A Love Letter to Barcelona

Barcelona was one of those things that kind of just snuck up on me, out of nowhere. While I was grateful and excited to study abroad, the months leading up to my departure were spent grasping onto the final bits of familiarity in my hometown, in a state of denial regarding what was to come. After summer ended, the only book in my library would close for good, and I would be forced to expand my collection. As I turned the page on August, my new reality hit me like a metro, going 80 km/h underneath the sweltering heat of the Barcelona summer. 

Hot, vibrant and playful; Barcelona quickly became one of my favorite cities, and there’s no doubt in my mind you will share my affinity for its historical charm, colorful social scene, great food, and lively atmosphere. My home away from home, there will always be a special place in my heart for the city that healed it. 

First and foremost, let's talk tapas. Hands down, the best tapas in town are at Tapeo in El Born. You have to order some Spanish classics, including the patatas bravas, bombeta de la Barceloneta, ham croquettes, and coca bread. If you’re anything like me and end up going back time and time again, venture to try the quinoa and avocado salad, asparagus tempura, cheese selection, buffalo burrata, and their infamous beef skirt steak. I’ve had some really good tapas in Barcelona (most of them from Tapeo), and some really bad ones, so definitely do your research. Other spots I recommend include Julieta’s, Bar Mut, Clara Barcelona, and Babula Bar. 

Having dinner out in Barcelona is one of my favorite things in the whole world. Sitting outside on warm evenings, dining late, and lingering after makes for the perfect evening. Literally translating to “over the table”, the Spanish custom of sobremesa encourages people to hang out, chat, and enjoy one another’s company after a meal, leading to extended dining periods and many late nights. Living in America and working in the restaurant industry, sobremesa is one of the things I miss most about Spain. 

To that point, finding good restaurants was something I struggled with when I first moved to Barcelona, as I found many of them to be quite bland and extremely underwhelming. After lots of trial and error, I can safely say the list below reflects some of the best spots in the city. La Selva is perfect for a nice steak dinner, Martinez is a Spanish restaurant on a rooftop terrace with gorgeous views of the city, Santa Anita has great outdoor seating, Tierra Brava turns into a party after dinner, and Gala is perfect for a girls night out. Pizza local is one of my favorite places for a casual Italian dinner, if you go you must try the provolone tartufo- I’ve never had anything like it. Cafe Kafka is perfect for lunch, their chicken sandwich was my comfort meal on many occasions. La Taqueria has the best, and perhaps only, authentic Mexican food in the city. 

Famous for its nightlife, Barcelona boasts one of the world's most vibrant social scenes. For drinks, I would recommend heading to El Born and bar hopping. There you will find Paradiso, the #1 cocktail bar in the world, Creps Al Born, famous for its swinging lamps, Bar Sauvage, sitting atop Club Sauvage, as well as many other fun, eclectic bars. After grabbing drinks, it’s time to hit the clubs. I recommend arriving after 2 am, because that’s when the party really gets started. If you go to one club in Barcelona, let it be Razzmatazz. Razz is an absolute classic, and exactly what I imagine clubbing in the early 2000’s would feel like. Bling bling and Otto Zutz are other favorites of mine, and if you head down to the beach area you will find a strip of touristy clubs such as Shoko, Opium, Pacha, and Jamboree. Wherever you go, watch your phone! Nightclubs are where most of my friends fell victim to pick pockets. Most of these clubs charge a $15-20 cover fee that includes one drink, but I recommend following @rumbalist_bcn on Instagram to stay in the know about occasional promotions and parties. 

After a night out, you’re going to need a major recovery breakfast. Billy Brunch serves all day breakfast, so don’t fret if you wake up at 3pm. Their Maxi American plate is my personal heaven. If you’re looking for something quick and light, Funky Bakers and Demaise are great for pastries on the go. For a cute brunch, La Papa is a fan favorite. 

As far as activities, I highly recommend doing guided tours of both La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. Both have really interesting historical roots, and understanding their backstories contributes to a greater understanding of Barcelona as a whole. If you end up walking down Rambla de Catalunya, you will eventually run into Casa Batllo. I’ve never done a tour of the inside so I can’t recommend it, but it’s definitely cool enough to look at from the outside. The chocolate museum next door is really interesting as well, and the gift shop down stairs sells chocolates in beautiful souvner tins that are the perfect gifts. Definitely check out Mercat de la Boqueria, I was underwhelmed by the food but it was cool to see all of the vendors. If you can, you must see a futbol game at Spotify Camp Nou! I got to see two, and it was such a cool display of community in Barcelona. I would also highly recommend seeing a flamenco show, and reading a bit on the history of the art. The shows are really emotional and highly impressive, defintiely a great way to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and history. I would also recommend spending some time in nature, whether that means having a picnic in Ciutadella Park, or renting bikes and exploring along the beach. If you’re looking to do some shopping, Paseo de Gracia, Plaza Catalunya, and Las Ramblas are huge shopping areas that will have all of your big chain stores. For vintage shopping and smaller boutiques, check out the Gothic Quarter. Being a super versatile city, Barcelona is one of those places that truly does have something for everyone.

If you are planning on spending more than a couple of days in Barcelona and decide to venture outwards, there are many great day trips accessible by both train and bus. Figueres was one of my favorites, home to the Dali museum which actually blew my mind. Montserrat and Girona are also great options if you are looking for historical cities. For beach towns, I can only vouch for Sitges which was beautiful, but I’ve also heard great things about Blanes, Cadaques, and Tossa Del Mar.

Writing this guide has me planning my next trip back already. Everything mentioned above and below is linked in my map, at the bottom of this page. Barcelona is amazing, and if I haven’t already convinced you of that, I encourage you to go and find out for yourself.