Cool Bars in Barcelona

My first trip to Barcelona was totally overwhelming. It was over the New Year’s holiday and the place was packed. I was overly concerned about pickpockets, but never fell victim. The street vendors selling beer, drugs, night club tickets, and whatever else were really pushy.

This time around on my second trip to Barcelona I felt much more relaxed. I knew what to expect and the place seemed smaller and less confusing — familiar.

As with any other city my main focus was to find the best place to eat and drink. I went to a bunch of different places in the La Rambla and Barceloneta areas, and here are my top 3 recommendations for hip eating and drinking in Barcelona.

1.) La Champagneria (Can Paixano)

La Champagneria is my favourite of all the Barcelona bars I’ve been to. It’s wild, it’s crowded, the drinks are cheap, and the food is simple and bad for you — all good things when you’re on holiday. Don’t be surprised when the floor becomes littered with napkins and trash. That’s the custom here for this style of Tapas bar. Try the Morcilla, the sheep’s cheese, and the Jamon Iberico. A glass of Spanish Cava goes for about €0.65 to €1.00. Totally reasonable by any standards. I prefer the extra dry Cava as it is not so sweet, but the full range is available. It wouldn’t feel like a trip to Barcelona without at least one stop at La Champagneria. You can find it in the Barceloneta area near the Picasso statue on Passeig de Colom. See Map.

See also: Greatest Bar Ever! or La Champagneria: The Return

2.) Marmalade Bar Barcelona

Marmalade is located in the slightly dodgy neighbourhood of the Raval located behind La Boqueria Market on La Rambla. The interior of the bar is classy kitsch with cool wallpaper, backlighting, and funky lamps. I was there on a slower night and the bartender decided to play a long list of cool 80′s tracks that I had totally forgotten about. I also had some incredibly good tapas, some nice wine, and the best White Russian I have ever had. I highly recommend the Shrimp Brochette and the Crunchy Camembert Ravioli. Both were to die for. The Raval is a bit sketchy and is undergoing a change as these hip yuppy joints open up. If you plan on travelling through here at night try not to do it alone, and be aware of your surroundings. I didn’t find it that bad, but nobody I talked to had any positive things to say about the area. Use your street smarts. To get here take a right on Carrer Del Carme off La Rambla and walk about 10 minutes. See map.

3.) Milk Bar and Bistro Barcelona

Milk is owned by the same couple that owns Marmalade and was actually first on the scene and really changed the dining scene in Barcelona. The restaurant is not that big so a quick call ahead may be in order. This is more of a place I’d come for dinner, and the Sunday recovery brunch is becoming legendary in Barcelona. The food is not particularly Spanish, but is fairly rustic — stews, burgers, gourmet sausage. If you’re not familiar with the area Milk can be a bit of a chore to find. You can find it on Calle Gignas just off Carrer D’Avinyo. See Map.