What I did and saw: 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. Where I ate and drank: 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. Mano Rota- I first tasted food from Mano Rota at the Tast a la Rambla, and enjoyed it so much that I decided to check out the actual restaurant. The Michelin recognized restaurant is not the cheapest in the area, but it is one of the best values. 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. My favorite thing: 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. My least favorite thing: 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. For next time:Next time in Sants-Montjuic, and if I had a large budget, I would like to check out more Michelin restaurants like Pakta.
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What I did and saw: 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). Where I ate and drank: 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. Marmalade- Like its sister restaurants in the city (Milk and Firebug), Marmalade is a nice cocktail bar at night and a nice brunch spot in the morning. They offer excellent cocktails on their menu and have a nice selection of both healthy (but tasty), and indulgent items on their brunch menu. 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. My favorite thing: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. My least favorite thing:While Raval is a safe area, I found out the hard way that you have to be careful of pickpockets. For next time: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.
What I did and saw: 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. Fira de Cervesa Artesana de Sant Antoni- The Sant Antoni Beer Fair is an annual event that closes down the streets around the Sant Antoni Market. There are a number of different high quality, local craft beer companies offering their creations. Also, the reusable cups can be a nice souvenir. Where I ate and drank: 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:
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. SPICY - taberna oriental- If you are looking for spicy Asian food in a cool setting in Sant Antoni, SPICY is a great place to go. 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. Escribà- One of the most famous sweets shops in Barcelona is Pasitsseria Escriba. In addition to their location on La Ramble, they also have a shop on Gran Via in Sant Antoni. It is a good place to get things like macarons, pastries, or chocolate truffles. In addition to being tasty, many of their treats will also be elaborately beautiful. 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: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. My least favorite thing: 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. For next time: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.
What I did and saw: 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. Parc del Laberint d'Horta- The Labyrinth Park has a maze of highly grown hedges to navigate through. It is very inexpensive, and is even free on select days/times. Where I ate and drank: 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. My favorite thing: 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. My least favorite thing: While there are some things in Horta that are definitely worth exploring, it is located on the outskirts of the city of Barcelona. For next time: Next time in Horta I'd like to check out the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau.
What I did and saw: 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. Where I ate and drank: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. My favorite thing: The views from the Sagrat Cor church on Tibidabo are some of the best views anywhere in Barcelona. My least favorite thing: The rides at the Tibidabo Amusement Park aren't as impressive as the rides at major theme parks like Universal Studios or DisneyWorld. For next time: 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.
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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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