Sala Montjuic-
​During the summer months in Barcelona there are movies shown outside the Montjuic Castle (see below). They set up a projector screen and stage outside the castle walls, where a band plays live music as the sun sets and the movie starts when it gets dark. The list of movies is shown on the Sala Montjuic website, and sometimes free food is included. You can bring your own food, drink, blanket, or chairs, or you can rent chair and buy food in advance.

Castell de Montjuic-
​Montjuic Castle dates back to the 1600s, and was originally used as a military fortress. The name Montjuic literally translates to "Jewish Mountain," and gets its name from the Jewish cemetery located on the same hill as the castle.  The site itself is rich in history, and the entrance fee is very affordable (they even offer free entry at select times). Locally, it has been a very strategic military point, and in global significance it is said to be the site where the meter was invented. Additionally, the views from Montjuic are some of the best in Barcelona. 

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya-
​The National Art Museum of Catalonia, or Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC), features Catalan art in styles such as modernisme and noucentisme. It also hosts a large number of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque pieces.

Magic Fountain-
​Set in front of the National Art Museum of Catalonia is the beautiful Magic Fountain. It is impressive during the day, but it really shines at night. One select nights it is lit up and choreographed to music, and is free to watch. It is an excellent thing to check out, especially if you are visiting Barcelona on a budget.

Poble Espanyol-
​Built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, Poble Espanyol was built to show off some of the best Spain has to offer. The different sections of the park give glimpses into the different regions of Spain. Poble Espanyol also hosts different cultural events, and I had the opportunity to visit for the Calcotada, which is a fun, tasty, local food festival.

Odyssey Gym-
One of the main train stations in Barcelona is Sants Station. It connects Barcelona to cities like Valencia, Alicante, Vilanova i la Geltru, Girona, and Madrid. Located within a hotel that is in the same building as the train station is Odyssey, a fitness facility that also offers Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes. The facility may not have top of the line equipment, but it is more than sufficient to get a great workout.

Abirradero-
​One of my favorite brewhouses in Barcelona is Abirradero. They serve very tasty food, have a wide selection of quality drinks, and offer friendly service. Everything I've had there is good, but one of my favorites is the enchanted cheese.

Martinez-
​While Paella is a Valencian (not Catalonian) dish, the best place I've found to get Paella in Barcelona is at Martinez. Located in the Montjuic area, it also offers some amazing views of the mediterranean coastline.

Quimet y Quimet-
​One of my favorite restaurants in Barcelona is the quaint Quimet y Quimet. While the secret has gotten out a bit and it can be populated by many tourists, the quality remains high and it is still frequented by locals. They offer "montaditos," which are small, open-faced sandwiches with excellent ingredients. The bread is a perfect consistency that is somehow crunchy and soft at the same time. There is also a very good selection of drinks at a good value.

Homo Sibaris-
​Located in the Plaça d'Osca around the corner from Sants Station, Homo Sibaris is a great place to get craft beer and tasty bites of food.

La Mestressa-
​Also located in the Plaça d'Osca, La Mestressa offers some classic local foods and wine.

La Gorda Beer Factory-
Another good place to get quality craft beer in the Sants area is at La Gorda Beer Factory.

Bao Bao Sants-
​Around the corner from La Gorda Beer Factory is Bao Bao Sants. As their name would suggest, they specialize in Bao, which are East Asian steamed bread sandwiches filled with various tasty ingredients. 

The Sants-Montjuic area offers some excellent variety. There are great historical and cultural sites (Montjuic Castle, MNAC, Poble Espanyol), other impressive things to see and do (Magic Fountain, Sala Montjuic), and delicious things to eat and drink (Mano Rota, Martinez, Abirradero). However, if I had to pick one favorite thing in Sants-Montjuic, it would be eating at Quimet y Quimet.

It is hard to find things to dislike about the Sants-Montjuic area, but some of the restaurants I would like to check out there are outside of my budget. That being said, the restaurants listed above are top notch and would fit into most budgets.

Next time in Sants-Montjuic, and if I had a large budget, I would like to check out more Michelin restaurants like Pakta.

Jardins de Rubió I Lluch-
​Outside the Library of Catalunya is a courtyard and garden area called Jardins de Rubió I Lluch. It is a cool space that also has a giant size chess board set up for use. After visiting the place a few times, my experience was unfortunately sullied by having my phone pickpocketed one time I was there.

La Capella-
​La Capella is an event and art space next to Jardins de Rubió I Lluch. When I was there it was free to enter, and the current exhibition was called, "A break can be what we are aiming for." There was a tent made out of repurposed plastic bags that could go inside, and there were also other interesting displays around the space.

Sandeman's walking tour-
While the Sandeman's free walking tour goes through the Barri Gotic and El Born areas of Barcelona, their paid "Forbidden Tour" goes through the Raval area.  As with the other tours I have been on with Sandeman's I would definitely recommend this tour as a way to get more background and context to the city. The guide was very well researched and made the tour very interesting.

MACBA-
The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona) was put into the Raval area in an effort to gentrify it, but it has become a haven for skaters. Every day I've ever walked past the MACBA there are always plenty of people on skateboards in front of the museum, and it is known even outside Barcelona as a famous skateboarding spot.

La Rambla-
One of the most iconic spots in Barcelona is La Rambla. Around Catalonia there are many different Ramblas that are large walkways surrounded by shops and restaurants. The most famous Rambla forms the border between El Raval and the Barri Gotic. While there are a few gems to be found along La Rambla, the majority of places there are tourist traps. 

Pop up Time Out Market-
​​​There are TimeOut Markets in cities like Lisbon, Boston, and Miami. They are essentially giant food courts that curate some of the best food from the area. While there is not a permanent TimeOut Market in Barcelona (at least not yet), they did have a pop up market showcasing some amazing food from the area. The pop up was held at the Museu Marítim de Barcelona (Maritime Museum), which provided a nice setting to enjoy great, local food for a good price.

Mercat de La Boqueria-
​One of the most famous site in Barcelona is the Mercat de la Boqueria. Located on the iconic La Rambla, it is a bustling food market. It can get very heavily crowded by tourists, and there can be some spots in the market catering to overpaying tourists. While there will still be some locals doing their dining and shopping there, I prefer to shop at other markets like Mercat de Sant Antoni and Mercat de Santa Caterina. That being said, it is definitely worth walking through, provided you are not claustrophobic (and keep a hand on your phone/wallet).

Boadas Cocktails-
​The oldest cocktail bar in Barcelona is Boadas, just off La Rambla. It is a small little place, but it is incredibly high quality. After  its opening in 1933, Boadas has become a Barcelona institution and a place I would highly recommend for great cocktails.

El Drapaire de la Cervesa Artesana-
​If you want a good beer selection close to Placa de Catalunya, El Drapaire de la Serves Artesena is the best place I've found. They have an extensive craft beer menu, and they also offer a small food menu.

Ølgod Craft Beer Bar
​Likes its sister location Kælderkold, Ølgod is a great place to get craft beer. Unlike Kælderkold, both the square footage and their food menu are bigger at Ølgod.

Olofson Raval-
​Olofson has a location in Eixemple, and the also opened up a spot in Raval. They specialized in craft beer and smoked food, both of which are delicious. They have a nice selection of craft brews, and have smoked meat, fish, and even smoked whip cream (with a brownie) on their food menu. Also, the staff there were excellent and friendly.

Flax&Kale-
​With a few locations around Barcelona, Flax&Kale offers a nice menu with healthy, tasty options. Its a great spot for any time of day, but I especially like their breakfast options.

Frankie Gallo Cha Cha Cha-
​The best pizza I've had in Barcelona was at Frankie Gallo Cha Cha Cha. However, it is one of the more expensive pizza places in Barcelona.

33/45 Bar & Gallery-
​With comfy, well worn couches and a well-priced drink menu, 33/45 can be a nice place to hang out. They have the best priced Negroni's I've found in Barcelona, and also offer a small food menu.

La Confiteria-
​Owned by the same group that owns other excellent craft cocktail bars like Paradiso and Dr. Stravinsky, La Confiteria is an excellent, high quality spot. They are set up like an old candy shop and they offer an excellent cocktail menu.

Caravelle-​
A coffee spot and cafe during the morning hours and a craft beer and wine bar during the night hours, Caravelle serves tasty food and drink all day long. They have a number of great options to choose from to drink and eat all throughout the day and into the night.

Dalston Coffee Barcelona-
​If you are looking for a quality coffee on the go, Dalston is a great place to pick one up from.

El Pachuco-
​Like its sister restaurant La Pachuca, El Pachuco is one of my favorite Mexican spots in Barcelona. Due to this (and their quaint space), however, there can be a long wait at peak times.

Nomad Everyday-
​As its name would suggest, unlike the other Nomad locations in Barcelona, Nomad's location in Raval is open 7 days a week. They offer excellent coffee, but my two favorite things there are the nitro cold brew and the affogato (with gelato from DelaCrem). They also serve a few limited (but tasty) food options.

The dog is hot-
The dog is hot serves pork, beef, and veggie hot dogs with toppings like mushrooms, bacon, and guacamole. You can choose one of their recommended combinations or make one of your own.

Bar Marsella-
​Set in a building that doesn't look like it has seen many renovations since it opened in the early 1800's, Bar Marsella specializes in absinthe. Famous figures such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Ernest Hemingway are said to have frequented Bar Marsella. They serve their absinthe with a water bottle you can use to create the "louche" effect where the spontaneous emulsification causes the green drink to turn milky white.

Two Schmucks-
​A "five star dive bar," Two Schmucks offers great cocktails for good prices in a cool, laid back environment.

Pizza Circus-
​If you are looking for a good slice of pizza for a great value, Pizza Circus is a great place to stop at.

Wok To Walk-
​Like its location in the gothic quarter, Wok to Walk is a great place to grab cheap food on the go. It 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.

Departure Coffee Co-
​Departure Coffee Co is one of my favorite places to get coffee in Barcelona and to get breakfast in Barcelona. Their coffee is excellent, and it is also a good place to use wifi to get some work done.

Beer'linale-
Another spot in Raval with a great beer selection is Beer'linale. They also have a very good food menu.

Chivuo's (Raval)-
​Like its location in Eixample and other locations around Barcelona, Chivuos is a great place to get an excellent sandwich and a quality craft beer.

Casa Almirall-
​Like Bar Marsella, Casa Almirall is another absinthe spot that has been open since the 1800's. However, they have since done a bit of updating to their interior.

I really enjoyed learning about the history of El Raval. Also there are some really cool (and relatively inexpensive spots to be found in Raval.

While Raval is a safe area, I found out the hard way that you have to be careful of pickpockets.

Next time in Raval I would like to explore Palau Güell, eat at Dos Palillos and Suculent, and try the drinks at ​Negroni Cocktail Bar and the Caribbean Club.
​

Mercat de Sant Antoni-
​​After originally being built in the 1800s, the Sant Antoni Market was recently renovated. It is a large, beautiful food market with less tourists than La Boqueria on La Rambla. It has stands with a variety of delicious local food and drink.

Tapantoni-
​A combination of “tapas” and “Sant Antoni,” Tapantoni takes place multiple times throughout the year in the Sant Antoni area. Various restaurants in the area will sell a small plate and a small drink for a small price. It is a fun way to get a taste of many places in the area. I was able to try out the following places:

• ​El Duende
• Rekons
• Doga Wine Bar​​
• La Vietnamita Sant Antoni

The Juice House-
​As their name would suggest, the Juice House serves a variety of healthy juices and smoothies, as well as some other solid food options.

Sweetaly Barcelona-
​If you are looking for something sweet in Sant Antoni, Sweetaly is a good place to try. While not my favorite gelato place in Barcelona, it is a good place to get a gelato brioche sandwich.

Bar Calders-
​Bar Calders is one of my favorite places to get vermouth in Barcelona. It is good quality and well priced, and it can be a great place to relax with friends.

Federal Cafe-
​With a couple locations in the Barcelona area, Federal Cafe offers a number of different t healthy food options.

Barcelona Beer Company-
​While their beers can be found in many shops around Barcelona, the place to try the Barcelona Beer Company on tap is at their location in Sant Antoni.

Barna Brew-
​Another quality craft beer spot is Barna Brew, which offer a small (but tasty) tap menu.

La Desayunería-
​While not spectacular, the breakfast at La Desayuneria is still very good.

Café Cometa-
​Cafe Cometa is a nice little cafe in Sant Antoni. I particularly like their dirty chai.

Fàbrica Moritz Barcelona-
​Moritz is another beer company you will see at many places around Barcelona, but they offer the most variety at their location in Sant Antoni. They also have some very tasty food options.

Lambicus-
​The best place I have found for Belgian beers in Barcelona is Lambicus, which has both a bar and a bottle shop around the corner. They offer many beers that can be very hard to find. They will also have events like stand up comedy nights at their bar.

OKasional Beer-
​My favorite place in Barcelona for getting craft beer to take home is OKasional Beer. They have installed a couple taps, but they are primarily a bottle shop with an excellent selection.

My favorite thing about the Sant Antoni area is the food. Events like Tapantoni and the Fira de Cervesa Artesana are great, fun ways to explore some of the food and drink in the area. Also, the Sant Antoni Market is one of the better markets in Barcelona.

While there are plenty of things to eat and drink in Sant Antoni, there are fewer things to see and do​ when compared to other areas of Barcelona.

Next time in Sant Antoni, and if the budget allows for it, it would be amazing to try some of Albert Adria’s restaurants like Tickets, Bodega 1900, or Hoja Santa.

​MUHBA Turó de la Rovira (Mirador de les bateries)-
​One of the best free views of the city of Barcelona is from the Bunker del Carmel. At sunset on a day with good weather (which happens often in Barcelona), you'll find many people taking advantage of this view. It is a nice walk up to the viewpoint, but I'd suggest bring a bottle of water (and/or local wine) on your walk up. The area was formerly used as a military bunker, but now it  fortunately  has a more peaceful use.

Comida de Olla​-
My favorite "menu del dia" I've had in the city of Barcelona was at Comida de Olla. The service, food, and value were excellent, and I was fortunate enough to be there just prior to the owners going on vacation (and the restaurant closing for that time), so I was given some free food and drink as well.

Because it's outside the city center, the Lbryinth Park is often overlooked by tourists and even many locals. However, it is worth the visit and can make for a fun morning or afternoon. 

While there are some things in Horta that are definitely worth exploring, it is located on the outskirts of the city of Barcelona.

CosmoCaixa Barcelona-
One of if notthe biggest science museum in the Barcelona area, CosmoCaixa has all kinds of interesting things for all ages. It is very affordable to enter- kids are free and adult tickets are 5 euros, but even that can be reduced if you bank with La Caixa. I enjoyed the hands on exhibits, but there are plenty of things for anyone interested in science, animals, astrology, etc.

Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo-
Located at the highest natural point in Barcelona, Tibadabo has both an amusement park and a cathedral. The Sagrat Cor (Sacred Heart) church was built over the course of 60 years, and the views from the church looking over the city are some of the best found anywhere in Barcelona.  The ​​Tibidabo Amusement Park was built before the church, and it is the oldest continuously running amusement park in Spain (and one of the oldest in the world). The rides might not be as impressive as the rides at a newer park like Port Aventura (an hour or so train ride south), but the views from the park are tough to match.
​

​​Bond Cafè-
​A cafe set in honor of 007, Bond Cafe serves excellent coffee. There are James Bond movie posters and quotes hung up around the cafe, including one showing off Bond's love for the Chemex. However, it's not just a gimmick cafe, the coffee itself is very high quality.

The views from the Sagrat Cor church on Tibidabo are some of the best views anywhere in Barcelona.

The rides at the ​​Tibidabo Amusement Park aren't as impressive as the rides at major theme parks like Universal Studios or DisneyWorld.

Next time in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi I would sample more of the food and drink at a number of different places like Mitja Vida and La Despensa de Mitre.

​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.

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.

My favorite thing about Les Corts is going to the legendary Camp Nou. It is an experience that is hard to top.

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.

Next time in Les Corts I would like to check ​Güell Pavilions, which is a small complex of buildings built by famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. Like Parc Güell, it was also commissioned by Eusebi Güell.

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.

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.

​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.

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. 

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).
​

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.

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.

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.

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.

Next time in the Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample I would like to check out a couple Vermouth places, Senyor Vermut and Morro Fi.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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.

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.