Why Rent A Holiday Apartment in Barcelona Instead of a Hotel

If you’re wondering whether to book a hotel or rent a holiday apartment in Barcelona, here are some stellar reasons as to why self-catering Barcelona apartments are all the rage:

1. Live as a ‘local’:

We can’t stress this enough: Barcelona is a weird and wonderfully eclectic and beautiful city. Each neighborhood (check out our Barcelona neighborhood guide) has it’s own charm and by staying in a vacation Barcelona apartment you’ll get a much better idea of what it’s like to live in the city, just like a local! If authenticity and truly experiencing the feel of a city is your style than don’t book a hotel!

2. More character:

There’s no doubt about it, the sterile sameness of hotel rooms can get a tad monotomous. Barcelona vacation apartments often are oozing with character and charm, from exposed brick walls, to lovely sunny terraces, to gorgeous Catalán style vaulted ceilings, if you are a fan of interior design and architecture, booking a self-catering apartment in Barcelona is the choice for you!

3. Cook your own meals:

If you’re looking to save a bit of money on your vacation or if your just a completely shameless foodie like us, there is nothing better than having your own fully stocked kitchen while on vacation. Have the flexibility to eat out or in and the treat of being able to cook some of the local fare on your own! Here’s an idea, stop by the Boqueria Market, one of Europe’s largest working markets, grab whatever tickles your fancy and come home to make your own Spanish/Catalán feast! Talk about experiencing the city! Sometimes you just need a home cooked meal, even on the road.

4. More spacious and comfortable:

This one’s a no brainer. Hotel rooms in Barcelona tend to be a small box of a room just big enough to fit a bed. In a Barcelona vacation flat, though you generally have a lot more room and comfort.

5. The price:

The price of a Barcelona holiday apartment is usually considerably cheaper than a hotel room. Of course that is not always the case, but there is a lot more variety in terms of price/value with apartments and it’s easier to find one that will fit nicely with whatever your specific requirements are. For instance, if you’re traveling with a family or a group of friends you’ll likely be much more comfortable with the amenities in comparison with a traditional hotel.

We love Barcelona so much it comes oozing out of us! Checkout all our holiday rental apartments in Barcleona and our Barcelona Bible Blog in order to get lots of great insider info on this amazing mediterranean city.

Enjoy!

~Benny

Halloween in Barcelona 2012: Top 10 Party Ideas

OK guys, here’s the deal: Halloween in Barcelona 2012 CAN and WILL kickass, but as always, you need to be armed with a little info. Although gaining in popularity each year, Halloween isn’t too widely celebrated in BCN. So here are our top 10 party ideas for Halloween in Barcelona, curated by yours truly:

1. Throw your own damn Halloween party!
Honestly guys, I’ve thrown Halloween parties in BCN for my friends the last 6 years in a row (don’t ask for an invite this year I’m outta town!). Some were big, some were small and intimate in my flat. Simple steps: Choose a wicked theme, create a facebook event, charge 10-15 € for all you can drink booze and snacks for your guests, get a couple of pumpkins, and you have a recipe for a really amazing Halloween party in Barcelona!

2. Nasty Monday’s doing Halloween?!?

Yes! There is a Halloween Party this year at Nasty Monday’s, simply one of the coolest parties that exists in BCN and the Halloween theme can only make it better! Details here.

3. Poble Espanyol gets gory!
If you wanna get a little crazy in Poble Espanyol then checkout the Halloween Death Disco in Sala Upload. Details here.

4. AK-47 Karaoke!
At Anti Karaoke people dress up in all kinds of crazy costumes and party like lunatics, and that’s just on a normal Thursday night! So you can imagine their Halloween party in Barcelona this year will be nutssss. Details here.

5. The Razz Crypt Party @ Razz
The Razz Crypt Party at Barcelona’s biggest club, Razzmatazz, is shaping up to be a wild affair.  The labyrinth-esque monster club will have all kinds of different scary and wonderful atmospheres going on at once. Details here.

6. Rocky Racoon!
It doesn’t get much more Halloweeny than seeing the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  You can see it at Barcelona Music Hall. Tickets online seem to be sold out, but maybe you can find them somewhere else or buy from scalpers. Details here.

7. BOOOO!!! (did we scare you?)
The Antic Teatre Terror Short Film Festival will be going on and if celebrating Halloween in Barcelona for you is really about getting scared then check it out! Details here.

8. Halloween with a Kink
If you are just dying to mix up your Halloween party with a kink and fetish party than this do in Hospitalet de Llobregat might be just what your looking for! Details here.

9. Port Aventura
A world class theme park and a Halloween party? Binge drinking and roller coasters? Could be fun!  Details here.

10. I’m on a Boat!
Halloween in Barcelona on a boat?! Not the most traditional but still, pretty pimp! Details here.

Enjoy fellow Halloween freaks!

~ Benny

Your definite guide on restaurants to enjoy the brunch in Barcelona

We have already written about the fine Barcelona brunch spots Picnic Barcelona and Milk. These places are just amazing on a weekend fraught with the hangover blues. We’re going to tell you about some other fish in the proverbial brunch sea in case you wanna try something new!

Dostrece

There isn´t anything like sleeping late on Saturday and chilling out in a nice bar. One of those is the Bar Dostrece on carrer Carme 40. Get the Combo Dostrece if you come with your friend. For 19 € you both get tasty pancakes with strawberries, eggs benedict or a salad and a glass of bellini. Nothing says “good morning sunshine, you drank a bit yesterday, didn´t you!?” like a tall cocktail with proseco and a peach juice.

Dunnes

What about an Irish brunch in Barcelona? Let me suggest … Crispy bacon, Irish sausages, fried eggs, baked beans, grilled tomato grilled mushrooms, toast and butter… Go to Dunnes Barcelona on Via Laietanna, 19 and bring some tissues with, because you will cry of joy and happiness.

Marmalade

Brunch in Barcelona Marmalade is good… dammmmn good. We’re not talking about the sweet jelly you spread on croissant, but about a place that is run by the same guys who brought us Barcelona Milk Bar. You can get a brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday and here the Barcelona brunch doesn´t mean a coffee with croissants. You have some 11 options starting with the Very Berry Banana Smoothie, through the Eggs Benedict and Tortilla Ranchera finishing with Penny Lane Pancakes. You can find this place at Riera Alta 4-6.

Federal café

Last, but not least we recomend you this top top place on carrer Parlament 39. You will love it when the weather is nice, because you can enjoy your awesome brunch on a terrace or at one of the big open windows. By the way, their burgers are just splendid as you can read in Benny’s blog: hunt for the best hamburger in Barcelona.

If you are new in town, really love brunches and like to hang out with other people while eating, you can join a Meetup Group devoted to brunch. What´s better than meeting some friendly breakfast lovers with your table full of pancakes, jam, eggs, bacon, spread bread, juice, coffee, fruit and a cake on the top.

Is there another brunch kingdom in Barcelona that we didn´t mention? Let us know!

Have a tasty weekend!

Sharka “like the animal”

By the way, if you are interested in another food you should try in Barcelona read this post.

Irish Pubs in Barcelona- SuiteLife’s guide to the Best Pubs in Barcelona

Looking for the Best pubs in Barcelona? At SuiteLife we love a good pint so we decided to go to lots of Barcelona Pubs and drink lots of beer so that we could give you a list of our Top 5 Irish Pubs in Barcelona. There is a huge selection of Pubs in Barcelona and we think that these are the best Pubs that Barcelona has to offer. 

The Temple Bar

The Temple Bar is one of the nicer Irish pubs in Barcelona, just off the famous “Las Ramblas” its in a great location and always full of expats looking for a good pint.  It’s a cosy pub with a good bar selection and they also serve simple TEX-MEX food!

The Temple Bar often has good live music and like most Irish pubs in Barcelona is great for sports.  They show mostly football, and you can catch games from most big European leagues, especially the premier league.  Because The Temple Bar is a relatively small pub there is always a good
So if you’re looking for a lively atmosphere then this is the Irish Pub for you.atmosphere for the big games and live acts.

Website

Map

Ryan’s Pubs

Ryan’s is a small chain of pubs In Barcelona.  There are 3 Ryan’s pubs dotted around Barcelona near the marina.  The best thing about Ryan’s pubs is that they are cheap.  You can get a bottle of San Miguel for €1 if you like their facebook page and get their loyalty card (without the card its €2) and they sell 5 shots for €5, just don’t have them all to yourself. (Single shots are €1.50).

Ryan’s pubs are also good for sports, showing British and Spanish sporting events (mostly football).  Their staff are generally friendly and there is always a fun atmosphere, probably because of the cheap drinks.

Ryan’s usually attracts a younger crowd, and is very popular with British students in Barcelona.

If you’re looking for cheap drinks and a fun time then Ryan’s is the Irish Pub for you.

Website

Map

P. Flaherty’s

P. Flaherty’s is a chain of Irish pubs across Spain and the one in Barcelona is a favourite among many.  It is in a great location in a sunny square just off “Las Ramblas” and only 5 minutes walk from the sea.  Flaherty’s is a great traditional Irish pub and they have a great selection of drinks on tap for a good old pint.  They also serve great British food for reasonable prices.  Most of the staff seem to be expats and are very friendly.

They have loads of flat-screens and projectors and as many sports channels as you can imagine, so if you ask politely they will show any game you want to watch.   It’s a good size pub, and they even have a pool room where you can play darts and pool.

If you want an Irish Pub in Barcelona where you can watch all the sports you want then P. Flaherty’s is for you.

Also check their Facebook page for news and offers!

Website

Map

Dunne’s

Dunne’s is a great Irish pub that many expats would say is their favourite Irish Pub in Barcelona, and it is easy to see why.  Dunne’s is a wonderfully typical Irish Pub with great British/Irish food, good beer and friendly staff.  As a Brit I felt right at home as soon as I walked in, the whole place has a warm welcoming feel to it.  They have a lovely little outdoor terrace and of course some big flat screens for all the Barcelona football.

The pub is decorated with great care and attention to detail with authentic wooden bars and great leather seating.  It makes for a wonderful dining and/or drinking experience.

If you’re looking for a nice Irish Pub in Barcelona where you can relax with friends, a nice pint and good food then this is the one for you.

Website

Map

Michael Collins

Michael Collins pub is wonderful old-fashioned Irish Pub in Barcelona that is close to La Sagrada Familia.  It’s a large Irish Pub that is very popular, especially among expats in that area of Barcelona.  They have a good selection of beers and Irish Whisky but it is a little expensive.  The food is very traditional and its proper homemade pub food.  I thought the Guinness steak pie was brilliant, although I would say the food is a little over priced.

If you’re looking for an old style cosy pub then this is the one for you.

Website

Map

So that’s our definitive list of the Top 5 Irish Pubs in Barcelona but if you feel like just going to a bar check out our Top bars in Barcelona.  Or you could try this Irish Pub that I would say feels more like a bar.  It didn’t quite make our list of the Top 5 Pubs because it doesn’t feel like a pub, but I still recommend it.

The George Payne

The George Payne is the biggest Irish Pub in Barcelona. It’s layout reminds me of a big club with a huge hall and spectacular mezzanines either side.  There are many bars in this Irish Pub, with a good selection of drinks, which are relatively cheap (although not as cheap as Ryan’s).

The George Payne also serves good pub food, with great Fries (Chips) that you can get with cheese garlic or Curry! I would also recommend their Gourmet burgers.  And let’s not forget sports, they have loads of screens for watching all kinds of sport and as I found out, it gets very busy when Barcelona are playing.

Because it is so big you don’t get the same warm, welcoming feel as you would with most pubs and that is why I would describe The George Payne as more of a bar.

If you’re looking for a big pub with cheap drinks to have a party then this is the Irish Pub/Bar for you.

Website

Map

Matthew Rutter

If you think we got it wrong and there are better pubs to be found in Barcelona then we would love to hear about them, leave us a comment below.

Kiosko’s Big Brother: Bacoa

Today’s Barcelona burger review is on Bacoa, which is the older brother (although smaller in size) of Kiosko Barcelona (the only Barcelona hamburger joint yet to get 5 out of 5 Benny Burgers). Does it live up to Kiosko? Let’s see!

BARCELONA BURGER OF THE WEEK – PART 7: BACOA, BARCELONA

The Atmosphere:

The atmosphere at Bacoa is very pleasant.  The staff are overly friendly.  One down side though is that the place is too small. It fills up fast and if your not a bit aggressive you can easily be left with no place to sit! I went around 2pm on a weekday and it was quite crowded. A small negative, but something to take into consideration.

The Burgers:

The burgers at Bacoa Barcelona are simply succulent. The only burger that you wont also find on the Kiosko menu is their special Bacoa burger, which I of course had to try.  The Bacoa burger comes with a whopping 300g of beef, bacon, manchego cheese, caramelized onions, tomato, lettuce and special house sauce, and all for the rather reasonable price of 6.50 €. The home made fries (same ones at Kiosko) are the best in the city.  While the burger selection is decent here, the Kiosko menu is about double the size.

The Verdict:

Bacoa is certainly one of the very best burgers in Barcelona, but it loses points because of it’s diminutive size and the fact that it’s new brother restaurant (Kiosko) just beats it to a pulp.  Hence, Bacoa gets a solid 4 & 1/4 Benny Burgers out of a possible 5.  Highly, highly recommended but make sure you try and go on off-lunch hours to avoid the wait.  Enjoy!

Always looking for new recommendations to add to my list.  Any burger joints I can’t live without visiting? Let me know!

Cheers and have a great weekend SuiteLifers!

Benny

Pretty Pretty Pretty Peggy Sue!

I‘ve taken a small hiatus in my burger reviews (<shameless plug> too busy renting apartments in Barcelona!</shameless plug>) but not to worry SuiteLifer’s!  I’ve still been eating plenty of burgers and storing all the juicy details in my head for my next blogs! Today we look at Peggy Sue’s, which conveniently opened it’s doors exactly a block and a half from my apartment! They’ve been open about a month and I’ve been 6 times so, yep, this is a good one! What’s important to note about Peggy Sue’s is that it’s not trying to compete with the new wave gourmet burger joints in Barcelona.  It’s actually the newest location in a large family of chains.  If you’re looking for a down-home hamburger cooked with love and a great 50′s throwback Americana atmosphere, you have to come checkout the place I now refer to as just “Peggy’s”.

Barcelona Burger of the Week – Part 6: Peggy Sue’s

The Atmosphere:

Walk into Peggy Sue’s too quickly and you might think you’ve been suddenly teleported back to 1958 NYC.  From the bright teal-colored walls, to the throwback decor, jukeboxes, and milkshake machines, just sitting in the restaurant is a treat.  The staff are extremely friendly and table service is quite fast.  I’ve been mostly doing takeout, which is very fast and you can even call in your order and come by 20 minutes later to pick it up and save the wait).

The Burgers:

So, the food… is… awesome… Again, this is not a gourmet burger, it’s a comfort food burger, pure homemade goodness just like your mom used to make you when you were a kid (no additives, no preservatives, and their special Guiness buns are very light and tasty).  There are 4 burgers to choose from: The Peggy Sue, the Mary Lou, the Aretha Franklin, and the monstrous James Brown.  The burgers are very reasonably priced ranging from 6.35 € – 6.75 €.  I haven’t tried the whole menu yet, but I can also highly recommend the onion rings, and the chicken fingers are the best I’ve tasted in the city, and don’t forget the house pink lemonade!

The Verdict:

4 very solid Benny Burgers (out of 5) for Peggy Sue’s whose done a bang up job at creating a     while backing it up with lip-smacking authentic American comfort food.  Have you been yet? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Cheers,

Benny

Visit the Sagrada Familia with the Suitelife Barcelona Photoblog

For our Barcelona photoblog series, I went to one of the most well known Barcelona tourist spots: The Sagrada Familia. Everybody who comes to Barcelona must go to the Sagrada Familia at least once. The 128 year old building which has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and features unusual architecture, is in the district of Eixample which, with the Guell Park, is one of the most visited Barcelona tourist spots in Barcelona. Indeed, people also come here not just for the sun and the beach but for the Gaudi heritage too. It is quite expensive to visit this temple at around 10€ to 13€/person but it’s worth it as the money is put towards the restoration of the building and you will discover something really amazing both inside and out. Believe me, this is one of the things that you have to do at least once in your life and don’t forget to take pictures!

The interior of the Sagrada Familia will astonish you:

The ceiling is very different from all the other temples that you will visit in your life.

Ceiling of the Sagrada Familia

The stained-glass windows let you see the interior of the Sagrada Familia in a different way, through different colors.

Front of the Sagrada Familia

Alpha & Omega sign

Crucifixion scene

Back of the Sagrada Familia

Even the smallest things are amazing:

"Scourging at the pillar"

Paintings on the floor entrance of the Sagrada Familia.

Don’t forget to go downstairs in the Sagrada Familia where you can learn about its history and discover the amazing architectural technique used by Gaudi.

The Sagrada Familia will blow your mind and make you think about his amazing architecture, the work of Gaudi, and these kinds of temples in Spain.

- by Kok Natha HEN (pictures included)

Does Fancy-Pants Hamburger Restaurant “La Burg” have one of the Best Burgers in Barcelona?

Honestly, I’m all about the new “gourmet” hamburger phenomenon, especially in Barcelona.  It’s nice for American cuisine to finally be seen in a slightly more high-brow light than the more common portrayal of it as inedible and fatty junk (which admittedly, it often is no?).  There is a level though, where in my humble opinion, it becomes a little much.  I was originally going to check out El Filete Ruso (the younger but even more expensive brother of La Burg, a sort of fine dining hamburger restaurant, if you will) because it’s only two blocks from my office, but at the last moment I just couldn’t bring myself to spend 25 € on a burger and fries… Well, we’ll see what the future, and my stomach’s curiosity holds…).  La Burg, though, is more affordable, has excellent quality meat, and is tasty to boot!

Barcelona Burger of the Week – Part 5: La Burg Barcelona

The Atmosphere:

Nestled up in posh Sarria, La Burg Barcelona is a neighbourhood favourite.  The place is actually quite beautiful (my Blackberry photos don’t do it justice).  They have a gorgeous corner bar when you walk in, some seating around it, and then an upstairs level with more tables in the back.  We went on a Monday at 2pm and it wasn’t too busy, but we’ve read everywhere that on weekends you need to call and make a reservation or you’ll be waiting till next Easter.  The service was excellent with a capital E, remarkable actually (despite many online reviews stating the opposite).  The staff were friendly and cheerful and knew the menu inside and out.  Our food hit the table 11 minutes after we ordered, not bad!

The Burgers:

We had two burgers, the American (200g with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and bacon) and the Seitan (a wheat protein open-face veggie burger with roasted red pepper, alioli, and lettuce).  The meat was delicious (definitely up to Kiosko‘s level if not higher).  Their official website does not work (I told them this but they didn’t seem too bothered) so I could only find info about their meat through 3rd party reviews, but apparently they only use meat from pure race alpine cows originating from Switzerland and brought up in León.  So, pretty top-quality beef and it showed.  The buns, which are apparently made in-house, were lacking something for me, they were a little too white-bread and starchy for my liking.  Otherwise the burger was perfect.  We also had an order of bravas that were very good and quite spicy.  We finished off with a couple of ‘cortados’.  The bill for two people, 2 burgers,  3 drinks, bravas, and 2 coffees was 30 €.

The Verdict:

La Burg gets a very respectable 4 out of 5 “Benny Burgers”.  It’s a bit pricey and has some minor flaws, but if you’re into quality meat, it’s one of the best around.  I would suggest it for a date or a family brunch.

More Barcelona burger reviews coming soon!  We’re still hunting for the best of the best, any tips?

~ Benny

Meatpacking Bistro Barcelona: Authentic New York Style Right in the Heart of Barcelona

Meatpacking Bistro Barcelona, one of the best restaurants in Barcelona, is the city’s newest hotspot for American food at its finest with an authentic New York style flare. Transport yourself to New York City’s hottest downtown neighborhood in seconds. Meatpacking Bistro has all the atmosphere, flare, and endless cool of the famous historical district found in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood without the snooty service and hefty price tags.

From the relaxed low lighting and exposed brick details, the clean lines with rich dark wood and burnt orange leather, right down to the graphic typographic New York poster detailing the walls, Meatpacking Bistro has an unassuming raw edge and that cool combo of vintage and new that encompasses what the Meatpacking District is all about… and what the Barcelona restaurant scene has been missing.

And the buzz doesn’t stop with the decor.

The menu delivers mouthwatering, authentic American taste with a focus on ecosystem conservation and nutrition. Serving local meats free of hormones or antibiotics as well as fresh, organic vegetables, you can feel even better about it as you chow down on the Meatpacking Burger, one of the best burgers in the city, or delicious home style Mac & cheese. Raves have been for the tender, mouth-watering crispy ham wrapped Parmesan chicken breast or maybe the fresh Waldorf salad with apples, blueberries, celery and nuts is more your style. Either way, top it off with some authentic New York cheesecake and your visit will not soon be forgotten.

Call ahead for reservations or just walk in. They are open Monday to Wednesday 9am to 12:30pm, Thursday to Saturday 9am to 3pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. They also do weekend Brunch that I can’t wait to try out! Enjoy!

www.meatpackingbistro.com

~ Hilary

La Petita Galeria has just arrived on the Barcelona bar scene, or should I say Art scene?

La Petita Galeria Bar Barcelona, hidden away on one of the narrow, rustic streets of the uber cool Raval barrio, is an elegant but unassuming Barcelona bar…OH!….and art gallery. After being recommended by a Raval local, I popped by with some friends for lunch on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. What struck me first was the quality art work which adorns the old, rustic walls, it really is very very good, and there’s so much of it, but that’s only the half of it…..

“There’s no pretentiousness here………”

I was lucky enough to sit down with Pete, the brainchild of this creative space and he passionately explained his vision for La Petita Galeria and it’s future. In his strong Scottish accent, he told me that he wants La Petita Galeria to be more than just another tasteless Barcelona bar, he wants a space where local Barcelona artists can showcase their work and feel at home, inspiring each other and all that enter through it’s doors. You won’t find people pestering you with flyers in the streets, trying to entice you in with free shots of cheap vodka, La Petita Galeria encourages you to be part of the space, to express yourself, to paint, to read, to talk, to think, to eat, to relax, immerse yourself in the space and engage with the artists. However, what I love about La Petita Galeria Barcelona bar, is that if you don’t want to do any of that, you don’t have to. You can just sit, have a beer and chill-out, that’s totally cool too. There’s no pretentiousness here, it’s laid back and comfortable, the way all Barcelona bars should be.

“La Petita Galeria is an artistic space masquerading as a bar in the heart of Raval, Barcelona.”

Pete has worked his way around many of the famous Barcelona bars and his experience comes through in the drinks menu. Having prepared many of the cocktail menus you find around Barcelona, Pete is more than capable of knocking together almost anything you could ask for, but let me just emphasize, THIS IS NOT just another, over priced, shallow Barcelona cocktail bar for equally shallow punters. The menu is written in chalk all over the walls, his passion for FRESH produce means that he wants the freedom to pick and choose what’s available, depending on what’s in season at the time. I had some beautiful fresh pasta, and I mean FRESH, with pesto and goats cheese, a green salad with cherries, kiwi, beautifully ripe tomatoes and a basket of oven warm bread ~ Lovely-Jubbly!!

So, now you know, don’t go telling EVERYBODY about this special little place. Let us know about your visit to La Petita Galeria, I’m sure you will L-O-V-E it!

Ben Holbrook ~ SuiteLifer and Bar/Gallery Lover!!