Of course I’ve written about Barcelona before. More than once, in fact, but most notably in 2017, when we spent a glorious late March long weekend in the city, pretending it was already summer everywhere. But that was six years ago (!) now, and while we still love many of our old Barcelona favourites, there are a few things that have changed. And a few new places we experienced in the city and loved enough that I want to share them.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, don’t hesitate… book at Sonder Paseo de Gracia (Passeig de Gracia, 29.) The location, at the centre of Barcelona’s busiest street, is unbeatable. Particularly if you’re visiting for the first time, or for a short time. Almost everything is you might want to see or do is within walking distance. And the property itself is an absolute gem, beautifully designed and maintained, with lovely balconies on some rooms, not to mention a glorious (and often unused) rooftop terrace.
There are some incredible places to eat nearby… and among them is El Nacional (Passeig de Gracia, 24 bis). This isn’t a restaurant, but a complex with four bars and four restaurants inside. Each one serves a different menu of Spanish dishes, most of them classics. Meat, fish, tapas, local cheese and charcuterie, along with local wine, cava and beer, are all on offer. There’s not just something for everyone, there’s more than one thing. We particularly enjoyed La Taperia. The quality of the tapas was almost unparalleled anywhere else on our whole trip. (Almost.)
But of course, you don’t always want to sit down for a full meal… so for times when just a cup of coffee or a quick sandwich will do, Tapa Tapa (Passeig de Gracia, 44) is your best bet. It’s true, it’s a chain. And they’re all over Spain. But the coffee, at least at this location, is great. And for the price, their light breakfast options are the perfect way to start a busy (or leisurely) day of sightseeing.
When it comes to things to see, no visit to Barcelona is complete with a stop at a market… and everyone loves Mercat Sant Josep, also known as La Boqueria, which is understandable. It’s such an expansive complex, with an incredible variety of foods on offer and restaurants to explore. But it’s also often crowded and noisy. For something similar, but much calmer, with often more reasonable prices, visit Mercat de la Concepio (Calle de Arago, 317) instead. The produce is fresh. You can eat at one of at least half a dozen restaurants, most owned by adorable local couples. There’s an enormous section for plants, if you’re planning to stay a while. And the fresh juice is worth writing home about, but costs just a couple of euros.
And, of course, no visit is complete without getting in a bit of Gaudi… which is best done, always, at Parc Guell. La Sagrada Familia is worth a visit, too, but queues are long, so a visit is demands a significant commitment of time and energy.
