Hanging Out
Cafes, bars, cool locations to wander about in.
Barcelona is rich in great places to wander around in and hang out. (.......in addition to all the Gaudi stuff and the Picasso Museum, which are of course obvious….and the ChI site is not intended to be a guidebook, despite any appearances to the contrary .)
That said, depending on your interests, a fun thing to do on a visit can be to go on a tailor-made, personalised tour of the city, ranging from tracking down a vintage item to chilling out in a cool spot. (http://www.antiquesandboutiques.com) Tours are themed, by neighbourhood (barrio), fashion, interiors, or epicurean, and typically take three hours. The fashion tours are a good opportunity to check out the best of Barcelona’s offerings, including from independent designers, as both the organisers have fashion backgrounds.
Raval
Raval has a plethora of shops selling vintage collectables, especially on Calle Riera Baixa and Calle Tallers, as well as the popular Le Swing on Calle Rec 17.
Actually, just wandering around the city staring upwards at the amazing architecture which can be found on every single street, from Gracia (known to locals (and taken quite seriously) as the “Republic of Gracia”, through the left and right sides of the Eixample, down to the Barrio Gothico and the Born, is the best way to “hang out”.
Hanging Out Essentials (Courtesy of Monocle, April 16, 2008)
01 Say the Catalan “gràcies” with a soft c, not “gracias” with a “th”.
02 Most bars don’t have waiter service - order at the counter, but pay when you leave.
03 Taxis are cheap.
04 The taxi supplement from the airport usually isn’t added on the meter, but your driver will charge you it.
05 A VOSE film means it is in its original language with subtitles.
06 Shops close for two hours at lunch, between 14.00 and 16/17.00, and all day Sunday.
07 Exceptions to the Sunday closing: supermarket Opencor, the Maremagnum shopping centre and Chinese/Pakistani-run supermarkets, especially in Raval.
08 Closing times are almost always strictly enforced: 03.00 for bars, 06.00 for clubs.
09 Unlike other parts of Spain, you won’t get free tapas with your drink.
10 The right side of the Ramblas on the map is safe; the left side (Raval) is a dodgier, especially at night.
Passeig de Gracia – runs up from Placa Catalunya towards hills – bit like Champs Elysee and superb architecture including one or two Gaudi’s and Gaudi-style buildings.
El Born – a picturesque, relatively-newly discovered old merchant quarter, where many of the streets still bear the names of the trades once plied there – silversmiths on Argenteria, swordmakers on Espaseria, and milliners on Sombrerers. Full of one of a kind boutiques with products by local Catalan and Spanish designers not available outside the Iberian peninsula. Much less touristic than the Barrio Gotico (which none the less has absolutely amazing architecture though and is well worth a walk around – though beware pickpockets).
In particular, stroll down Argenteria St in El Born, and take in the wonderful exteriors of buildings, among them the Hotel Banys Orientals.
In Raval (the former red light district now undergoing urban renewal and regeneration), seek out the beautiful courtyard garden square of Rubio Y Luc, next to the hospital where Gaudi died, and its cute little bar which serves great local wines, and good tapas (closed on Sunday evenings though).
ChI prefers to avoid Las Ramblas (other than as a transit route from Ravel to El Born), though the mimes are fun to see – pickpockets abound, and it’s very touristy.
Some great hangouts for day and evening include:
• Hotel Arts - bar, pool & restaurant, near the Corniche
• Hotel Omm bar – very urban chic minimalist, with fantastic cocktails,
and you can lurch happily from there straight into Moo restaurant
(provided you have reserved, of course)
• Hotel Florida for brunch on Sundays, near the hills
• Dry Martini bar – a classic, classy cocktail bar for expertly prepared
cocktails, leather sofas, good waiters and great ambiance. Aribau 162-166
Tel: 34-93 217 50 72.
• Dolso Postres – No 39 on Monocle’s Quality of Life Index in October 2007.
http://www.monocle.com/webprogrammes/Quality-of-Life-Index/Dolso-
postres-Barcelona/ Forget about getting a dessert and head straight for
Dolso, a small restaurant that specialises in the science of all things non-
savoury. Speciality – a frozen G&T prepared with gin. At 227 València,
Barcelona
• Premier – for an after-dinner drink - 236 Provença
+ 34 93 532 1650
On the Tiles
Discoteque
Poble Espanyol, Montjuïc