Image by Haarland Sinclair

This is a really good year-round spot to chill out.

Given its location at the junction of Passeig de Gracìa and Diagonal it’s surprisingly quiet and peaceful. 

In the cooler months it’s a good place to check out an exhibition.

Right now there’s an EXCELLENT exhibition about the world famous restaurant, El Bulli and its celebrated chef, Ferran Adrià. You must NOT miss this.

During the summer the garden is a great place to cool off, maybe have a packed lunch, pretend to read a book, or just hang for a while. In the evening the garden and pavilion may come alive with music, discussion and debate.

The exhibitions here, about aspects of life as is lived, or was lived, in Catalunya, are always interesting, and have included: the aborted People’s Olympics in 1936 (set up to counter the official Nazi Olympics); and a series of beautiful aerial photographs showing the rich diversity of the regional landscape. The most recent photo exhibition in the garden celebrated the castellers (human castle builders) of Catalunya.

The Information Centre here is very good with very knowledgeable and helpful staff who manage a comprehensive range of materials in all the main European languages. If you’re planning a trip out of the city, go along and get advice and information on walking routes, themed trails, museums, hostels and refugios, and local food and drink. A visit here will save you time lining up at the main, and very busy, tourist information centre in Plaza Catalunya.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Palau Robert | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Passeig de Gràcia, 107 | Eixample | +34932388091
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00, Sun 10:00 – 14:30

Image by Bill Sinclair

An exhibition space I visit regularly – sometimes re-visiting the same exhibition three or four times – is situated in La Pedrera – the famous apartment building designed by Gaudí.

They have an excellent exhibition programme with related talks, debates and activities.

Well worth a visit.

Though a tour of the building, and spectacular rooftop, will cost you 11 euros entrance to the exhibition space is FREE.

The exhibition programme promotes a good balance of solo retrospectives and shows about movements or moments in art history. The shows, always accompanied with well-written notes, help you re-appraise or re-contextualize work by artists often overlooked because they didn’t quite fit with the prevailing mood or movement of the time. I’ve learned a lot about art from attending exhibitions here.

The staff here are friendly and helpful, and will look after your bags and coats at no charge. And, just so you know, the exhibition space has a public toilet, handy if you’re on the Paseo de Gràcia, as most of the cafés now only allow customers to use their facilities.

If you can understand Spanish it’s worth doing one of the free guided tours of the current exhibition on Fridays at 18:00.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
La Pedrera | Art & culture
Passeig de Gràcia 92 | Eixample | +34902400973
10:00 – 20:00 daily

Image by Bill Sinclair

This welcoming bar-restaurant, one of three of a small chain, with its bohemian vibe and quirky art and decor, has become one of my favorite places for meeting up with a friend for a drink, a bite and a good old chinwag. There’s no TV blaring away in the corner, no slot machines and no crap music. But there is good, reasonably priced food and drink and friendly service.

The owner is an artist-photographer and the collection of artwork is worth a closer look. The rooms at the back are cosy and intimate, ideal for project meetings or just gossip.

Try one of their sartens (small frying-pans) of provolone cheese, served with breadsticks, or chorizo or morcilla (black pudding) with scrambled egg or ciervo (venison)- delicious. The menu is refreshingly different – and the wines are very good value too.

And, as a bonus, they serve probably the best gin and tonics in the city. Honest. Even if you don’t try one – just watching the bar staff prepare them is fun.

And, if you’re interested in architecture then another bonus is that Salvador Valeri i Pupurell’s magnificent Casa Comalat is just a hundred meters away, on the opposite side of the street.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Úbeda | Art & culture, Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish) | Sarten € 5.00
Còrsega 339 | Eixample | +34934152537
Mon – Thu 07:30 – 00:30, Fri – Sat 09:30 – 13:00 & 20:00 – 02:00

Image by AC Uribe

I wouldn’t dare say that I’m one of those girls that know how to use a map or a compass. I mostly trust in some kind of “dove-like” instinct that gets me to where I want to go. However, when I arrived in Barcelona, I learned a beautiful way that the locals have of stating EXACTLY where you are, so any one can find you, on the basis of the four natural limits to the city.

It will work in any place of the city, but honestly is better if you go to the Eixample – Gran Vía de las Cortes Catalanes and up. The first two limits are the mountains (Tibidabo, for example) and the sea (Barceloneta and such). There is a slight slope in the city that is easy to sense when you look at the people riding bikes. The end of the slope is the sea. The other part of the city, the upper part, is the mountain.

The second two limits are the river Llobregat (near El Prat airport) and the river Besòs (close to the Forum). If you stand looking towards the sea, the Llobregat will be at your right and the Besòs to your left. Knowing this, you can explain anyone where exactly are you. For example, Casa Milá (Gaudí’s Pedrera) is located in the crossing of Passeig de Gracia and Provença, in the corner Mountain-Besòs.

It might seem like a piece of funny information, but quite important when you’re trying to meet someone or finding something!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Find yourself in Barcelona | Art & culture
Passeig de Gracia 92 | Eixample
24 hours daily

Image by AC Uribe

If you don’t feel like hitting the city but want to watch a DVD in your rental apartment, this is where all your dreams come true. Ciclic is an apparently small video club store in the best tradition: maybe you don’t want to have them all at home, but it’s nice to know where to find the series, documentary or funny movie that you where longing to see.

Yes, it’s “arty” and cinema lovers will be very fond of the collection organized by author, but they also have a great commercial cinema area and a big space devoted to children’s movies.

Recent addition to the catalogue are for 24 hours rent only. Other movies, documentaries and tv series are for a 48 hour period. And they have a flat rate: you pay 30 euros and can always have one movie at home.

I have many reasons to go there and one in particular: the people working at Ciclic love movies and like their job, thus are have to give you a good opinion on most of the movies displayed. Usually, they have great music playing, they sell ice cream and movie posters.

And their system warns you when you are renting a movie for the second time – great device for people who forget – like me. They also have a great art store just two doors ahead, with books and magazines.

The store is only open in the afternoons, but you can deposit your movies in a mailbox at anytime of the day.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ciclic video club | Art & culture, Cinemas | Blockbusters from € 4
Rec Comtal, 7 | El Borne | +34935013383
16:00 – 23:00 daily