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 British pub food like English pies and fish and chips (although you can find the best fish and chips in Barcelona here).

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 atmosphere for the big games and live acts.

So if you’re looking for a lively atmosphere then this is the Irish Pub for you.

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.

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

TOP 10 FUN BARCELONA FACTS you might not have heard of so far

Barcelona Facts:

1. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, and the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, as well it is in the top 20 National Geographic recommended cities! Awesome!! And for those who interested, it is also one of the top gay destinations in the world!

2. Driving in Barcelona? Think twice!

It’s said that accidents occur every nineteen seconds on the streets in Barcelona, but it can be even more..  You might not have heard the rumor, but a little Catalán birdie told us that drivers in Barcelona are amongst the worst in the world. So, obviously it’s safer to walk, plus you can get rid of some stubborn calories and enjoy the city like you couldn’t enjoy it from a car!

3. FC Barcelona

Are you aware of the fact that the most famous FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi is from Argentina? The nickname of FC Barcelona is the blaugrana – which stands for the color of the player’s uniforms. More info found here on FC Barcelona Football.

4. Sagrada Familia – Antoni Gaudi

Did you know that Antoni Gaudi was not the first architect who was appointed to work on the one of Barcelona’s most important touristic sights, the famous La Sagrada Familia? The person who was appointed originally on this project was Francisco De Paula. Is the church ever gonna be completed? Construction started in 1882, and it is said it will be completed in 2020, but we all know that at the current pace it could possibly take another century, right? Check out our photoblog all about La Sagrada Familia !

5. Las Ramblas

This boulevard, which is 2 km long, is proudly the busiest street of the city. Even if it sounds like one huge street – it is not – it actually consists of 5 boulevards (Rambla de Canaletes, dels Estudis, de Sant Josep, dels Caputxins, and Rambla de Santa Monica).  However, the most walked street in Spain is still considered to be Portal de l’Ángel, where you can be one of the approx. 3500 people who stroll along the street every hour! Pretty amazing huh? Watch SuiteLife Tv to get more info on the famous Barcelona Las Ramblas!!

6. Barcelona beach

Did you know that even though Barcelona is considered as one of the best beach cities in the world,  until 1992, Barcelona did not even have a decent beach on the coast? Instead, it was mostly occupied by industrial activities and wasn’t used for leisure.  But thanks to the Olympic Games, the coast got a facelift, and now it is full of bars and restaurants, and Barcelona’s beaches are some of the most famous beaches in the world! For more information, read our blogs about Barcelona’s Best Beaches!

7. Flamenco isn’t actually that popular

Even though Spain is very famous for its flamenco dancing, the Catalunian’s don’t appreciate it as much as people in the other parts of the country.

8. St. George’s day – the Catalán Valentine’s day

It’s a national feast day, and people give presents to their beloved ones, mostly roses and books. UNESCO was inspired of this, and named April 23^rd as the International Day of Books. Check out our other blog to learn all about Dia Sant Jordi Barcelona.

9. Barrio Gotic

A very visited district in the old Barcelona, where some of the buildings were built back in the Roman era. The medieval architecture brings millions of tourist here every week! Read more about neighbourhoods in Barcelona in our Barcelona Neighbourhood Guide!

10. Founding of Barcelona

There are lot of arguments around the actual founding of the city. There are two sides of the story, like most of the stories have… One group claims that Hercules was the actual founder of the city approximately 400 years ago before building Rome… The other group believes that Barcelona was actually was Hamilcar Barca’s masterpiece, who is in fact the father of Hannibal… Interesting huh? But finally who takes the credit, hard to say..

Yours,
E

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

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

Get your Chakras Aligned on the Beach at the Barcelona Yoga Conference

Get your Namaste ready for five full days of blissful beach view yoga! The Barcelona Yoga Conference is coming to Barcelona this July and is the next big thing to hit the Barcelona yoga scene.

There will be everything from Bikram, Hatha, and Acroyoga to Anusara, Kirtan, Ashtanga, Kundalini and more! Whatever your little yogi heart desires, the Barcelona Yoga Conference will make Barcelona the yoga world capital for five days and will be the best place to find inspiration and awakening for everyone!

Don’t miss the chance to practice with over 40 renowned teachers (see here for a full list of presenters!)  from 5 continents including John Friend delivering the pre-conference and David Lloret sharing the basic principles of the iconic Iyengar yogic teachings. Maybe you can experience a higher enlightenment with Ajanta Suri sharing the practice of Yoga Nidra, a Pratyahara limb of the ancient Raja Yoga. With over 100+ workshops and 3 live Kirtans it is sure to be an unforgettable experience!

Located at the Complex Esportiu de la Mar Bella, the venue for the event is right next to the beach and beyond perfect. Hold your asanas in spacious and bright spaces with excellent facilities overlooking the calming blue of the Mediterranean. All you need to bring are your yoga essentials – comfy clothes, yoga mat, towel etc. and the excitement to share some yogic love with people from all over the world!

The Barcelona Yoga Conference is also donating 3% of every ticket sold to three continuous projects including the Africa Yoga Project, Amma’s Project, and the Green Yoga Program. So with the special prices they’re offering until July 1st including group discounts and lower prices for teenagers 13-18 years old, I would get mine while they’re still available! Additionally, you can contribute to their PLANT A TREE/CO2 initiatives and donate for only 1€ per tree. They outline some suggested donations depending on where you’re coming from and how big your carbon footprint will be as a result. Bettering my practice with some blissful beach yoga with more than a few great causes? I couldn’t ask for anything more and can’t wait to check it out!

Check out the Barcelona Yoga Conference website and blog and I hope to see you there!
www.barcelonayogaconference.org
www.barcelonayogaconference.cat

Namaste Suitelifers!

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!!

Barcelona Frisbee: Gotta Love It!

Playing Frisbee in Barcelona is one of my favourite sports/pastimes.  It just goes so well with any type of lazy weekend sunbathing activities.  There’s nothing like the feeling of being half-naked in the scorching sun and getting your frisbee flow on with a friend.  Once you get in the groove, all else seems to disappear as the disc cathartically floats back and forth, kept aloft only by nature’s breath and you’re own muscle and cunning.

Barcelona, as we know, is somewhat of a concrete jungle.  So here are my top 3 favorite places to play Frisbee (us SuiteLifers like to refer to it as “PeaceWheel”):

1.  Parc Ciutadela – Hands down the best place for a little Frisbee action in Barcelona.  The best spot in the park is just entering the park on the side that touches Passeig de Pujades, going more towards c/ Wellington.  Why is it so great?  The park is beautiful, the trees shield the wind, you still get great sunlight, and there are these perfect big long grass embankments that seem as if they were built for Frisbee action! We’ve included a little screen shot showing the golden frisbee area for ya. Metro L1 “Arc de Triomf”.

2.  Bogatell Beach – Another stellar location for frisbee in Barcelona.  Bogatell beach is the best of all the beaches because it’s not as crowded as Nova Icaria and Barceloneta, but is also the widest beach and offers tons of room to launch those hail mary’s and not have to worry about accidently smoking any beachgoers with a frisbee to the head. Metro L4 “Bogatell”

3.  Montjuic – Although you wont have quite as much space as the two suggestions above, and without a moto the access isn’t as easy, Montjuic is a wonderful place to throw the PeaceWheel.  For this one we won’t divulge a specific spot.  There are several.  Just start hiking up the gorgeous mountain, frisbee in hand, and you’ll be sure to find some great spots! Metro L3 “Plaza España”

Hope this helps SuiteLifers!!

Cheers,

Benny