:30. Not many people come there to smoke a pipe, but the bar is packed with images of Sherlock Holmes and Whatson smoking a pipe.
El Raval
Almirall (Joaquim Costa 33) is one of the oldest bars in Barcelona, and a great place to have a drink or a beer. Longer down in Raval you will find the legendary Marsella Bar (Sant Pau 65) where Hemingway and Picasso both had Absinth. You will still be able to find absinth (50 % alchohol) in this bar founded I 1820. The London Bar (Nou de la Rambla 34) is another interesting spot. Several times a week there is live music here. Finally, if you are looking for a stily cocktail bar, we recommend Boades (Tallers 1). Margarita Blue (Josep Anselm Clave 6) also has cocktails and is a little cheaper than Boades.
The Laie Bar/Cafeteria on the Montjuïc Hill in front of the MNAC museum has an nice ambience and a beautiful view.
La Ribera
La Ribera is a popular destination a little further away from the Ramblas which means that it is not as touristic. La Fianna however has been in the Lonely Planet guides for a few years now, and the place gets packed many days a week.
Eixample
Eixample is the biggest housing area in Barcelona, but it is also an interesting area for bars. You have the legendary Quilombo (Aribau 149) with live music on the Aribau street packed with bars. On the same street you will find The Dry Martini (Aribau 162-166), a famous cocktail bar. You can also get an excellent dinner in the “secret” room behind the bar
Read more about our historical tour & our Barri Gotic tour in this area.
La Ribera
Suborn is worth searching out at c/Ribera 18 – it has tapas during the day and is both a restaurant and music bar at night. Espai Barroc at c/de Montcada is a converted palace and often has classical music on Thursday’s. La Vinya del Senyor is near to Santa Maria del Mar and is a very pleasant wine bar.
Tibidabo
To end the night in a nice way, go to Mirablau on Tibidabo, where you will have an impressive view of the city.
