Image by Rafa

Barrio Gotico is the heart of the nightlife in the city.

Along with Born, Raval and Gracia are one of the most bohemian districts in the city, filled with parks, squares, bars, clubs and clandestine underground after hours, as well as some rare unique unusual exotic delicious litle sins, like Belgian crepes and smoothies.

Don’t miss the 69 combo. No my friends, they don’t sell horizontal experiences, though you might become infatuated by the combination of a salty and a sweet crepe!

Or let it loose to experience certain internal conditions and emotions, which might be noticed externally, that will drive you to a different state of consciousness with the mango passion smoothie.

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Belgious | Bars, Snacks | Combo 69 menu € 6.90
Carrer Avinyo 50 | El Barrio Gotico | +34934124965
Mon – Thu 13:30 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 13:30 – 03:00, Sun 16:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafael Dujarric

If you are a nighthawk, just wear your pair of vintage Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers and be yourself enjoying music with personality and other fellows willing to enjoy the black gold of the night life in Barcelona, dark atmosphere, drinks at good prices and keen bartenders.

The place to meet people and have short distance chats.

But if are looking for a more underground and dissolute atmosphere get down to the basement to see what surprise you might encounter!

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Manchester Bar | Bars, Music | Liquor 43 shot € 2.50
Carrer de Milans 3 | El Barrio Gotico | +34663071748
20:00 – 03:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafael Dujarric

What you see is what you get! Nor fancy outfit neither gourmet extravaganza, just warm and family atmosphere, hospitality, gentle touch, interesting chat, contagious mood, great Mediterranean food and better prices.

It’s located in the heart of the Gothic quarter, at 3 minutes walk from the city hall and 10 minutes from the Gothic cathedral.

Don’t miss their falafel and humus wrap.

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El Cocinero de Damasco | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | falafel / wrap € 3.50
Templers 2, corner with Palau | El Barrio Gotico
Tue – Sat 11:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafa Dujarric

If you happen to be around, take a minute to go to Carrer del Bisbe – one of those typical narrow streets of the Gothic quarter, starting at plaza nova in the cathedral avenue.

If you are lucky enough and the weather is good, you’ll find street artists at the two alleys that cross the backyard of the cathedral (Carrer de Sta Ilucia and Carrer de la Pietat).

The best time of the day to get teased by the enticing sounds of a bandoneon or a harp player, the melancholic mood of an opera or tango singer, or the infectious melodies of a flamenco guitar player is the end of the afternoon.

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Carrer del Bisbe | Music, Relaxing
Carrer del Bisbe | El Barrio Gotico
Daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafa Dujarric

A playful atmosphere filled by Salsa, merengue, son, relish and good vibes, and friendly people.

It would be impossible to leave Shango without a new friend. Even when there is a language barrier, everyone understands the musical language.

For those with two left foots and a clumsy understanding between them and the waist, there are salsa lessons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 23:00 to 00:00.

And if you’re in need of help to defeat shyness, they have a happy hour everyday just before: from 21:00 to 23:00!

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Shango Bar | Bars, Music | Beer € 2.50
Carrer d’En Groch 2 | El Barrio Gotico
Sun – Thu 21:00 – 02:30, Fri – Sat 21:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by rafa dujarric

You know that birthdays are controversial dates. Some people would have wanted time to stop at a specific age, but some others are like the good wine… the older the better B-)

So my last birthday celebration was a special occasion… I turned 40!

Hence I wanted to have a great celebration that lasted the whole month, but with a special party that very same day I was to commemorate my birth.

For that I needed the proper place to start heating the engines with a good dinner… a good and cozy place that was cheap as well.

Not such a tough quest after all. I had the solution right by my place.

By the time the special date came we were already exhausted with so many parties, and we were only halfway….

Nevertheless, that day Can Nabo hosted almost twenty dropper’s, hunter’s, scuba divers, transients, intransigents, reckless’, untimelies, deafeners and hula hoopers celebrating my birthday.

And besides having to bear this annoying crowd, the crew of Can Nabo even had the detail of preparing a chocolate cake with a candle… nice isn’t it?

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Can Nabo | Restaurants (Mediterranean) | A dish € 3.00
Nou de Sant Francesc 25 | El Barrio Gotico
Sun – Thu 12:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafa Dujarric

Actually this is more a club than a cafe.

A pleasure dome filled with cheerful black music that combines elements of house, disco, funk, soul, hip-hop and rare grooves.

It has the perfect atmosphere to reach the state of being completely carried away by unreasoned passion and unrealistic expectations of blissful rapture without positive relationship growth or development between an obsessor and an object of desire with a playful behavior intended to arouse the courtship dance.

As if there were not enough doomsday parties during the week, now Marula has just come up with their “My black is beautiful”, with soulful music and FREE entrance every Sunday!

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Marula Cafe | Bars, Music | Entrance (after 02:00) € 10.00
Escudellers 49 | El Barrio Gotico
Sun – Wed 23:00 – 05:00, Fri – Sat 23:00 – 06:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafa Dujarric

Sleep 8 hours a day, cook healthy, do the laundry, clean your house, besides working 8 hours a day, and still have a life to live … bull shit!

Unless you can find a way to make the days longer than 24 hours, there is no way to have a healthy and organized life and yet have time to live it.

So forget about everything, just work to survive and seize every moment as if it was the last, and then rest and eat healthy during the weekends.

Just come to a jam session on any Tuesday or Wednesday and sing as if no one was hearing you (be aware that the musicians playing are usually really good), or come any other day to a concert and after live music, the venue turns into a den of iniquity with a dj to dance as if no one was watching at you until 6 in the morning and then love as if you haven’t been hurt.

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Harlem Jazz Club | Bars, Music | Jam session (includes a drink) € 5
Comtessa de Sobradiel 8 | El Barrio Gotico | +34933100755
Mon – Wed 22:30 – 03:00, Thu – Sat 23:30 – 06:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafa Dujarric

Feeling down and need something to raise your soul above the social mall? Or just need a break from fashion cocktails, top 40 lousy music, fancy high heels and naughty party ragers?

Whether in spring, summer, autumn or even in some good weathered winter days, at the end of Portal del Angel when going down towards the Gothic Cathedral there is a magic corner with the proper acoustic atmosphere for street musicians to perform outdoors on any season without the need of expensive sound amplifying gear.

Be ready for getting enraptured by the groove of an authentic blues singer or the captivating tunes of a world music quartet. Well, perhaps at this time you would find musicians with heavier clothing but still… it’s a magic spot.

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Portal del angel Street | Music, Relaxing
Corner Carrer dels arcs & Carrer cucurrulla | El Barrio Gotico
From morning to late night

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by AC Uribe

Bun Bo has a real rickshaw inside the restaurant, but that is not what makes it so cozy. It could also be the lights (tens of light paper globes hanging over your head) or the magnificent terrace in a small and quiet placa, hidden away just a few steps far from the cathedral. On top of it, the food is real good.

To be completely honest, I would mostly only eat starters at Bun Bo – Vietnamese rolls and fresh rolls. In a way, I feel they have mastered more clearly Vietnamese in those. Seconds are also good, but don’t expect very spice or flavory food – it is just nice.

Another great thing is the cheap and nice lunch menu – 10 euros including dessert or coffee (I would go for coconut ice cream, if it is in the daily specials). In weekends, a normal meal for two with coffee will be around 15 euros. Mojitos are on perpetual sale at 3.50€ and reasonably good.

No reservations, so be early and be patient. The service is ok, depending on the day and the amount of people waiting for a table. After the works in the last few months, the terrace is back just in time for summer. The interior is as nice (and as fresh) as always.

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Bun Bo | Restaurants (Vietnamese) | Lunch menu € 10
Sagristans 3 | El Barrio Gotico | +34933011378
13:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona