Five Barcelona Essentials

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The end of the year is upon us, and it has us reviewing the destinations that we visited and loved this year. We’re bringing you the absolute must-dos from those very spots. This time, the focus is on… Barcelona.

Do:

Go dancing in Razzmatazz

I went to Barcelona with a group of my nearest and dearest friends and we all agree that our night in Razzmatazz was our highlight of the weekend. We all have very different music tastes, but this sprawling nightclub has five different rooms, all of which have a different vibe and genre of music. Hopping between them meant that no-one was ever unhappy for long, and generally just kept us entertained. The atmosphere was unpretentious, and it stays open late, meaning that you can keep dancing until the (not-so) early hours.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Nicoló (@nicopiace)

Eat:

Seafood at Vinitus

Finding great food in central Barcelona can be a little bit of a challenge—there are tapas bars aplenty but it’s hard to know which ones are good and which ones are simply tourist traps. Vinitus on the cusp of La Rambla, however, serves up reliably great food smack bang in the centre of the city. We shared a frankly alarming number of small plates here, and the highlights were the octopus with mashed potato, the garlic shrimp and the clams.

 
 
 
 
 
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Enjoy:

Drinks at Terraza de Vivi

High up above the city, the Terraza de Vivi feels like something of an oasis. The decor is chic-but-warm, the staff are friendly, and the drinks menu is short but comprehensive. It’s the sort of spot that’ll make you feel fancy, while still allowing for comfort. We spent several hours here drinking cold bottles of rosé and taking in the views of the city—a dreamy afternoon indeed!

 
 
 
 
 
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Mingle with the Locals at:

Bodega Picarol

Not all cities have a buzz about them, but Barcelona is a city that certainly does, and never is it buzzier than during the evening. Bodega Picarol was one of the most fun spots that we found during our stay here. It was packed with people who spilled out onto the street during our Friday night visit. Glasses of wine are cheap here so you’ll be able to enjoy a few, and there’s a simple Catalan menu if you’re feeling peckish too. Unlike a lot of the bars in the centre of the city, this one’s patrons were largely Spanish, making us feel as though we were experiencing the real Barcelona.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Bodega Picarol (@bodega_picarol)

Pack Your Swimmers for:

A day at Sant Sebastià Beach

Very few major cities have both historical sights, cultural institutions and the buzz of a metropolis, and a swathe of golden sands—Barcelona is lucky enough to boast both. It would be a shame to visit this city and not make the most of that fact. Sant Sebastià Beach sits just next to Barceloneta Beach and yet is a fair bit quieter than its neighbour. It’s overlooked by the W Hotel so you can always pop in for a cocktail in between soaking up that vitamin D, and there are toilet facilities meaning that you can stay here for as long as you like.

dealchecker Tip: The beach has a nudist section so don’t be surprised if you see a fair few swimmers without any swimmers on.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Martin (@fotos.martin)