There are loads of Guide Books it’s worth investing in one such as Time Out Short List 2009.
There is a new line from Barcelona Airport which runs to Sants station, Passeig de Gracia, then Estacion de Franca for El Born & Barceloneta, it is a half hourly service, costs €2.80 although a T10 ticket can be used on the way back to the airport.
Do be careful with handbags - crime usually non-violent like bag snatching or picking pockets is common - never carry more than you need - not much it's cheap and it's much better with no handbag at night - just use pockets.
Barcelona Card bought at the information kiosk at the airport acts as bus and metro ticket unlimited travel within the city and discounts on the airport bus, restaurants and museums.
There are loads of hotels on Barcelona but it is also a very popular city so choosing to stay in the best location for you is very important there are now many apartment sites which give you the chance to stay in areas like El Born some are listed below
www.inside-bcn.com - has some lovely refurbished apartments in the heart of the Born area, the ones called Espateria are next to their office and come in a variety of sizes and have a roof terrace. The staff are all very helpful and knowledgeable. They have a newly refurbished luxury duplex block due to open early 2009 which looks. fabulous. For great apartments in great locations and fabulous service you can't go wrong.
www.apartmentsinbarcelona.net - is a new addition and also specialises in blocks of refurbished apartments in the Born
www.habitatapartments.com - very smart all in Born/Barri Gothic discounts off season/late booking
www.1stbarcelonahotels.com - various apartments good site
www.homeadvicespain.com - very nice people with good selection
Hotel Banys Orientals Carrer Argenteria Born Area near the Church of Santa Maria del Mar .Beautiful new hotel in a great part of the city www.hotelbanysorientals.com Recently reports mention free bottled water on each floor, fantastic showers lovely and stylish rooms. Now has apartments attached to the hotel €€
New Chain of Modern Smart Hotels H10 they have a number in Barcelona we stayed at H10 Montcada very smart good location 4 stars booked through Expedia there can be good deals €€
AC Hotels is a Spanish Group with incredibly stylish hotels and very reasonable prices the rooms and facilities are top class www.ac-hotels.com
Restaurants
Senor Parellada, attached to Hotel Banys Orientals (see above) full of locals, very smart and large menu food reasonable and very reasonable priced but the setting is the thing - worth trying €€
Les Quinze Nits, Placa Real great value set lunch no bookings so be prepared to queue for dinner but worth it and La Fonda at C/Escudeliers possibly better than above , again no booking and queues good value they now have several other branches La Dolca Herminia C/Magdalenes 27 off C/Via Laietana and El Hostal de Rita C/Carago 279 off Passeig de Gracia € to €€ This group of restaurants is still as popular as ever.
Restaurant Goa, Carrer Ample 46, Barr Gothic if you fancy a change try a curry the food is very good and and very reasonably priced €
Set de Born, Carrer Esparteria 7, Born, specialises in Cold Meats, Pates, & Cheeses and is very reasonably priced. They have another place nearby if the original is full. €
Cal Pep, Placa de Les Olles, off the Passeig de Born Famous Restaurant & Tapas Bar where you can eat while sitting at the Bar be prepared to be there when it opens at 8 in order to get a seat. It specialises in seafood and will do a tasting menu as there is no menu in the bar. Top Notch.€€ to €€€
Commerc 24, Carrer Commerc 24, Born probably the best known New Tapas Restaurant owned by Carles Abellan who worked at the famous El Bulli. There are tasting menus up to 10 courses which vary in price but the food is wonderful - it is expensive but worth every Euro essential to book €€€€ See Tapas 24 below
Santa Maria, C/Comerc 17 at the end of the Passeig de Born modern Tapas Restaurant tables and seats at the bar fabulous innovative tapas, brilliant food. Visited again recently and it has amazing different tapas and very helpful staff to guide you through the menu recommend booking. €€
Origens 99.9% C/Vidreria 6-8 & Passeig de Born Mainly local and organic food in this restaurant and shop, modern food reasonable prices. Also in C/Ramon y Cajal, Gracia and C/Enric Granados, University € to €€
Mar de la Ribera, Carrer Sombrerers 7, Born, a very good seafood and fish restaurant, very friendly staff and top quality food, very reasonable €€
La Paradeta C/Commercial 7 at the side of the Born Market you buy your fresh seafood/fish tell them how you want it cooked steamed /grilled and with what sauce order you drink pay get sent to a table and wait till they call your number wonderful go before they open at 8pm and be prepared to queue but it is worth is great seafood and very reasonable €€
Restaurant Agullers, Carrer Agullers, 10, Born, it has no name, and no menu but looks very smart - go at lunch time and have one of the best cooked lunches of amazing value. The staff are great, the fish particulalrly outstanding - just ask for the red or white wine - every one drinks the house €€
Hostal de la Bon Sort, Carrer Carders 12, Born another amazing value Menu del Dia and good quality tapas in a very local street - worth seeking out €
L'Economic, Placa de Sant Aguti Vell 13, Born, a lovely old fashioned restaurant only open for lunch during the week with a great value Menu del Dia €
Re-Pla, Carrer Montcada (other side of C/Princessa) this place had a good menu del dia and also at night is very busy with excellent made to order tapas €€
Cuines Santa Caterina, at Santa Caterina Market off Via Laetana excellent buzzy place to eat, they don't take bookings so be prepared to queue or go early, a variety of different types of cooking, also tapas bar see below.
El Atril C/Carders 23, parallel to C/Princessa and round the corner, from Santa Caterina, have to declare an interest in that it is owned by someone we know, but like other places he has owned the atmosphere is good, the food excellent with a slightly different twist, it does an excellent menu del dia.
Bar Central at the back of the Boqueria Market, be patient and wait to get a seat at the counter at lunchtime and choose from the dishes of the day, it's not cheap but its worth it for the experienceand the food. Although Pinoxto at the front always gets mentioned in articles and books this has a list and prices which can make it less daunting.
Elizabets, Carrer Elizabets 2-4, Raval great value Menu del Dia, be prepared to queue for a table - but worth the wait as you will get your turn eventually and it is such great value also open at night and isjust as busy.
Otoxo, 3 Hermanos, C/Carmen 59 - another great value for money Menu del Dia place in the Raval - its home style cooked Galician style food.
Biblioteca, C/Junta de Commerc 28 a serious eating place, the cooking is fabulous and its not cheap but its worth it, mainly open for dinner but may do lunch Friday and Saturday. €€€
Marmalade, Riera Alta 3-6, top off the Rambla de Raval this is a bar, lounge and restaurant, have only tried the lounge food which was good and reasonably priced as are the cocktails and wine. The whole place is very smart/trendy but welcoming and is owned by the same people as Milk (see bars below)
Reina de Raval. Rambla de Raval were unable to check this out but it comes with some good recommendations, theowner/manager Tony & Fran the chef are both highly rated by people in the business in Barcelona, it looks good the menu looks great.
Sureny, Placa de la Revolucio, Gracia, excellent restaurant, tapas style eating but made to order with game on the menu - booking advised
Can Ros, Carrer Almirall Aixeda 7, Barceloneta, one of many places in Barceloneta but highly rated for it's Paella's - mainly fish and seafood - very good service and reasonably priced €€
Andu C/Correo Viejo 3 (Barri Gothic) Excellent bar with a great wine selection, beers and cocktails. Also super cheese and meat platters and other food very friendly owners Brendan & Lee and great staff. it is a lovely quirky place with a great selection of customers.
Bar Bodega Teo, Carrer Ataulf, 18, Barri Gothic, a trendy modern bar in what is during the day an old fashioned wine shop. Owned and run by a great guy called Rafael - very welcoming and an excellent place to chill out. Pop in and try his excellent cocktails it is a lovely bar with a great atmosphere and good company.
Café de L’Opera, La Rambla 74 Barcelona institution must be visited great for a late nightcap
La Plata, C/Merce 28 lovely small bar up the street from Bar Celta full of locals tiny bar doing wines and whitebait & tomato salad lovely owners
El Xampanyet, C/Montacado 22 Superb ‘Cava’ bar lovely tiles tapas and cava best for a first evening stop however has become a bit touristy and a bit pricey if you give it a try then afterwards cross the road to
Euskai Exteaa (Basque Cultural Institute) C/Motcado Don’t miss it - Superb Tapas you pay by honesty system how many cocktail sticks are on your plate sadly this was the original Basque Bar in Barcelona and now there are so many it has lost it’s buzz
Bilbao Berria, Plaza Nova beside Cathedral excellent modern Basque bar with great tapas - they have revamped their selection and it is now even better with loads of hot pintxos at the far end and dessert ones
Sagardi, Carrer Argentaria another new Basque Tapas bar pay by the number of sticks
La Vinya del Senor, Placa Santa Maria near the church of the same name lovely wine bar great selection by the glass changes fortnightly very good cheese plates and oysters and other food. The staff are very helpful and even if it look busy go in get a glass of wine and wait for a seat to come free, or find a corner to lean.
Txirrimirri C/Princess (just after the junction with Via Laitana) another Basque bar with excellent pintxos (tapas on sticks)
La Fianna C/Banys Vells 15 big very relaxed bar open late also does food and attracts a young crowd for eating including Sunday brunch, more of a mixed crowd later for a drink.
Bodega La Palma C/Palma de Sant Barri Gothic a lovely old fashioned place doing tapas some different from the normal -only serves if you have a table - worth finding
La Vinateria de Call, Carrer Sant Domenec del Call Barri Gothic a difficult to find but lovely wine bar with excellent food, super platters of cheese, and meat booking is recommended, the staff are very helpful.
Thales, C/Templaris 16, a great old fashioned bar doing tapas and a variety of beers and a good place to watch the football.
El Bixto, Carrer Verdaguer i Callis, 9, near the Catalan Music Palace, a new modern tapas bar doing avariety of dishes to order with a good selection of wines
Formatgeria La Seu Carrer Dagueria 16 Barri Gothis not really a bar in fact a cheese shop run by a Scots lady but you can taste 3 cheeses and have a small glass of wine for a few euros or a bigger selection very welcoming
Mudanzas C/Vidreria 15 Born Area local bar/café open late very relaxed place less trendy than a lot in the area
Milk C/Glignas 21 Barri Gothic excellent bar very friendly good cocktails and food looks good if you want a break from tapas - they have another bar/lounge/restaurant in teh Raval called Marmalade (see above)
Mercat Santa Catalina is a rebuilt market just off Via Laietana it has a couple of Tapas places including Cunies Santa Caterina (see restaurant above)it is a bit chaotic when busy which is most of the time - large variety of dishes are cooked to order, wait and get a seat at the bar it is worth it.
Eixample
Tapas 24, C/Diputacio 269, this is the new very much talked about tapas bar from Carles Abellan of Commerc 24 (see above) it is great, go early ahead of the queue and sut at the bar order your tapas and watch them being cooked - a great buzzy place with top quality food.
Flamant Cafe, C/Enric Garanados 23, again tapas made to order , sit at the bar or one of the tables. Next door Flamant restaurant is an amazing buzzy place and incredibly reasonable priced, it really is some place, however the food does not apparently quite live up to the style of the place - but worth a menu del dia just to see the place.
There are some very smart, and good places in this area particularly along C/Valencia some with great value menu del dias try Cata 1.81, Taktika Berri & Sucoa
Barceloneta is full of places and many are old fashioned on the way try the first two below
Can Paixano, Carrer Reina Christina in a street entirely full of electrical shops except for this great very busy bar the speciality is pink cava at very cheap prices if you buy by the bottle then you have to buy something from the selection of rolls - a great place. Bottles now sold only before 5pm.
El Vaso de Oro, C/Balboa 6 Barceloneta first on the left as you go along the main street into Barceloneta like the inside of an ocean liner fabulous tapas no list but don’t be put off they also brew their own beer
Cal Papi, Carrer Atlantida, just off the market square going towards the beach, venture behind the net curtians and find a local gem, run by lovely people, there is no menu so join the locals and order the osyters, buckets of mussels, deep fried cod (buneulos) and enjoy
La Cova Fumada C/Baluard 56 (No name outside) opposite the market great cheap food very busy brave it !
Absenta Bar, Carrer Sant Carles 36, a real find among the mainly basic bars of Barceloneta, a lovely bar open daily with live music in the evenings and with great Empanadas (pasties) of different types to try - very good
Bars in El Raval - this is slightly seedy other side of the Ramblas from the Barri Gothic but it is been tidied up and should be visited
Mam I Teca, C/Luna 4 you have to ring the bell and there are only six tables or you can eat at the bar (not on Sundays when there is football reservations only) excellent tapas and bigger plates
Amirall, C/de Joaquin Costa 33 open at night Barcelona’s oldest bar a beautiful Moderista place
Muy Buenas C/del Carme 63 lovely old bar doing a variety of drinks and food
La Confiteria C/Sant Pau 128 a beautiful bar on the edge of the Raval which was an old cake/sweet shop and most of it has been left as it was
No Bar crawl in El Raval would be complete without a visit to Marsalla (Absinthe Bar) see below
Marsalla C/Sant Pau 65 this is another of the oldest bars and is famous for serving absinthe - they do serve other things be warned it doesn't open until 10.30 - 11 pm
Poble Sec is the area next to the Raval and there are a couple of places to try
Not far from from La Confiteria above is
Quimet y Quimet C/Poeta Cabanyes 25 open at lunch time and in the evening a wine shop and grocers which is a bar loads of mentions such as if you only go to one bar make sure it is Quimet y Quimet they do small selection of vegetables, cheese, meat, prawns, wonderful bread just a wonderful bar
Inopia, Carrer Tamarit 104, Poble Sec, opened by the brother of Ferran Adria who owns El Bulli, this is a bright modern place with a twist on the traditional tapas all of which are made to order - well worth seeking out
Gracia
Bar with no name, a wonderful locals bar in Gracia on the corner of Brunquer and Joan Blanques.
La Paloma, Carrer Tigre, Raval - Old fashioned Dance Hall/Ballroom - Friday evenings between 6 & 9 it is full of Barcelone ladies and gentlemen practising their dancing skills to a live band - Go and watch with a bottle of Cava.! At night it becomes a club and this is causing a problem because of the noise - seems to be currently closed sadly.
Parc Guell Worth finding Gaudi design park take the bus 24 from Palaz Catalunya
All Gaudi Buildings - Sagrada Familia La Predera go up to the roof
The Markets La Boqueria and Santa Catalina
Museo Picasso C/Montacado
Martime/Naval Museum at the foot of the Ramblas Drassanes Metro fascinating museum housed in the old naval dockyard buildings
The area at the foot of C/Montacado the Passeig de Born has recently become one of the ‘trendy’ areas with new bars and restaurants.
The area north of the Eixample Gracia is another area worth exploring - very local with some lovely squares loads of restaurants and bars one very old one is Bodega Manolo C/Torrent de las Flors 101
Barceloneta is worth visiting for the beach and marina and also some very good restaurants and tapas bars many very smart although the ones on the front in Passeig Juan de Bourbo although good value tend to be a bit pushy and try and drag you in !
La Carta Des Vins, Carrer Somberers 1, Born a very good wine shop which will ship home - Gareth is very knowledgeable and helpful
Vila Vinateca, Carrer Agullers, 7 - another amazing wine shop, this also has a grocers and deli on the opposite corner - a foodie heaven.
Try the Chocolate Shops - Bubo, Carrer Caputxes, Born a designer chocolate shop - and many others around the city.
Tarragona is perfect for a day out, it can be reached from Estacio Franca, Passeig de Gracia, or Sants. Climb up from the station to the old part and explore the walls, and the Cathedral. There are loads of places to eat in the old part - pick up a map and restaurant guide from the tourist office. The old fishing port south of the station is also full of good places to eat.
Go for a day out from Estacion Sants it takes 1 hr 20mins If you stay over the AC Palau Bellavists gives you five star luxury and a very reasonable rate - warning it is only 10 minutes downhill to the old part but the climb back up will take you longer
Restaurant El Pou Del Call C/Forca 14 does a fabulous lunch it’s worth booking
Boira, Praca de la Independencia 17 has a great value set lunch and a very reasonable a la carte menu it has a great setting with table outside in the square
La Penyora, C/Nou del Theatre is worth trying a different menu explained carefully €€
Wine Bar Di Vinum C/Agenteria 12 is a lovely little wine bar great selection of wines and the most wonderful cheese platter, there is another Branch at c/General Fournas
Lizarran on the Praca de la Independencia has excellent Basque Tapas
Zanpanzar C/Cort Reial is another Basque Bar with excellent tapas
Reached by bus from Figueres (where the Dali Museum is an absolute must) this is where Dali had his house. It is a lovely small town round a lovely bay with a number of pebbly beaches.Hotel Playa Sol is a lovely hotel at the end of the bay with a great pool and gardens. Front Rooms have Balconies facing the bay, the ones at the back don’t have a great view.€€
Casa Nun just behind the front has a lovely terrace and some different choices on the menu. €€€
Es Raco, C/Callis is very reasonably priced with a small terrace a lovely place for lunch € to €€
Casa Anita, C/Miguel Roset is a Cadaques institution there is no menu you sit a one of a few large tables and the ownder tells you what is available for starters and mains nearly all fish and seafood incredible value €€
Tapes S’entina is a Tapas restaurant just past the Casino which has a huge menu of hot and cold tapas all cooked to order very good value.
La Sirena in the old town up the hill from the Casino almost only fish dishes reasonable quality but lacked atmosphere.
