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.

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Palau Robert | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Passeig de Gràcia, 107 | Eixample | +34932388091
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00, Sun 10:00 – 14:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

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.

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La Pedrera | Art & culture
Passeig de Gràcia 92 | Eixample | +34902400973
10:00 – 20:00 daily

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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.

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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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

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!

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Find yourself in Barcelona | Art & culture
Passeig de Gracia 92 | Eixample
24 hours daily

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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.

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Ciclic video club | Art & culture, Cinemas | Blockbusters from € 4
Rec Comtal, 7 | El Borne | +34935013383
16:00 – 23:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by AC Uribe

Not a big fan of opera, I found myself absolutely absorbed by one performance I saw some years ago at the Liceu – it might very well be the place, full of history of the city. The Liceu, in the middle of Las Ramblas, completely burned down more that 20 years ago. The Barcelonians are proud that Liceu has been rebuilt, with the same look and a great sound.

It’s true to say that the “best” seats are very expensive, but the wonder of the Liceu is that no matter where you are located, you can get a great view. This picture, taken from my seat in the back row of the first floor shows it – just be careful with seats too much on the sides.

Every year they have a good selection of pieces both contemporary and classic. There are also some dance performances and special concerts with other kinds of musicians. If you are a student, you can go to the box office the same day of the show and try to get some tickets off-price.

So, as for some coming to Barcelona definitely means visiting the football stadium, for some others the visit to the magnificent theater can be a great option for one evening. Check the website for both the shows and for some special visits to the “insides” of the theater – for general public and some even for architects that want to know the back-part of operations.

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Liceu | Art & culture, Theaters | 5th floor +/- € 25
La Rambla 59 | El Barrio Gotico
Ticket office Mon – Fri 13:30 – 20:00 (or 30 minutes before start show)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

This place great tip if you love cooking international recipes at home, but can’t seem to find some of the ingredients because they are odd here (never mind how popular they are in other latitudes). I’m talking about DeliShop, the kind of food and cooking supplies store you were looking for.

DeliShop develops an interesting culinary and commercial concept (world cooking basics), ideal for a city like Barcelona where an important proportion of its population comes from so many and different places.

What would you like to eat today? Where does that flavor come from? Let your appetite pick up the right destination: Maybe Japan or India, China, Thailand, North or South America? If you feel curious about other cultures you should go to the DeliShop and take a look. You will make a trip around the world at a glance.

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DeliShop | Art & culture, Shopping
Travessera de Gracia 141 | Gracia | +34932389945
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

I know a place for readers and writers, to take the kids to play football and run around, for families to have a picnic, a place for the elderly, for lovers and friends. La Ciutadella Park is where everything is possible if the weather’s on your side and this is easy to find in Barcelona where almost never rains.

La Ciutadella Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona and it has plenty of cosy corners to talk and spend the time lying down on the grass, sit at some bank or walk around through sculptures, statues and trees.

You will find the Museum of Modern Art, The Geology Museum, the Zoo, a greenhouse and a castle called “Three Dragons Castle” where’s also placed the Zoology Museum. This park is a gorgeous open space behind El Borne; it’s close to the France Train Station, the Olympic Village, La Barceloneta, the peer and the beach. If you use this park as a shortcut to anywhere you’re going, I’m sure you will feel invited to stay. There’s a place for you too. I know.

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La Ciutadella Park | Art & culture, Relaxing
Between Pujades and Picasso streets | El Borne
08:30 – 22:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Sonja Pöhlmann

If you have a shoe fetish like I have, I would recommend you visit the Museu del Calçat (shoe museum) on Placa San Felip Neri in the heart of the Gothic Quarter nearby the Cathedral.

Showing the historical development of shoe manufacturing, the museum also displays shoes of famous people like Columbus.

The shoe museum is placed in a beautiful renaissance building which used to be the Shoemaker’s guild in the Middle ages.

It is located on Placa de San Felip Neri, one of the most peaceful, shady and neat squares in the old city center which once was a medieval cemetery.

The Neri hotel has a stylish cafe outside on the square which invites you to have a refreshment and chill for a while.

If you wonder why an ancient square smells like strawberries and vanilla, you can just have a look at the gorgeous soap factory “Sabater Hermanos” on the square. The family business sells soaps in 40 different fragrances. A bar of chocolate soap costs about € 3.00.

The historic Felip Neri Church right opposite the soap factory reveals scars from the Spanish Civil War on its Baroque walls caused by bomb explosions and executions.

There is so many interesting things to discover on that tiny square but in the end it is a place to relax right in the middle of one of the most buzzing neighborhoods of Barcelona.

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Museu del Calçat | Art & culture | Entrance € 2.50
Placa San Felip Neri | El Barrio Gotico | +34933014533
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 14:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Sonja Pöhlmann

Ras is probably one of the most interesting book shops in town owned by the Barcelona based Actar editorial.

Specialized in architecture, design and art, it offers a variety of books and magazines from international editorials.

Besides being a book store, Ras is also an exclusive gallery exhibiting contemporary art and design.

Check their website for exposition openings and get some chocolate, nuts and wine for free! But watch your alcohol consumption; you might end up buying some of the gorgeous accessories, displayed in the entrance area.

Ras is one of the gathering points of Barcelona’s urban scene, as it also offers many books on street art, and you might as well end up with a hot skater date!

Frequently check for sales, special offers and many books on discount!

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Ras Bookshop and Gallery | Art & culture, Shopping
Calle Doctor Dou 10 | El Raval | +34934127199
Tue – Sat 12:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona