What I did and saw:Camp Nou- The legendary home of the Barcelona Football Club is Camp Nou in Les Corts. It is one of the largest and most iconic stadiums in the world, and carries a massive amount of local cultural significance. The stands are painted to say "Més que un club" which literally means "more than a club." At one time, Camp Nou was the only place Catalonians could speak their own language. I had the opportunity to watch one of the greatest players of all time, Leo Messi, play at Camp Nou a couple different times, and they were awesome experiences. Where I ate and drank: Cerveseria El Tap- If you are looking for great craft beer and tasty food, Cerveseria El Tap in Les Corts is a great place to go. They have a nice variety of beer options and their food was great as well. Hidden Café Barcelona- The best coffee I've had in Les Corts is at Hidden Cafe. In addition to serving tasty coffee they also roast their own beans. They offer excellent filter options that are served with a card that provides the origin information and tasting notes of the coffee. Bendita Helena- Bendita Helena is a nice cafe in Les Corts that offers some quality, healthy options as well as some tasty, indulgent options. Cheeso- Every year Barcelona will have a Hotel Tapa Tour, where participating hotel bars will offer small portions of excellent food and drink for an affordable price. One of the locations I visited for the Hotel Tapa Tour was Cheeso in the Meliá hotel. Both the food and drink they offered were very tasty. My favorite thing: My favorite thing about Les Corts is going to the legendary Camp Nou. It is an experience that is hard to top. My least favorite thing: There isn't much to dislike about Les Corts but it is outside of the city center where many of the other main sites in Barcelona are. For next time:
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What I did and saw: Parc Güell- Funded by Eusebi Güell and made by Antoni Gaudi, Park Güell was intended to be a high-end housing development. However, due in part to its distance (uphill) from the city center, it was unsuccessful as a housing development. Gaudi himself lived in the park for 20 years. In 198 it was declared a world heritage site celebrating the unique architectural genius of Gaudi. Explored the area- I've had the opportunity to do a lot of walking around the Gràcia area, and it is a beautiful place. There are lots of parks and plazas that can be great places to spend time in. Flotarium- When I have the opportunity to go to a sensory deprivation tank I try to take advantage of it. It is a great way to meditate, pray, concentrate, and think. In addition to the psychological benefits, the magnesium in the salt also makes its a great thing to do for the body as well. The best float center I found in Barcelona was at the Flotarium in Gràcia. Where I ate and drank: Berbena- My favorite restaurant in Barcelona is Berbena. It is a very small place on a side street, and many times when I was there the owner/chef also worked as the waiter. He uses high quality ingredients prepared amazingly well. Care is taken with every aspect from the bread to the main course to the coffee, and that care is evident in the flavors produced. La Pubilla- Located next to the Mercat de la Llibertat, La Pubilla was completely full every time I was there. Their "menu del dia" is a couple euros more expensive than it is at many other places, but the increase in quality is more than worth the increase in price. SlowMov- My favorite coffee roaster in Barcelona is SlowMov. They offer great filter coffee options, quality espresso options, and some tasty baked goods. Parallelo- The best gelato I've had in Barcelona was at Parallelo. They offer a multitude of creative, delicious flavors to choose from. Their gelato is also used in the affogatos at 3 Marks Coffee in the Fort Pienc area. Bermont Coffee- Another great coffee spot in Gràcia is Bermont Coffee. In addition to their excellent coffee, they also offer some great small food options. In particular I enjoyed their avocado toast. Bodevici - gelats i orxates ecològiques- Bodevici is another good gelato place in Gràcia. Their gelato is also sold in many Veritas (similar to Whole Foods) locations. Onna Cafe- Adding to the list of great coffee spots in Gràcia, Onna Cafe also serves excellent, high quality coffee. They also offer a small variety of great food options. Syra Coffee- Syra is another great coffee spot in Gràcia. Unlike the places mentioned above, Syra specializes in take-away orders and does not have much of a seating area. Old Fashioned Gin Tonic & Cocktail Bar- If you are looking for excellently crafted, well presented, delicious cocktails in the Gràcia area, Old Fashioned Gin Tonic & Cocktail Bar is a great place to go. La Cervesera Artesana- As its name suggests, La Cervesera Artesana is a great place to go for great craft beer and good food. The Beerket- Another great craft beer place in Gràcia is The Beerket. They offer minimal food options, but excellent drink options. They have apparently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but hopefully they will be able to open up again. Sabio Infante- A great place to go for brunch and espresso-based coffee drinks in Barcelona is Sabio Infante. They offer some healthy options as well as some indulgent options. Mama's Organic Kitchen & Cafe- Another great place to get breakfast/brunch in Gràcia is at Mama's Organic Kitchen & Cafe. La Bodega del Sol- Located at the Placa del Sol, La Bodega del Sol is a high quality bottle shop. They have a vast multitude of excellent craft beer options. Café del Sol- Also located at the Placa del Sol, Cafe del Sol offers some good food options. The homemade dishes they offer are delicious. My favorite thing:Park Güell is one of the most iconic spots in all of Barcelona, and my favorite Barcelona coffee roaster (SlowMov), restaurant (Berbena), and gelateria (Parallelo) are all in the Gràcia area. My least favorite thing: Gràcia is one of my favorite areas of Barcelona, but it can tend to have higher prices than some other areas of the city. For next time: Next time in Gràcia I would like to return to SlowMov, Berbena, and Parallelo. In terms of new experiences, I would like to check out a handful of other restaurants and I would like to explore the inside of Gaudí's Casa Vicens (so far I have only seen the outside).
What I did and saw: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu- The majority of BJJ gyms in the Barcelona area are in the Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample neighborhood. I tried out a few, but settled on XFit. I went with XFit because they offer No-Gi at multiple times, and access to their sauna, weight room, cardio machines, and other workout areas are also included with membership. The man in charge of the Jiu Jitsu program there is Rogent Lloret, who is a Bellator and M-1 Challenge vet and a Robin Gracie blackbelt. I also checked out ATOS Barcelona and Templum BCN, but they had very limited No-Gi times, didn't have as many offerings in terms of other exercise equipment/facilities (although Templum was close), and they were more expensive. ATOS is run by Andre Galvao's brother Gustavo, and Templum was run by UFC vet Yan Cabral. Where I ate and drank: Cerveseria La Més Petita- As the name suggests, Cerveseria La Més Petita is a small place, but it is a very quality place. The craft beer on tap is excellent, and they also offer a small but good food selection. Casa do Açaí- Many places in the Barcelona area have lower quality blenders, which means they need to water down what they put in them. This causes their açaí bowls to be more like açaí cold soup. However, Casa do Açaí makes quality, legit açaí bowls. They also have a handful of other good options on their menu, but the focus is açaí. Santa Anita- Santa Anita specializes in crepes, and they have a wide variety of them. They also offer fresh juices and espresso based drinks. Morrow Coffee- Located around the corner from Plaça d'Espanya, Morrow Coffee serves up excellent coffee. They are a fairly new spot (they opened in 2017), but they are high quality. Rooftop Smokehouse- The best placed to get anything smoked in Barcelona is at Rooftop Smokehouse. They have everything from smoked fish to smoked meats to smoked butter. Their products are also sold at places like Paradiso and Two Schmucks. My favorite thing: Morrow Coffee and Cerveseria La Més Petita both serve excellent drinks, but my favorite part about the Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample was doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. My least favorite thing: There's not much to dislike about the Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample area and it is tough to come up with anything negative about the area. However, there are more things to do, see, eat, and drink in other areas of Barcelona. For next time:Next time in the Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample I would like to check out a couple Vermouth places, Senyor Vermut and Morro Fi.
What I did and saw: Barceloneta Beach- The main feature of the Barceloneta area is the beach. It is often crowded and not as nice as beaches in surrounding areas like Castelldefels and Vilanova i la Geltru, and there are often pickpockets working the area. However, there are not many major cities in the world with a beach that is so easily accessible to the city center. Also, Barceloneta lends itself to some amazing views of the Mediterranean, sand sculptures, and the W Hotel. There are also a couple workout areas, and Barceloneta can be a nice place to walk, jog, bike, or rollerblade. Watch movies- During the summer there is an outdoor movie series that is shown on the beach on select nights. You'll want to go early if you want a good seat, but it is totally free to watch. Where I ate and drank: Bodega Fermín- If you are looking for a place to get quality craft beer and quality tapas in the same place, Bodega Fermin is the place to go. They offer excellent craft beers and tapas, as well as wine and house-made vermouth. Brunch & Cake Barceloneta- Brunch & Cake has a few different locations in Barcelona, and one of their locations is in the Barceloneta area. While they are still one of my favorite breakfast spots in Barcelona, some of their service and food quality seems to have dropped slightly in favor of making their food even more "insta-worthy." Makamaka- If you want a burger around the corner from the beach, Makamaka is a good place to get it. BlackLab Brewhouse & Kitchen- BlackLab serves quality craft beer brewed in-house, some of which they use to make beer cocktails. They also have a good food menu, and their sweet potato fries are really tasty. Bistro del Mercat- The first few stops on the Sandemans food tour were in the El Born area, but we also stopped at Bistro del Mercat in the Barceloneta area. It's a great place to try local wines and tapas. My favorite thing: The summer movie series is really nice, but my favorite things about the Barceloneta area eating and drinking at Bodega Fermin and working out in view of the Mediterranean. My least favorite thing: My least favorite thing about the Barceloneta area is the number of pickpockets around the area. Also, the beach is overcrowded and lower quality than beaches in the surrounding area. For next time: Next time in the Barceloneta area I would like to visit more of the restaurants in the area such as La Cova Fumada, La Bombeta, and Bar jai-ca.
What I did and saw:Cathedral of Barcelona- While not as architecturally impressive as the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Cathedral of Barcelona is still an impressive building in its own right. It is also significantly older than the Sagrada Familia, and it is free to enter at select times (usually weekday mornings). Also, the plaza in front of the Cathedral is host to various festivals and street performances. If you are looking for a nice picture, the "Barcelona" sign is located in front of the Cathedral, and the Fotomosaic Joan Fontcuberta "kissing mural" is located around the corner down a side street. Sandeman's free walking tour- As I have mentioned many times in previous posts, free walking tours are great ways to see a new city. The Sandemans free walking tour goes through the Gothic Quarter and the El Born neighborhood, and they also have paid tour that go through other areas of the city. El Pont del Bisbe- The Bishop’s Bridge going over Carrer del Bisbe between the Cathedral and Placa de Sant Jaume features a dagger going though a human skull. It was built in 1928, and has spawned many different stories and superstitions. Plaça Reial- Located just off La Rambla and featuring light posts by Antoni Gaudi, Placa Reial is a beautiful plaza that often plays host to street performers and events. Plaça de Sant Felip Neri- The Sant Felip Neri plaza has a very tragic past. During the Spanish Civil War the plaza was bombed, killing many school children. The marks from this heartbreaking event are still easy to see. The plaza has since also played host to the music video for Evanescence's song "My Immortal," as well as a scene from the movie Vicky, Christina, Barcelona. La Fira de Santa Llucia Christmas Market- As mentioned above, the plaza in front of the Barcelona Cathedral plays host to various festivals. One of these festivals is La Fira de Santa Llucia, which is the oldest Christmas market in Barcelona. They have various Christmas items for sale, and some of those items such as the Caganers and the Casa Tios are uniquely Catalonian. Muralla romana de Barcelona- Due in part to its strategic location on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona has a long and storied history. One example of this history is the Roman city wall in Barcelona, which can be visited for free. Museums- A great way to explore the aforementioned history of Barcelona is by checking out some of the museums in the Gothic Quarter. The Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) dives into some of the city's ancient history. The Museu Frederic Marès features a collection of thousands of sculptures (and a variety of other things) that once belonged to the sculptor Frederic Marès. Located between these two museums is the Arxiu de la Corona d'Aragó, where you can learn more about the kingdom of Aragon. Plaça del Rei- One of the most significant plazas in Barcelona is the Plaça del Rei, or King's Plaza. It was the site of both coronations and executions, dating back centuries. It is surrounded by the former palace, which has now been converted into museums. Plaça de Sant Jaume- Another of the most important plazas in Barcelona is the Sant Jaume plaza. It is the site of some of the main governmental buildings in the city such as the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya and the Barcelona City Hall. Many demonstrations and festivals take place in this plaza throughout the year. LOCK-CLOCK Escape room- I had wanted to do an escape for a while, and I finally did the Mission Gaudi escape room at Lock-Clock Escape Room in the Gothic Quarter with my roommates. It was super fun and I would definitely recommend it. Where I ate and drank:Milk- Like its sister restaurants Firebug and Marmalade, Milk is a great brunch and cocktail spot. However, it is the smallest location of the three so it often will require a wait to get a table. L'Ascensor- Located behind what appears to be a classic elevator door, L'Ascensor is a nice, quality speakeasy. La Pachuca- Some of the best Mexican I've had in Barcelona was at La Pachuca and its sister restaurant El Pachuco. They have different menus, but both feature some very tasty items. Bodega Cala del Vermut- If you are looking for a more classic, Catalonian bar, Cala del Vermut is a nice place to get things like vermouth and fuel. Kapadokya- Kapadokya is a solid place to get doner kebab in Barcelona, and they have a couple different locations. The Box- The Box is a super cool spot in the Gothic Quarter that specializes in infused rums. They have an entire wall full of different rums infusing with a variety of different tasty flavors. They also serve decked out hot dogs topped with things like guacamole, and they have even started serving some tasty breakfast items. The staff (a Columbian/French husband and wife team) are super friendly. Bo de B- There is often a line stretching out of Bo de B, and it is because of the tasty, healthy food they serve there. There is not much seating room inside, but it is only a very short walk from the waterfront so a nice, scenic place to eat is not hard to find. The Benedict Barcelona- I had a nice tapas dinner with friends at The Benedict in the Gothic Quarter. I would like to return for their brunch, which they specialize in. The menu has many interesting things on it that I would like to try. La Pizza Pazza- One of the best pizza places I've found in Barcelona was La Pizza Pazza. Although it isn't the best pizza I've in Barcelona or the cheapest, it is close to the top of the list for both. It is much better that the cheapest pizza I have had, and it is half the price of the best pizza I've had. Bilbao Berria- Located by the Cathedral de Barcelona, Bilbao Berria serves good pintxos and tapas. While the food and drink are good, the best part of Bilbao Berria is its convenient location. Bodega La Palma- A classic Barcelona bodega that has been running since the 1930's, La Palma serves great wine and food. I had the chance to have torrijas, which are especially common around Easter time. They are a tasty Spanish twist on French toast. Bodega Biarritz 1881- Bodega Biarritz 1881 is a small but great place for tapas and pintxos in Barcelona. I went with the fixed price option, and I was not at all disappointed with the variety of food that was served to me. El Pintxo de Petritxol- As mentioned in previous posts, "pintxos" are small pieces of food on top of a piece of bread that are held together by a long toothpick. They will be displayed buffet style, and you pay per stick which range in price from one to a few euros. El Pintxo de Petrixol offers good pintxos and good a la carte tapas. They also typically offer a free post meal digestif. Yellow Bakery- My favorite bakery in Barcelona is Yellow Bakery. Started by an Australian couple, they offer amazing bread and great pastries. Their bread is used in many of the great restaurants around the Barcelona area. Enkel- Enkel is a very good brunch spot with a bunch of good food options. They also serve some good cold brew coffee. Kælderkold Craft Beer Bar- Although it is a small spot just off La Rambla, Kælderkold has a large number of taps featuring excellent craft beer. Also, through the back of their craft beer bar is A Bar, which has a few more taps as well as cocktails. Craft Barcelona- Located on Paradise street just off Placa Sant Jaume, Craft Barcelona serves craft beer and tapas. They have events like open mic and comedy nights throughout the week as well. Caj Chai- The best spot for tea in Barcelona that I have found in Car Chai. They have an extensive menu, and the staff also gave helpful recommendations. El Bosc de Les Fades- Part of the Barcelona Wax Museum, El Bosc de Les Fades feels like it is set in an indoor magical forrest. While they serve good wine and snacks, the real draw of the place is the setting. Formatgeria la Seu- My favorite place for cheese in Barcelona is Formatgeria la Seu, in particular the Galacian Tetilla cheese. Satan's Coffee Corner- One of the OG's of the Barcelona craft coffee scene, Satan's Coffee is located in El Call, the old Jewish quarter of Barcelona. They serve excellent coffee and have an eclectic, Japanese-influenced food menu. Sensi Tapas- With a few locations in Barcelona, Sense Tapas serves incredibly tasty food. Wok To Walk- A great place to grab cheap food on the go, Wok to Walk is like an East Asian Subway/Chipotle style restaurant. You pick your base (noodle/rice/etc), protein, toppings, and sauce, and they cook it there in front of you. Caelum- One of the hidden gems I've found in Barcelona is Caelum. They serve good tea and excellent pastries, as well as some craft beers. Rabipelao Gótico / Arepas, Cachapas y Tropicocktails- Serving delicious, authentic Venezuelan food and drink, Rabipelao is a place that not only would I recommend, but is recommended by some of my Venezuelan friends. Tostaderos Bon Mercat- A good place to get coffee beans in Barcelona is at Tostaderos Bon Mercat. Although I prefer the beans at places like SlowMov in Gracia, Tostaderos Bon Mercat offers a very good value for the money. Bar Jardí- Another of the hidden gems I've found is Barcelona is Bar Jardí. It is a great place to grab a drink, relax, and talk with friends while enjoy the Barcelona weather. Els Quatre Gats (The 4 Cats)- One of the more historic restaurants in Barcelona is Els Quatre Gats, or the 4 cats. It was frequented by famous historical figures like Picasso and Gaudi. It was the meeting place for many architects during the Modernisme period. Gelaaati Di Marco, OGGI Gelato Barcellona, and Swiit Ice Cream- Some of the top gelato places I've found in Barcelona are Gelaaati Di Marco, OGGI Gelato Barcellona, and Swiit Ice Cream. Black Remedy- Located around the corner from Placa Sant Jaume, Black Remedy is a great place to grab coffee and food.. My favorite thing:The Gothic Quarter features many of the things so many people love about Barcelona, tiny winding streets, beautiful buildings and museums, great food, exciting events, a unique culture, and a long, interesting history. The history and culture are my favorite parts of the area. My least favorite thing:Because the Gothic Quarter is one of the tourists hotspots, it will occasionally be overrun with them, and some of them will also be obnoxiously drunk. Also, it can be a hotspot for pickpockets. For next time:Next time in the Gothic Quarter I would like to check out the Aquarium, and I would also like to try more of the delicious food and drink in the area.
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About MeWelcome to the Healthy Explorer Blog. If you like travel stories have a look around my blog and check out my podcast— maybe you'll find an extra spark for your own adventures.
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