Though few people will need to be convinced of the beauty and charms of Barcelona as it is well known as a stunning, culturally-rich beachside city with a major football stadium and a highly cosmopolitan selection of incredible bars and restaurants and cafes, the recent influx of visitors who spent time in the city for the return of the incredibly popular and cool Primavera music festival reminded many of us of just how appealing a holiday destination it is. Find your vacation rental in Barcelona now and come discover it all for yourself or maybe even look ahead to next year’s edition of Primavera and beat the crowds by sorting out your accommodation now while the best of the best of our holiday rentals in the area all still have great availability. When you get there, here is our guide to some of the chicest and coolest places to eat, drink, shop, and hang out while you are in the city...
Where to go to grab a perfect coffee...
The original branch of Nomad Coffee is located near the Palau de la Música Catalana and is such a coffee-obsessed spot that it isn’t actually even referred to as a shop but, rather, a lab. For serious coffee-lovers, this is a must, a place with a cult following that grew from a coffee cart in London to a brand with three different locations in Barcelona. Established by award-winning barista Jordi Mestre, the three different locations offer different experiences. As noted, the original on the Passatge Sert in the Born quarter is the one for coffee obsessives and they only sell coffees at this, “lab,” half-hidden behind a wall of potted plants. At the Every Day location in Raval you can find ice-cream, pastries, and cake in addition to drinks and the Frutas Selectas in Poblenou also sells a delicious and rather Instagram-worthy selection of bread, wine, and fruit. If you want truly great coffee and some very cool surroundings in which to enjoy it, this is the brand and these are the locations to visit during your holiday in Barcelona.
Where to go to get a brilliant brunch...
Brunch is always a good idea but especially on holiday when you’re already taking things slow and indulging. Barcelona has increasingly endless options to choose from but if you really like to brunch whenever you want, then the all-day option of the very cool Gringa All Day at Carrer Trafalgar 39 is ideal. Another gem that began as a food-truck that was popular in the city, the shop opened this year and serves up dishes inspired by LA-born and raised originator Priscilla’s mix of Irish-Mexican-Salvadorian-American background including fried chicken, tacos, burgers, hot wings, burritos, pancakes, eggs, bacon, and much more besides. All done in a bright and stylised American diner-inspired space with comfy booths, formica tables, and fun details, this is a funky place to try a real mixture of cuisines and have plenty of brunch options to choose from in one spot on vacation in Barcelona.
Where to go to get a really nice drink...
If you need something a little stronger than the coffee that we mentioned earlier but you really want a properly well-made drink, then the cocktails at Dr Stravinsky are calling your name. Elegant, with plush vintage-inspired surroundings in a centuries-old building that is perfectly suited to savouring the highly innovative and delicious cocktails served up in this gem, it is easy to see why it was named one of the fifty best bars in the world back in 2019. Located in La Ribera at Carrer dels Mirallers 5, stop by any time between 6pm and 2.30am for some of the best drinks that the city has to offer those who find a holiday rental in Barcelona.
Where to go to munch on an aesthetic slice of pizza and sip a great local beer...
Four Corners serves thick-crust Detroit-style pizza by the pie or the slice alongside various other meals and snacks, paired with local craft beers, natural wines, Italian-style cocktails, and more in a relaxed and colourful space with on-point merchandising and interior design. All overseen by New York-based pizzaiolo, Anthony Falco, this is a pretty excellent place to head to if you have found a villa in Barcelona and are any sort of pizza fiend at all.
Where to go to splurge on an excellent dinner...
There are, of course, endless other excellent restaurants to choose from in Barcelona, particularly if you’re after some more local flavours and culinary traditions and there are certainly bargains to be found. However, if you are have the budget to really go for it and you love a fine-dining experience, then you will find yourself in luck. Spain has a long history of hosting incredible Michelin-star restaurants and Barcelona currently boasts sixty-six restaurants as part of the Michelin Guide, nineteen of which have at least one star. Serious foodies, therefore, will have no shortage of impeccable restaurants and fine-dining experiences to choose from while on vacation in Barcelona. There are always hot new places popping up but one of the long-term mainstays of the Barcelona culinary scene that has a history stretching back over fifty years is Via Veneto. This one-star Michelin restaurant is located in a beautiful Belle Époque building with an elegant dining space spread over several levels, as well as some private dining rooms, and boasts great menus of updated classics and seasonal delights, as well as an excellent tasting menu by chef David Andrés. In addition, there is a truly incredible wine cellar of French and Spanish wines to pair with your meal. This is the kind of classic that never goes out of style and is a must for the discerning foodie who has found a holiday rental in Barcelona.
Where to go to shop for something special...
Bon Vent is an incredible concept store selling a magical curation of beautiful pieces of jewellery, items of clothing, homewares, hand-crafted objects, beauty products, vintage goods, and more. With a particular Mediterranean aesthetic that is a colourful antidote the the minimalism that can often be ubiquitous in stores today, this is the place to find some special little treasure to bring home with you that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. Located at Carrer de l'Argenteria 41, it is an ideal spot for those who have found a villa in Barcelona and like to have a good old browse and rummage around while on vacation.
So, if you have been having a look through our wonderful range of truly incredible villas in Spain and you have finally managed to narrow down your next holiday destination to Barcelona then get booking your holiday rental in Barcelona today and then use our handy guide to the coolest and best spots in the city to ensure you always have somewhere brilliant to eat, drink, shop, and generally be merry during your time in the city! Of course, this is all merely a jumping-off point as it is always changing and growing and there are always new hot spots to discover... all the more reason to head to Barcelona and dive into it all in this dynamic and magic cultural hub ASAP!
