Barcelona cafes and bars

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Barcelona holidays:
The cafes and bars

Barcelona has an excellent range of cafes and bars, from the most fashionable haunts to typical tourist spots.

The Barri Gotic, near the Cathedral, will attract many visitors, particularly the area around c/d’Avinyo and c/Escudellers, where there's also a good choice of restaurants.

Further east, La Ribera is a popular destination while to the west of the Ramblas, places are opening up near the MACBA in El Raval. In summer, you can head down to the sea with a wide range of bars at both Maremagnum and Port Olimpic.

For music, head to Eixample and the western part of Gràcia. Music bars are often open until 3am while local bars can stay open until 11pm or into the early hours.

Don't bother looking for 'free drinks' promotions. Alarmed by heavy drinking of stag parties, football fans and British tourists, Catalonia in 2009 has banned Happy Hours and cheap drink offers.

Our suggestions for Barcelona bars hardly scratch the surface, there’s such a wide choice. Try and enjoy some local bars for the real Catalan experience.

Barri Gotic

Glaciar on Pl. Reial is a good starting point on one of the most attractive squares in the city. Nearby on the square, the Pipa Club is popular late night bar with a jazz-club like atmosphere.
Parnasse is worth seeking out if you want to indulge in an absinthe, and you can listen to jazz as the world turns yellow! Zoo, on c/Escudellers, has a wide music selection while Margarita Blue (c/Josep Anselm Clave 6) is popular, often with live music.

El Raval

Almirall is said to be the city’s oldest bar and is a popular left-wing spot. It’s at Joaquim Costa 33. The London Bar at c/Nou de la Rambla 34, is modernista bar and has a wide range of often live music. Marsella at c/de Sant Pau is over a hundred years old and is another spot for absinthe.

La Ribera

Suborn is worth searching out at c/Ribera 18 – it has tapas during the day and is both a restaurant and music bar at night. Espai Barroc at c/de Montcada is a converted palace and often has classical music on Thursday’s. La Vinya del Senyor is near to Santa Maria del Mar and is a very pleasant wine bar.

Eixample

Dry Martini is a famous cocktail bar at c/Aribau 166, with a stylish interior. La Fira (c/Provenca 171) is pretty bizarre with its fairground rides but that hardly compares with L’Arquer (Gran Via 454) where you can have a go on the archery range!

If you go for dim lights and red velvet, try Les Gens Que J’Aime at c/Valencia 286. The Zurich cafe on Plaça de Catalunya is a famous institution and always bustling.

Tibidabo

If you want the ultimate view down on the city, try the Mirablau on Tibidabo mountain. It’s very popular, stylish and expensive but it’s an experience to remember.

• World's Best Bars- Best bars to be found in Barcelona