Eating / Drinking, Barcelona

Barcelona has a very good nightlife, simply because there are lots of foreigners, students, and tourists.

There are some really nice coffee shops that offer alcoholic drinks as well, which is really good if you want a place where you can sit quietly, or if you want to go out with a business associate etc. Most cafès are open until 1am, but you can always find a bar open late if you're not ready to go home yet.

Most cafes also offer food, from bakery goods to full meals. The meals don't tend to be of restaurant quality, but they are cheap and cheerful

This was one of those nights that just unfolded before us. One of those exciting, ad-hoc sort of evenings that ends up being the best, most surreal and unreal experiences. My Girlfriend and I were leisurely walking along the beach at dusk before we went off to find somewhere to eat. This must have been aroung 10pm when we stumbled across a restaurant called CDLB. Well this place had some pretty heavy door security and was utterly rammed with diners, we managed to get a table and we could tell that we were the last diners. The retaurant was beautiful and we noticed that there were beds around the periphery. It was decked out in an oriental style with a number of Buddha statues around the place. Towards the end of our dinner we realised that slowly the restaurant was being cleared and that the music was starting to pump up. The lights were being dimmed and we found ourselves in the most happening club we could have imagined. It was full of the most beautiful people I had ever seen as well as a number of high profile football players. That was the best night I have spent yet in Barcelona. Later on I realised that this was one of the hippest clubs on the Barceloneta seafront. Check out the website at www.cdlc.com

Dress Code: We just happened to be well dressed. I was wearing nice jeans and a shirt with shoes so I guess it is smart casual.

A nice cocktailbar in the area el Borne. There are a lot of shops and restaurants in this area, so this is a nice spot to drink a cocktail after shopping and before eating.
It's a very small and cosy bar at the corner c. rec and paseo del Borne.
The adress is: c.rec. 59

This bar semi-light snak is right next to the was museum. The name of this place is: BOSC DE LES FADÉS CAFE. The decor and set up of this cafe/beer restaurant is so interesting and so unique. Just make it a point to at least visit it as it´s all worth and amazing how much the owner placed all these interesting decors.
The exact address is: Rambla Santa Mónica 6, (Passaje).

Dress Code: As casual as you can get, jeans, shorts and any wardrobe most comfortable.

This place is a good choice at every hours becuase the food is excellent and the service is fast. If you like tapas they have a great variety, we can say the same thing about biers....I don't like bier in general but there I found a bier very good (but not spanish!!) called TIMMERMANS from Belgium. At "Cerveceria Catalana" try PATATAS BRAVAS, potatoes with a special red sauce similar to ketch up but better and a bit spicy. Then don't miss the sandwiches and the salads.....You can easily have your lunch or dinner for less then 20 euros.

Dress Code: You don't need to be dressed in a particular way, jeans are always welcome ;-)

If you want to drink a beer, do not order one at the Ramblas. Just go to the Placa Reial, at 10 meters from the Ramblas. First, the atmosphere here is much better. Second, a beer wíll not cost you € 5,- but ´only´ € 3,-.

This is a great little bar right off of La Rambla. Fantastic atmosphere. The whole place is done up inside like a forest, complete with trees and little streams and fountains. Drinks are strong, too. A gem.

Dress Code: Casual attire.

The bar is a design cocktail bar with nice food on the menu. Mostly visited by locals and with some deep dubs which are mixed together by a DJ who sits by the entrance. The sounds of clubs are all over the place and the waiting staff are selected on their looks which was obvious... guys are buffed and girls are blond and pretty.

Dress Code: Most people were dressed up in there but the rare exceptions who were dressed in sports shoes were also allowed in... I wor a baseball cap and had no problems getting in.

This is perhaps my favorite bar of all that I've been to, not just Barcelona either. That's saying alot, too. The tables in the front have old steamer trunks covered with cushions to sit on, decks of cards, odd assortment of tables, chairs, etc. Pirate/nautical theme to the extensively covered walls. And a very attractive and kind bartender (owner?) wearing a puffy pirate shirt with plumed hat. The music was 1920's and 30's jazz, which somehow seemed perfect in the crazy setting.

This is not a fancy dress up bar. This is a down and dirty neighborhood hangout, which I highly recommend for a nightcap, or to get you started before you hit the Ramblas.

Dress Code: casual

A cute cafe/bar with coveted outdoor seating. A menu which changes each day (depending on what the chef feels like cooking apparently), delicious food, blase waiters, a beautiful crowd and the usual huge servings of alcohol make this a great place for a drink any time of the day. Gets packed at around 11pm onwards.

Dress Code: Smart-casual. You know what I'm saying :)