Best Hummus Restaurants in Barcelona

There is nothing that can make me happier than a fresh and delicious plate of hummus, however, in Barcelona a tasty well-made and decently priced hummus might be a little hard to find. What makes a good hummus you ask? Well, in principal it is a matter of taste, so of course it changes from one person to the next. For me there are three factors that make the difference between a normal hummus and a great hummus. The First factor is a smooth and mousse-like texture of the hummus. Second is freshness and of course the taste. The third is an important factor, the pita bread. If you are looking for the best humus restaurants in Barcelona. You should definitely check one of the next places! 1. Hummus Barcelona Located in Eixample This is a highly recommended place with great home-made hummus, the menu offers several types of hummus plates for a decent price (8-9€) including: classic, tahina, zatar, mushroom, egyptian beans, masabaja and shawarma seitan. You can also choose the menu dish for 10€! Most importantly, the falafel and pita are as tasty as the hummus. This Israeli restaurant is also vegan!
2. El Cocinero de Damasco located in Gothic  This is a great place with a very friendly staff, the place is very recommended for its hummus as well as its shawarma and falafel!
3. A Tu Bola located in El Raval Another great Israeli restaurant with delicious hummus and a very affordable price of 5€! Definitely worth checking out.
4. Palo Cortao located in Poble Sec Unlike the rest of best humus restaurants in Barcelona, this restaurant features more exotic hummus with a touch of sea food! If you are willing to try new things, this restaurant is definitely for you.

5. Maoz Vegetarian located in Gothic This Israeli owned place is a traditional falafel place with some amazing home made hummus! The pita and falafel taste great and the price is suitable for everybody.
6. Picaparet Bar located in Vila Olimpica This is a great little authentic tapas bar with a really good hummus for a decent price. The menu offers burger, beef, soup and drinks.
7. Jonny Aldana located in Raval an excellent local place with a range of dishes, from hummus to toasts, salads and cakes, you can find almost everything.
8. La Caravana located in Exiample This shawarma and falafel bar offers a variety of tasty meals for a decent price of 3.5-4€ per plate of hummus.
9. Amrit located in Garcia A excellent middle eastern restaurant with great traditional food, delicious hummus and tasty falafel. Highly recommended! However the price is a bit higher than the rest of the places 8.5€.
We hope you enjoy our guide for the best hummus restaurants in Barcelona, and hopefully that you find that helpful and more importantly... Tasty! Do you want to share with us your experience in these restaurants or maybe to mention other restaurants that we missed? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!

These are the most insane properties currently in Spain

1. Crazy Home in Mallorca

This 790-square-meters house in Mallorca, Spain is a crazy renovation of a Mediterranean villa from the 1960s. You would never have noticed that huh? More than a renovation, the architect wanted to make this house luxury and really contemporary. [caption id="attachment_3092" align="aligncenter" width="575"]
Credit: TheCoolHunter.net/Handout[/caption] This house is highly sustainable, off-the-grid, gives an amazing sense of space and place, experiences new technologies (in terms of construction) and is extremely original by its design and decorated box buildings (as you can see on the picture). My thoughts: I really like the fact that we can’t imagine that house used to be different and classic.

2. The Sunflower House in Girona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db3-Kv-MN6Q This new house stands out for its unusual geometry and its cliff top location. The cubic boxes which made the shape of the house were put like that to catch as much sunshine as possible based on an extensive study into daylight. Each cube has one side in glass highlighted by thick black frames in contrast to the white color of the whole house.
The house responds perfectly to the challenges of the Catalonian nature: it was built on the cliff which is prone to a strong wind in Spain: the Tramontane, with gusts of up to 180km/h.
Concerning the interior of the house, it is totally focused on the views out to the Mediterranean, on to France and the Cabo de Creus National Park which are visible from all three top-floor bedrooms. The lowest floor comprises an open-planned living, kitchen and dining space but activities are well defined by the cubes. The living space is double height and unites the two floors with its full-height glazing.
My thougths: Sun and incredible views, what else?

3. The Schizophrenic House in Alforja

This 330-square-meter residence located in rural Spain and whose ground floor seems like it is a greenhouse because of the metal and plastic actually provides separate summer and winter lodgings. In fact, it is split in two different parts to provide seasonal quarters.
The ground floor is openable and meant to be used only in summer and the first floor is for the winter. The flat roof provides a second terrace for the warm months.
In that house we can totally live only in one of the two floors because each floor has its own kitchen, lounge and bedrooms. The two floors are completely different in term of atmosphere: the “summer floor” has the open frame for the pleasure of the warm season and more industrial materials were used whereas the “winter floor” is really traditional and cozy with wooden doors and a vaulted brick ceiling.
My thoughts: If you want to spend holiday at home instead of traveling, like the people who requested this house, this could be the ultimate solution!

4. Gaudiesque House on the Cliff in the province of Granada

This house was made following a request from a couple who chose a difficult plot on a hill with a 42-degree inclination. The house was made as a cavern to match with the incredible landscape around it and benefits from the ground constant temperature of 19.5°C all year.
A cavern? Yes but with breathtaking views on the Mediterranean Sea and a metallic roof worthy of the greatest architects! That house has two floors: the ground floor is composed with a large terraced living area following the mountain, connected with a swimming pool and the first floor has rooms that have viewpoints above the roof.
My thoughts: I find it amazing, it is almost totally hidden in the rocks and the roof perfectly follows the mountain slope to fit perfectly in the landscape!

5. See through house in Baleares

[caption id="attachment_3102" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Credit: Jean-Luc Laloux, Eugenio Pons[/caption] This house designed by a Belgian company of architects is made for people who like big spaces and a magnificent huge view on the sea! [caption id="attachment_3103" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Credit: Jean-Luc Laloux, Eugenio Pons[/caption] The architects created a house almost entirely transparent, perfect for relaxation: an amazing rooftop pool accessible by a simple white staircase, amazing views on the nature and landscape and a minimalist design. [caption id="attachment_3104" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Credit: Jean-Luc Laloux, Eugenio Pons[/caption] My thoughts: If I were living in this house, I would watch the sea all day long while being in the pool!

6. Rehabilitated old stone wine cellar in Galicia

This house has been used for storing wine, meat and spirits and also for providing a sheltered place for keeping both livestock and straw but the architects (Cubus Architectura) rebuilt the interior and create a residence with 3 bedrooms, secluded terraces and a living room.
They wanted to create a new interior while respecting the original volume of the house to keep intact its integration into the environment. To do that, they empty the corner to generate light and they ventilate well the inside of the house.
The house is partially buried on the side that face the road that’s why there are no windows on this sight of the house; it remains luminous thanks to the two large rooftop openings.
My thoughts: I love the “surprise effect” of that house. When you see it from outside, from the road, you would never imagine the interior to be like that!

7. House on the edge of the forest

This house in entitled Casa El Bosque because of the pine forest which surrounds the property. Natural stone, weathered steel and Afrormosia wood were used to build this house. The house has 4 “wings” with distinct functions. The central hallway is connected to the two wings housing the master suite and the other bedrooms while the living room, the kitchen and dining areas are in the two other wings. Casa El Bosque | House El Bosque by Ramón Esteve Estudio from Ramón Esteve Estudio on Vimeo. The main living areas have full-height glazing and sliding doors which open onto the terrace and there is an additional covered dining space connected to the kitchen and main dining room. The features of the house are totally incorporated to it for example the ceiling of the living room continues outside to cover a lounge facing the pool and also a tall wall marking the transition between the indoors and the outdoors space incorporates a chimney for the fireplace! My thoughts: I like the fact that the house was built mainly with natural materials such as stone and wood and that it is combined with steel details, louvered screens and window surrounds which completes the house.

8. IV House in Alicante

This house located in a hot and humid climate and barren landscape was marked by a long period of design and building. It consists of a home that already exists in the center of the field, with undefined surroundings, bad quality spaces and no relationship between inside and outside.
The house has a low and white scalloped roofline which influences the atmosphere of the house by bringing curious shadows inside. There is an abundance of natural light in the house also thanks to the glazed doors open out onto the patio which by the way gives access to the site’s tennis court.
The architects wanted to separate the lived spaces of intimate spaces using the topography, vegetation, solar orientation and visual and their purpose was also to create a comfortable environment with high quality details and a huge material palette (polished ceramic flooring, red brick, white painted walls…). My thoughts: This house stands out of its rural landscape, in a good way!

9. Crossed House in Spain’s Murcia region

This concrete house has an incredible upper floor: it is out from the lower floor by 10 meters with an amazing view on the mountains!
The reason the house is called “crossed house” is because the two floors are pivoted 35 degrees from each other that’s how the upper floor can be 10 meters out of the lower one. The idea of the architects was to separate the upper and lower floors, the ground floor houses a living space, the garden and the pool and the first floor has a big bedroom block.
Contrary to the exterior finishes which have a rough texture, the interior is cozy and smooth with a lot of wood.
My thoughts: This house is really crazy! It looks like two construction toy blocks that are so easily handled!

10. House on the Cliff in Alicante

[caption id="attachment_3117" align="aligncenter" width="784"]
Credit: Diego Opazo[/caption] This big white house (by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos) has a gorgeous 18-meter-long balcony with a view on the Balearic Sea. The house is made with concrete for the entire structure but the walls were coated in stucco for the white aesthetic and the interior is also completely white! [caption id="attachment_3115" align="aligncenter" width="468"]
Credit: Diego Opazo[/caption] The idea was to contain the house in just one level, which was a real challenge because of the steepness of the plot but the architects try to minimize the earthwork! Living rooms and bedrooms are in the upper storey (which is the only interior level of the house) and offer panoramic views through a glazed façade whereas the pool is on the lower level, on an already flat area of the site. [caption id="attachment_3116" align="aligncenter" width="468"]
Credit: Diego Opazo[/caption] My thoughts: The architects made an incredible work with this house on the cliff, I think it is perfectly integrated into the landscape! I really hope you enjoyed reading about the craziest properties in Spain... Tell us which property fits you the best, or if you know of other crazy houses in Spain, in the comments!

Here is literally everything you need to know about Jewish life in Barcelona

Updated on January 7th, 2022 So… you've decided to move to Barcelona, found the neighborhood that’s right for you, the house/apartment of your dreams but you're worried that it might be difficult to keep it traditional? Don’t worry tzadik, although the Jewish population of Barcelona is relatively very small (estimates are between 5,000 and 15,000, though I personally think it's more) our guide will tell you all there is to know. On the off chance you're a history buff, Barcelona actually has a fascinating Jewish history. The first Jews came here in 70 C.E. after the destruction of the Second Temple. Their history in Spain is both rich and tragic, culminating in the 1492 Expulsion where over 250,000 Jews fled the country. Although the Barcelona Jewish community can seem small and limited, at least from the perspective of a foreigner from a city with a much larger community, in actuality it's relatively growing by leaps and bounds. Think about it. The Jewish population in Barcelona in 1918 was 100. That's about a 14,900% increase! Here's a really thorough and well written history of Jews in Barcelona. Without further ado:

Synagogues in Barcelona

Let’s jump straight in and go for the most important question, where do I pray? While there aren't many, Barcelona does have synagogues so you won't have fly to Jerusalem for every shacharit.

Cominidad Israelita de Barcelona synagogue (la CIB) - Carrer de l'Avenir, 24

Lively and the largest of the communities, mostly Sephardic, in Barcelona. It houses the Maimonides Great Synagogue and has been the most important Orthodox community in Catalonia for over 100 years. A beautiful synagogue which apparently was the first built in Spain since the Expulsion of the Jews in 1492. If you're in town visiting or new to the city and are planning to attend a service make sure to bring ID as the security is discreet but heavy. The main sanctuary is gorgeous and is located on the first floor and is a traditional Sephardic ceremony. If you head up a couple flights of stairs you can find the smaller but cosy Ashkenazi service. Both chapels have separate seating for men and women.  Located at Carrer de l'Avenir, 24. Barcelona Jabad Website

Beit Chabad synagogue - Carrer del Montnegre, 14, 08029 Barcelona

If you've hung out with Chabad anywhere in the world you'll likely know what to expect. The rabbi (David) and his wife (Nejama) are sweethearts and are in many ways the anchors of the community in the city. They are very welcoming to everyone and organise a lot of dinners and events if you have nowhere to go for the holidays. Their often 600 person Passover Seders are an absolutely amazing and heartwarming experience. If you see the location listed as "Calle Joan Gamper, Bajos 27" you'll know the page you're looking at is old because just last year they opened their long awaited and incredibly impressive new centre and the address is Carrer del Montnegre, 14, 08029 Barcelona.

Comunitat Jueva ATID de Catalunya

Atid is a reform, mostly Argentinean Jewish community set in Barcelona. More info and contacts can be found on their website.

Bet Shalom - The Progressive Jewish Community of Barcelona

Established in 2016, Bet Shalom is a vibrant and welcoming community who in its own words  is "an egalitarian, participative, friendly and supportive community, attentive to its members needs and committed to the ethical values of our tradition." They offer what seems like an endless amount of services, education, community outreach and they have an informative and inviting website.

Mikveh

Sometimes a gal just needs a good old fashion mitzvah and a pure mikveh, with it's inherent restrictions and requirements, is not always the easiest to find. Luckily, those of you looking to purify yourselves and start anew, the Israeli Community of Barcelona has your back. Reservation required.

Mikveh - Carrer de l'avenir, 24

Keeping Kosher in Barcelona

Keeping kosher in a country who's national food obsession seems to be any and every form of pork is a little bit ironic, don't ya think? I'll never forget the day I ordered a 'vegetable sandwich' in a restaurant because it seemed like the only thing on the menu that I could eat, but alas, it came to the table with a great big slice of jamón dulce in the middle! I couldn't help but wonder if pork had really become such a staple that it could actually be considered a figurative vegetable. In a nutshell, slim pickings and expensive. But hey, us MOTs are used to suffering for the cause right? If kashrut is a staple of your life, here's the lowdown:

Ben Ben Kosher House

If you need to stock up on anything from kosher meat to Bamba and Bisli, head over to the brand new supermarket, butcher shop and cafeteria all rolled into one, Ben Ben Kosher Kosher House. (Helpful Tip: if you see any listings for a butcher shop called "Isamar", located on Carrer de l'Avenir, 29, that is stale info, because they closed over a year ago and reopened in this beautifully renovated location). At Ben Ben Kosher, although the prices are on the nose bleed side (Monopolies are awesome right?!),  you'll never have to worry about running out of hummus in your fridge or not having a challah on your Shabbos table. It is important to note that many seemingly parve foods in Barcelona might contain non kosher ingredients, so just to be on the safe side you should double check products not bought at the kosher shop!

Ben Ben Kosher - Carrer d'Aribau, 257

Corte Inglés Diagonal Another place to buy kosher food in Barcelona, although with a much smaller selection is in the Corte Inglés supermarket at Plaza María Cristina. For those of you who don't know Corte Inglés is the most popular department store in Spain. At this location you'll find one or two lonely freezers that offer some kosher meats. It's a little hit or miss but hey.

Corte Inglés - Avinguda Diagonal, 617

Kosher restaurants

Currently there are only two kosher restaurants in Barcelona. Over the years there have been several more but the demand stoked the supply. However, if you are too lazy to cook today and in the mood for some Jewish delights, the Maccabi kosher restaurant, right in the middle of Las Ramblas, is the place to go. Slightly expensive, but truly delicious food, a cozy decor, and fast and friendly service (a rarity in BCN). Locals and tourists alike eat there. It occupies a former bakery from the seventeenth century called Montserrat, so it's quite a special space. The menu is an eclectic mix of traditional Israeli dishes and Catalan cuisine and even American comfort food. More info on their website. Maccabi Kosher Restaurant -  Les Rambles, 79
Another kosher restaurant that's new on the scene is called Shaq Shuq. They are located just outside Placa Reial. They serve typical israeli foods, salads, hummus, pita and lots of kosher meet, steaks, hamburgers, schnitzels, etc... They also host Shabbat dinners every week. More info on their website. Kosher Shaq Shuq - Carrer de Ferran, 15, 08002 Barcelona
New new new! A brand new burger, KOSHER burger bar just opened up this week in Barcelona. It's called Ilan's Burger Bar and it's realllllly good. Conveniently located right next to Placa Catalunya, this is a kosher can't miss! Info and menu on their website. Ilan's Burger Bar - Carrer de Tallers 6, 08002, Barcelona

Kosher catering

If you're looking to host a wedding, barmitzvah, or happen to need some tasty kosher catering for your sexy Shabbat pool party, Taim is the company to get in touch with. You can find all the info you need on their website.

Judaica and kosher wine.

Call Barcelona is a Judaica items and kosher wine store that also offers consulting and guidance about Judaism. You can find everything you need for your Jewish home with an explanation of how to use it. So get that Chanukiah and Tzalahat Pesach and lets celebrate some holidays!

Call Barcelona - Carrer de Sant Honorat, 9

Israeli Food (no kosher certificate here folks, just mouth-watering goodness)

Can’t live without the tastes of Israel in your life? Need some Israeli food in your belly Bubá? Barcelona has even got this side of your taste buds covered. In the last few years a new crop of Israeli owned restaurants are springing up in the city to the delight of neighbours both Jewish and non-Jewish alike!

Hummus Barcelona -  Calle València, 227

This vegan street food restaurant offers a great selection of homemade hummus, shakshukas, salads and many other Middle Eastern cuisines. We strongly recommend the hummus with shawarma seitan (can’t even believe its vegan!).

Falafel Maoz - Carrer de Ferran, 13

A vegetarian falafel stand that has an amazing selection of salads to mix inside your pita, great tasting falafel and a very friendly service! The only problem you will face in this place is that with so many choices to mix and match in your meal, you will want to buy a second one!

A Tu Bola - Carrer de l'Hospital, 78

A wonderful gourmet street food restaurant that offers the unique concept of all kinds of food, in ball form! The delicious selection of balled formed food will surely get your stomach grumbling, making this restaurant a must visit spot.

Ugot - Carrer de Viladomat, 138

Ugot is a very uniquely style cafe with the main focus on "Ugot" (cakes). This cafe offers a delicious assortment of cakes and other meals that comes along with its unique design and style.

Jewish legacy

As we already know, Sephardic Jews originate from Spain (Sepharad) and were expelled from it in 1492 leaving behind historical artifacts, abandoned synagogues and cemetery’s. To get in touch with some of the Jewish history of Barcelona we recommend taking a visit to any one of these Jewish attractions, dereh tzleha!

Montjuic

Translates from Spanish to “the mountain of Jews”, this hill got named so by the locals as in the older days it was used as a Jewish burial ground.  The hill now sports many tourist attractions and is worth walking around on nice sunny days visiting attractions and enjoying Barcelona from above.

The ancient synagogue of Barcelona - Carrer de Marlet', 5

Currently used as a museum, this Synagogue dates back as far as the third/fourth century and was since forgotten only to be accidentally rediscovered. The museum currently there offers a tour of the old synagogue with brief explanation of its history and the history of Jews in Spain.

Barcelona Jewish tours

If you feel more like having a guide to explain to you about the Jewish past of Barcelona, then you might want to consider one of these two great tour companies. These companies offer guided tours of Barcelona with a focus on the Jewish aspect of it and its Jewish sites, definitely a thing to consider. Hi. This is Barcelona... are a tour company that offer custom fit tours for any taste. They also offer a custom made all Jewish tour that visits all the important sites. This tour was created with the help of an architect from the Jewish community and seems totally cool!
Barcelona Dreaming is a Jewish tour company set in Barcelona that has various set tours with an option to set tailor made tours as well. The staff is very friendly and the sites visited are explained with detail, absolutely a tour you would enjoy!

Jewish Networking

JNetwork is a not for profit organisation, with a really wonderful online platform, who's mission is to help the Jewish communities of Spain. By participating on their site you can access their job market, professional training courses and events, a business directory where you can promote your  company, and all kinds of aid programs. It's also a great way to network and meet new friends. If you're new to the city it's a good place to start.

Day School

Colegio Hatikva, formerly known as the Sephardic School, is an amazing Jewish education with outstanding academics. It's located in Valldoreix a suburb of Barcelona and you can find more info on their website.

Meeting a Significant Other

OK, this is not super easy either. I would start with looking for facebook groups like this one Young Jews in Barcelona . There are also events during the year, seminars for your adults for example, where young single Jews from all over Spain meet up with each other. Really, if you wanna meet someone Jewish in Barcelona you'll have to be a bit aggressive, get out there, and look for it. If you sit back and relax and wait for this mysterious prince or princess to find you, well, you'll be waiting a long time.

Order Israeli Food to Spain Cheaply Online

This site, Super Israel, is just awesome. Order any type of amazing Israeli food products to Spain cheaply and quickly. Are you dying of a Bisli craving? This is your place!

Shabbat dinner

For those of us wanting to get a more communal feeling in Shabbat, Beit Chabad hosts a Shabbat dinner every Saturday after the evening prayer. In the Shabbat dinner you can find delicious kosher food and a happy lively vibe that is expected from Chabad festivities. Don’t forget that the seats are limited and reservation is required so don’t forget to sign up for the fun. For more details and signing up click the image:

Your Feedback Please!

Thanks so much for reading our guide about Jewish Life in Barcelona. We'll continue to update it as much as possible so we'd love to hear from you whether you've discovered a new place in the city or if you're a business owner who has opened a new Jewish related business. Do you know of any great places or info that you feel is missing from the blog? Please let us know and we'd love to update it! If you have any questions at all you can always write to info@suitelife.com. Cheers! ~Benny

Here are the best places to buy furniture in Barcelona because a house is almost nothing without furniture! Either you like design, modern or vintage furniture, you will find your happiness in this article!

Design furniture

There are lots of designers in Barcelona who imagine and build great furniture that correspond to a lot of people and maybe to you too!

1. The Kare shop

That store exists since 1981 and has a wide range of trendy products made with imagination and a little bit of craziness. It sells furniture but also decoration. You will find many different things here: unique pieces from little artisans’ workshops but also hardwood furniture that you will keep for your entire life. The real concept of that brand is to stage furniture in funny backgrounds to inspire joy to the customers. My opinion: you absolutely need to see that shop even if you don’t buy anything in there!
How to get there? Passeig de Gracià (L2 – Purple Line, L3 – Green Line, L4 – Yellow Line)

2. Banni

At Banni, they have their own tailor-made furniture for kitchens, bathrooms, closets and chests of drawers with a good quality-price ratio. They offer trendy designs and innovative technologies for their customers. Their team also offers to help you in any decoration project (for a house, company, yacht, hotel…) from A to Z: conception, logistics, installation, and after-sales service. My opinion: It is amazing that their team can be there from the beginning until the end of your decoration project.
How to get there? Hospital Clinic (L5 – Blue Line)

3. Sit Down

You can understand with the name of this store that they are specialized in seats. They are very innovative in order to bring you the best designs made by the biggest enterprises but they also offer you cheaper models as copies of chairs from the most popular designers. More than just selling chairs, they have also a team of experts in chairs for restaurants and hotels. My opinion: I often pass by this store and see the window, I never went in but I definitely have to because it seems amazing from outside! (I also particularly like the name of the shop.)
How to get there? Verdaguer (L4 – Yellow Line, L5 – Blue Line)

4. L’Appartement

L’Appartement is a design expo art shop. They sell really unique furniture and also colorful home decoration which will make your interior look joyful and more than that: original/uncommon! My opinion: everything is original here, you just have to go in and believe me, you will be surprised (in a good way).
How to get there? Hospital Clinic (L5 – Blue Line)

Vintage furniture

If you like furniture from another century or just furniture which look like to be from another century, the following stores are totally made for you!

1. El Recibidor

Before being a shop, El Recibidor is a showroom where you can admire great pieces of furniture. It is not an art gallery but it’s not far from it. El Recibidor means “the entrance”; it was called like that because the entrance is the first thing you see when you enter a house. The formula of this shop could be “reasonable prices + beautiful furniture”. My Opinion: I think the concept of the store to be more a showroom is innovative and different than what we can usually see!
How to get there? Poble Sec (L3 – Green Line)

2. Neu Kölln

It could be seen as a store for design furniture but I put it here because they are really more towards vintage furniture and home decoration. Everything in that store seem to come from another year. My Opinion: Even if most of these German vintage furniture are industrial, the owners try to include items made by local artists.
How to get there? Arc de Triomf (L1 - Red Line)

3. 177 Kensington

Here you can find authentic vintage pieces next to modern artworks and design classics. They are always renewing the range of furniture they sell, so two visits are never the same. My opinion: When you enter this shop, you don’t know where to look because there are so much things to see!
How to get there? Hospital Clinic (L5 – Blue Line)

4. Fusta’m

There is a lot of vintage stores in the Raval and among these, you’ll find Fusta’m: a very charming vintage furniture store where you can buy objects and furniture from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Every pieces have gone through renovation (because YES, they have a workshop for carpentry interior design and restoration) before being in the store either for a quick clean-up or a reconstruction. My opinion: I love the fact that they restore furniture before putting them in sale

How to get there? Universitat (L1 – Red Line, L2 – Purple Line)

Around the world

If you have sort of a passion for lifestyle and design from abroad you will probably fall in love with these two shops I found in Barcelona!

1. Ikiru

Ikiru is a Japanese furniture store that sells Tatami, Futons, Beds, Convertibles but also accessories and interior design for more than 10 years! These products are all made with solid wood from sustainable plantations which are respectful of the environment. My opinion: I am not really in fond of Japanese decoration but I think you can find a lot of cool stuff to buy in that store. And it is the paradise for people who like Japanese decoration and lifestyle!
How to get there? Fontana (L3 – Green Line)

2. Noak Room

Noak room is a furniture store that sells Scandinavian vintage furniture from 1950 to 1970s carefully selected by the owners of the shop when they travel to Scandinavia (especially Sweden). My opinion: Just looking at the furniture, we can see that they have a history!
How to get there? Llacuna (L4 – Yellow Line)

Modern and cheaper furniture

1. Zara Home

Zara Home is well known internationally because it is a store chain which operates in several countries. It specializes in the latest designs for the home! My opinion: This is a store chain so, for sure, you can’t have a unique piece of furniture from that shop but you still can find objects which will fit in your home!
How to get there? Passeig de Gracià (L2 – Purple Line, L3 – Green Line, L4 – Yellow Line)

2. Ikea

Do I really need to explain what Ikea is and sells? Everybody know that store! You can find everything for your home here at very reasonable prices and good news for you: there is one in Barcelona! My opinion: they don’t do in the originality but it helps a lot when you just need basic and cheap furniture.
How to get there? Europa/Fira (L9S - Orange line) or Bellvitge (L1 – Red Line) This article is all about furniture but as you have probably seen on the pictures, you can also find some cool decoration for your home in some of these shops. By the way, there are other really cool home decoration stores we love! I hope you enjoyed reading this article and I also hope you will find the furniture of your dreams in one of these shops!

When you decide to leave your home country to live abroad, there are lots of things you need to think about. The big things are getting a job (if you are not leaving your home country for a professional reason) and finding a home (we’re here for you to do that!). And concerning money, what are you going to do?

Open an account in Spain

For sure, if you you’re going to live in Spain only for a while (exchange program, internship…) you will not really need a spanish bank account but if you are going to become a real expat it is almost mandatory for you to have an account in Spain.

The process

In Spain, there are two different types of account for expats : for non-residents and for residents.

• If you are a non-resident of Spain and want to open a bank account, you will have to prove your identity by providing papers (Passport, id card…). Then, within the 15 days following the account opening, you will have to prove your non resident status by providing a “certificado de no residencia” (You can ask and get that document in the local police station). The bank is supposed to check your non-resident status every 2 years.
• If you become a resident after the account opening, you will have to inform the bank and provide a copy of your tarjeta de residencia.

We can help you: If you need to open an account in Spain (a real one, with debit and credit cards), we have a special partnership with Catalunya Caixa, especially for our clients!

What do you need to open a bank account in Spain?

• Be at least 18 years old
• A proof of your identity with a photo (passport, national id card of the home country)
• A proof of your professional status or activity (employment contract, payslip, a letter from the accountant, the lawyer, student card…) That document is asked since 2007 from the Spanish Bank in order to fight against money laundering
• The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros) for the residents
• A proof of address (electricity bill, driving license or tax slip… No older than 3 months)

Info: Don’t try to open a spanish bank account from a distance: it is impossible, you’ll have to go to Spain to meet the banker.

Costs and services

Concerning costs and services, the accounts for non residents and those for residents are almost the same. The only differences are that the bank might refuse to provide you a credit card or to allow you an overdraft. Our tips:

• If you meet a bank which takes really high fees for foreigners, you should go to another agency.
• If you do the initial deposit in another currency, ask for the money to be immediately converted in euros because if you don't do that, you could have some problems afterwards.

Send money from Spain

You’re an expat? Want to transfer money abroad? Or have family abroad that you want to send money to? Or have a supplier to pay in foreign currencies? Here are three solutions for you to have the best exchange rate or the lowest costs when sending money from Spain.

1. Your bank The advantage of that solution is that it is the quickest and easiest way to transfer your money in a foreign currency. But this solution is really expensive. In fact, the cost of transfer looks cheap but there is something… You will attentively follow the exchange rate evolution and, when you will receive the money, you will notice that the one which has been applied is really below than what you observed before. Be careful: more than the exchange rates which are not transparent, some retail banks will charge more than 30 euros in fees. If your bank has an international branch, it can be very good for you to use that solution because you could transfer money free of cost or at a very low charge and moreover... It will be done in no time!
   
2. 2. Forex experts Forex is for foreign exchange, for example XE and RationalFX. You will have to send them the money and then they will send it back to you in the wanted currency. The huge advantage over the bank is that you will know everything you need: you will realize the transfer on a precise exchange rate. Our tip: Don’t forget to think about the transfer fees from your bank in Spain to the Forex expert.
   
3. 3. Peer to peer The most popular service of this type in Spain is with no doubt Transferwise (but CurrencyFair is also a good one and the two services are working almost the same way). The service uses the exchange rate that you can observe so, it changes nothing compared to the other two solutions except finding a better exchange rate! Instead of transferring your money in another currency, the system will find other users who will search for your currency and have the one you want. Concerning the fees, they will be around 0.05% so for an important amount of money, the costs will look excessive compared to those of a bank (which are fixed fees) but you will benefit from a much more advantageous exchange rate which will entirely compensate the costs.

Our tip: The service depends on the market fluctuations and needs a little bit time to receive your funds so the exchange rate may change meanwhile. If you want to do the transaction even if the exchange rate decreases, you should fix an acceptable limit. If the rate has too much decreased, you can just wait and see if it goes up again (after a certain time, they can either pay you back or force the transfer at the current rate).

And the best solution to transfer money from Spain is…

The biggest the amount of money you want to transfer is, the less significant the fixed costs will be... The more important thing will be the applied exchange rate. The market is fluctuating that’s why you should forget about the idea to buy the targeted currency at the lowest cost. Obviously, transferring money via your bank is the fastest and easiest thing to do but it can become really expensive. To me, peer-to-peer systems such as Transferwise and Currencyfair seems to be the best solution so as to have the market best rates (at a given moment). Our tip: Don’t forget to protect yourself a bit from the market fluctuations and be careful to have reasonable costs. Have you ever tried one of these solutions? Or are you about to begin these procedures? Tell us more in the comment section below!

Live Like a Local in Barcelona with these Tips

If you are going to live in Barcelona as an expat and want to know what Barcelona locals do or avoid, you've come to the right place! Here is everything you need to do or not do in order to fit instantly in the wonderful city of Barcelona. To do that, you do have to know that no one in Barcelona has time for…

Unauthentic food

Food is very important in Spain and has a very big part in the Spanish culture, especially in Catalonia, that’s why it comes first in that article. Tapas, paella, fuet, tortilla, croquettes, pintxos, jamòn Ibérico, tinto verano… Barcelona offers a variety of tastes for every one. But be careful, the food can be amazing and can also be horrible if you go to the wrong places. The most common and affordable food in Barcelona remains tapas (check out this article to see where you should go to eat really tasty tapas). For other dishes, you should go to these great restaurants that offer various food at reasonable prices; try these ones for Catalan specialties: Canlluis, Els Tres Porquets and L’Olivé and these ones for Spanish specialties: Cera 23, O Nabo de Lugo and El Bierzo a Tope.

Las Ramblas again and again during summer

Even if the street is one of the famous streets in the world and it is still the main drag through the city (running from the waterfront to the center), Barcelona citizens don’t often stroll on it (especially during the summer) for many reasons. First, it’s crowded, full of pickpockets and tourists. Then, remember, above, we just spoke about unauthentic food: restaurants on Las Ramblas are a very good example of that. You just need to see your first tourist running drunkenly around in a Mexican sombrero or pay 15 euros for a coca cola or frozen pizza to know that this street is full of stereotypical tourist traps that are fun to walk by, but not get caught in.
Besides all of that, if you are going there wittingly, Las Ramblas is a great spot to see for street performers, caricature artists, break-dancers, architecture (Liceu Theater, Palau Güell, the Christopher Columbus Monument) or also the city’s largest Market “La Boqueria”, flowers, florists and many much things; you can find almost everything there or in the streets just besides. Last but not least: people who spend all day on Las Ramblas (for work, hanging out…) are called Ramblistas.

Tourist infected areas

Locals don’t really appreciate their city when it is full of tourists, especially in the summer when there are way too many of them. So they find places where tourists don’t go in order to relax and be away from the frenzy of the city. Speaking about beaches, tourists usually go to Barceloneta which is the closest beach to the city but it is a mistake if you are looking for a calm and relaxing place: during summer, it is full of people.
Moreover, you will find cleaner and less crowded beaches a few metro stops like Icària Beach (Yellow line, L4, Metro Stop Ciutadella Vila Olimpica) or if you like to be nude on the beach, just go for Marbella Beach (Yellow Line, L4, Metro Stop Poblenou and then walk for 20 minutes), this is unofficially a nudist beach so don't be surprised to see people not wearing swimsuits there.

Paying for great places

In Barcelona, you can do a lot of things with a very small budget; as you can already see here; there is no need to spend money to have a great time in the city. Besides things that were already said in the dedicated article, there are many other things that people do for free in Barcelona, such as admiring the architecture along Ruta del Modernisme (which is an itinerary that takes you through the Barcelona of the architects that made the city the world capital of Modernism), appreciating culture at CaixaForum (a center for experiencing art, conversing with culture and sharing social projects), relaxing at Park de la Ciutadella, watching talented skaters in front of MACBA (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art) or at Plaza Universitat, or taking a walk in the natural and huge Forest Collserola which is another great place to go.
A little trick for you : If you like museums, wait for Sunday to go: some of them are free this day after 3pm!

Clubs in front of the beach

Instead of going to these clubs along the beach and port and bars that are pretty much all tourist traps with high prices (15 € cocktail anyone?), locals in Barcelona tend to go either less fancy clubs or bars downtown (on Plaça de la Virrena or Plaça del Sol for example) or at “Piknic Electronik” or “Brunch Electronik” which take place every Sunday from June 28th to September 20th at Montjuïc. You have to know that usually, nights in normal bars start at 10pm and people are usually going to clubs around 1 or 2am: if you want to avoid big lines in front of the club, try to go there before 1am.

Justifying why they like FC Barcelona

Asking people from Barcelona why they like FC Barcelona is like asking people from Canada why they like Hockey. They just like it because it is the spirit of the city to like that team; actually, the team represents the city internationally: this is what people abroad know about Barcelona. Otherwise, when there is a football game in Barcelona at Camp Nou, the public transportation are full of football fans, it is pretty crazy!
Want to go and watch a football match at Camp Nou? Click here to know everything.

Bull-fighting

If you want to experience bullfighting, go to Andalusia (Seville, Madrid or Granada for example) because in Barcelona, it is forbidden since a vote of the Catalan Parliament in July 2010. This tradition has been the subject of much debate but now, it is no more legal in Catalonia and Barcelona is going even deeper with it by prohibiting anything resembling a bullfight as “bullfighting shows” in performances, ads, films etc. The two buildings (arenas) for bullfighting are still standing in Barcelona but they don’t have the same purpose at all. One of them has become a shopping mall (Las Arenas) and the other one (the Monumental) hosts concerts and other events and also has a little bullfighting museum.

Valentine’s Day

Yes, we celebrate Valentine’s Day in Barcelona like the rest of the world (14th of February) but the Catalan version of Valentine’s Day is way more popular: it is Sant Jordi’s Day on 23rd of April. This day is the most romantic day of the year and is also called “El Día de los Amantes” (the Lovers Day) or “El Día de la Rosa” (the Rose Day). On that day, the city is full of roses and books; it’s a tradition: boys give girls a rose and girls give boys a book in return as a symbol of love.
Why books and roses? The tradition of giving roses on the day of Sant Jordi (patron saint of Catalonia) dates back to the 15th century, the legend is that Saint Jordi slew a dragon to save a princess and plucked then a rose for the princess, and books are for the death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes, the most famous writer in Spain that coincided with Sant Jordi’s Day. (Note that, as Valentine’s Day, Sant Jordi is not a public holiday in Barcelona) As you can see, there is plenty of great things to do in Barcelona and now that you have read this article, you have all the great tips to move to Barcelona and live here like a local! Did you enjoy this article? Anything to add or to say? We'd love to read your comment!

  The Ultimate Guide for Enjoying Barcelona with a Pet

“What should I do with my pet?”, “Where can I go with my pet”, “Should I take it with me or leave it at home?” and “Who will feed my pet while I'm away?” Whether you are travelling abroad or living in Barcelona, you probably have had those difficult questions in mind. So worry no more, because we have crafted the perfect guide for you and your four legged friend. This guide will provide you with a detailed list of all the things you need to know, fun attractions and locations that are suitable for pets, advice on finding the right apartment and all of the information that will help you to manage your time right. This guide is made especially for you and your pet in Barcelona, enjoy.

Finding an Apartment – Advice on Asking About Pets and Contract Clauses

Finding the right apartment can be tough, many owners do not allow pets in their accommodations and that can ruin a perfect opportunity for a good flat. However if you keep some things in mind and follow our advice, you will position yourself with better opportunities of finding the perfect apartment for you and your pet.
Advice #1: Never ask the owner if it is problematic to bring in your pet. In fact, don’t even mention your pet at all. A pet can be anything from a tiny kitty to a Great Dane, and the owner will always assume the worse, which will drastically lower your chances of getting the flat. Instead, politely ask the owner for a copy of the written contract. Once obtained, check for any clauses that prevent you from entering the flat with a pet. They are not common.  If such a clause does exist, address the owner with a special request stating type of your pet and promise to keep the apartment in a good shape. If done correctly, you will be able to find the flat of your dreams in no time. Advice #2: Search for an apartment near attractions. An attraction can be a local park, special pet shops, restaurants that allow pets and most importantly a veterinarian in case of emergency. Moreover there is nothing more frustrating than living far away from a park and doing the same path over and over again, it is time consuming and even boring after a while. Hence living near a park and other attractions is both time efficient and holds more possibilities. There are several potential locations that are nearby parks and can offer a nice variety of changing landscape (to keep it interesting for you and your companion). The best locations are: Sarria sant gervasi, Poblenou, El born and Parte de arriba de Gracia.

Be Aware of the Local Regulations and Laws

Many of the regulations regarding travelling with pets are quite new, and didn't exist a few decades ago. For that reason you must be aware and respect them. Luckily for you we have listed all of the regulations you should be familiar with. For additional information you can check out this great resource.

1. Pets must be micro-chipped or tattooed. These two forms of identification are necessary if you wish to travel around Barcelona with your four-legged friend. The microchip must be an ISO (11784 or 11785) that is 15 digits long and non-encrypted. If the chip is not compliant with this ISO you can bring your own microchip scanner. As for the tattoo identification, the requests are for the tattoo to be clearly visible, your pet’s current rabies vaccination was administered after the tattoo was applied and the tattoo to be prior to July 3, 2011.
2. Blood Titer Test. This is a mandatory step if you bring your pet from a high-rabies country. If this is the case you will have to take your pet to the vet, where your pet will have to be micro-chipped and then vaccinated. After 30 days has passed, a blood titer test must be administered. It is important that these phases occur in that order. If your pet successfully passed all of these phases and in addition 3 months passed, you will be able to bring your pet into Spain. You can check the full list of counties that are considered High-Rabies country.
3. More than 5 pets? Here is what you got to know. Travelling with more than 5 pets is allowed under certain circumstances. Firstly the pets must be older than 6 months. Secondly in case you are travelling from an EU country, you will need an Intra-Trade Certificate and to register the movement on the traces system. If on the other hand you are entering Spain from a non-EU Rabies-free country, you will need to give 24-hours notice to an approved Border Inspection Post before your arrival
4. Puppies and kittens. If you own a puppy or a kitten, you will have to get them vaccinated against rabies before entering Spain. Yet these vaccinations are not allowed to be administered if your pet is younger than 12 weeks, in addition there is a 21 day wait for puppies and kittens arriving from EU member states or Rabies-Controlled Countries. If you bring your pet from a high-rabies country, it must be older than 7 months.
5. Special Breeds. There are some special breeds that require a 3 months registration prior the entry, these breeds are: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu.

Rules for Pets in Barcelona (Beach, Public Transportation and Parks)

The beach – Barcelona beaches are an absolutely a must, and your pet will love it too! It is important to be aware that during the winter pets are always allowed and during the summer pets are allowed only after sunset, late at night or early in the morning. Nevertheless there are special dog-friendly beaches that are completely legal and within driving distance from the city. These beaches are: Sant Pol de Mar, Sant Pere Pescador to the north, Port Ginesta and Los Filipinos to the south are all dog beaches.
Public transportation – Pets and in particular dogs are allowed on the metro system as long as it is outside of busy periods. Regarding local trains (such as Cercania and FGCC) dogs are also allowed, however they are not allowed on medium or long-distance trains unless they are under 9kg and in a carrycase. During all-times your pet must be muzzled or in a carrier, the only exception is for small dogs. Parks and Gardens – Similar to other places around the globe, you will have to take care after your companion’s brown gifts and most importantly to take care of the environment around you, for that reason you should always carry waste disposal bags with you. If you decide to disobey the law you should expect to be fined heavily by the local authorities.

Bakery and Pet Shops – Special Treats for Your Special Companion

Dog bakeries usually offer similar threats for your pet, the most common ones are peanut butter filled treats for dogs and tuna flavoured snacks for cats, however there are shops that offer special treats based on their shop speciality. Among the special treats you might expect to find dog biscuits in various flavors and dog cakes. These special treats can make your pet very happy, yet while buying treats there are two important things you have to bear in mind!
Firstly our pets have different digestive systems than us, so remember to avoid buying or feeding them with any harmful treats such as: grapes, raisins, chocolate, avocado, macademia nuts, onion, garlic, milk, raw eggs and salt. Therefore it is highly important to check the ingredients of the treat. If the ingredients are not mentioned or clearly stated on the product, ask the workers what it contains. Our pets might try to use their big eyes and cute faces to convince us it is ok, but by preventing them a short pleasure, you can extend their life expectancy… And of course they will thank you later. Secondly remember that some treats (and especially the special treats like dog cakes) often do not contain preservatives and should be consumed shortly after the purchase.
The following is a list of pet bakeries in Barcelona, distributed by location: L'Eixample

1. Mister Guau Center, located at L'Eixample, (Carrer d'Aribau, 21), +34 934 510 404
2. Animals & Cia, located at L'Eixample, (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 513), +34 932 926 130
3. Barkcelona, located at L'Eixample, (Carrer d'Aribau, 43), +34 935 158 677
4. Don Perro, located at L'Eixample, (Carrer de Provença, 307), +34 934 575 969

El Raval

5. Dauer, located at El Raval, (Carrer dels Tallers, 48), +34 933 182 241
6. Caninetto, El Raval, (Carrer del Lleó, 18), +34 932 506 163

Sant Martí

7. València Veterinaris, located at Sant Martí, (Carrer de València, 577), +34 932 324 521
8. Ma petite Tuchy, located at Sant Martí,

Gràcia

9. Quissos, located at Gràcia, (Carrer Milà i Fontanals, 28), +34 615 618 025
10. Elia, located at Gràcia, (Carrer de Bruniquer, 19), +34 932 196 810
11. Pèls amb Gràcia, located at Gracia, (Carrer de Milà i Fontanals, 45), +34 932 854 938,

For the full list of pet bakeries in Barcelona and review check Yelp.

Parks and Attractions – Where to Go

1. Park Güell – This is a huge urban park designed by the great Antoni Gaudí, even though the park was never completed, it is considered one of Gaudi’s most colorful works. Even better, it is dog-friendly and great for running with your pet or playing fetch. Moreover there are small snack shops with outdoor tables. Located perfectly to the north of Gràcia and provides a great view over the city. P.S. The park used to have no entrance fee however now you will have to pay 7 euro per ticket.
2. Rambla Catalunya – This high-class pedestrian street is very close to Las Ramblas, yet it is way less crowded. It is perfect for walking with your pet simply because there are no cars. The street is lined with outdoor markets, shops, restaurants, cafes and most importantly lots of pet stores nearby.
3. Montjuic – you can visit the Magic Fountain, the national palace, the Communications Tower and the Plaça d'Espanya. However you will have to ask the stores nearby if you can bring your pet, since not all of them allow pets.
4. Columbus Monument – an outstanding monument with a great open place to walk your pet, really close to the beach.
5. Tibidabo– This location is outside of Barcelona, yet it is magnificent with its beauty and offers a gorgeous view from the mountain above, spectating over Barcelona.
6. Gothic Quarter – This area holds the beauty of the old Roman city, which is surrounded by a 30-metre-high wall. The streets in the area were designed as a maze so the raiders would get lost easily. Today, the area is full of interesting shops, restaurants and courtyards, where you can spend the day with your 4-legged friend and visit Placa del Rei and Palau Reial Major.
7. Port Vell – Another great place to visit with your pet, located near the beach and has many good restaurants.
8. Parc de la Ciutadella – A terrific main park near El born, perfect and huge, this is a perfect location to visit with your pet.
9. Parc del Clot – This park is not huge however it can provide a pleasant walk along its beautiful location. You should expect other dogs to be around so your dog can socialize with other dogs. It is located at Sant Marti.
10. Parc de la Barceloneta – located right across the street of Barceloneta beach and is a lovely place to walk with dogs. At the park you can find benches to seat on if you get tired and there are even water fountains for dogs who like to play with other dogs. If you find a fenced area you can also off-leash your dog let your dog wander around the other dogs, fun it guaranteed with this location.

Veterinarian –

Veterinarians in Barcelona can be found by using google, no worries though, there are plenty of them. You can check the full list here.

Pet Friendly Restaurants

In the recent years Barcelona has gotten more pet-friendly, and so have its restaurants. Often you will be able to find restaurants that allow pets inside or at least provide a place (and sometimes even a bed) for you to leave your dog. If you are not sure whether a place allows pets or not, it is better to ask the staff or to call the restaurant and simply ask.
The following is a list of dog friendly restaurants:

1. Taller de Tapas – The gorgeous tapas bar is set on a little square opposite the old church. The menu offers a selection of fresh local dishes ranging from shellfish to cheese that you can eat outdoors, so you won’t have to worry about your pet.
2. La Taberna del Cobre – Nice place near the square where you can sip Sangria and eat tapas or Paella. Taller de Tapas and CheezeMe are in the same square, so it's relatively easy to get a table between the three.
3. Dog Café BCN – Dog Café is a perfect place for you and your dog where your little guy can run free! Not to worry though there are also specialized staff who are dog trainers to keep an eye on the K9s. Moreover the café has both indoor and outdoor space where your dog may play and socialize with other dogs.
4. Merbeyé – Located next to the blue tramline station on the side of Tibidabo Mountain, the bar offers cocktails and the terrace offers some of the best panoramic views over the city. Most importantly, pets are very welcomed.
5. The Room Service – The restaurant is a great place for soccer lovers, there you can meet new friends, eat delicious dishes, snacks or salad if you are on a diet. It is great for groups or as a romantic dinner lady-and-the-tramp style.

Meetups -

Through the site you can find others that are looking for good activities, sports, dog hiking, camping, dog walking amongst many others!  You can even create your own new group. Initially you will have to sign up and right after you will be able to search anything you want, this platform is great for finding cool new attractions with locals and travellers alike. Walkers Barcelona Dog activities Outdoor sports with dog Dog hikers Activities and Education. Hopefully you found some useful tips in our guide. Did you enjoy the content or find it useful? Do you have any questions? Do you know of any great places that we could update our blog with? We would love to hear what you have to say in the comments section below!

Fun things to do in Barcelona can be found almost around any corner, however if you are looking for more unique and interesting activities  you should consider participating in some that are a little bit weirder than what you are used to. That is, of course, in the case you are willing to step out of your comfort zone.
Just living in Barcelona is without doubt one of the best experiences I ever had in my life. The beautiful beaches, the culture and the unique nature of the place make Barcelona a top living destination for anyone's list! If you are looking for more fun things to do in Barcelona, you can find them all around. We have listed the top 7 Fun things to do in Barcelona that are a bit weird and odd, but I promise that you should definitely check them out:

1. Chocolate fan? You are going to love this!

The Chocolate Museum is perhaps the sweetest of them all. This Museum is dedicated entirely to chocolate and offers its visitors an insight into the history of chocolate as a luxury product. At the entrance you will have to pay 5€ in order to get a chocolate ticket (there is also a discount for groups or seniors, students and disabled visitors), inside you will be able to find stunning and detailed chocolate sculptures that will leave you drooling. When you can't take it anymore there is some chocolate tasting as well as wine tasting. Frankly the museum is relatively small, however it is a nice experience for the chocolate lovers among us.
If you are still yearning for more chocolate but prefer not to ingest it, why not put chocolate on top of your body while having an expert masseur pleasantly rub it all over you to completely stimulate your senses.
At K B Centers Spa you can enjoy a relaxing warm chocolate massage that is great for your skin and helps to burn fat (presumably the same fat you ate earlier in the chocolate museum). Moreover it is full of anti-oxidants, has an anti-ageing effect, help to diminish cellulite, and overall provides a pretty sweet experience. It is great for couples who search for a romantic activity or even to spice up their relation with unique and memorable experience.

2. Sick of normal Therapy? Try Wine Therapy!

Wine Therapy might sounds like an Alcoholics Anonymous activity for a late afternoon. But in fact, in Barcelona this is a form of real therapy. Right now you probably wonder what it is all about and why not simply drink wine and enjoy the flavour instead of wasting good wine for luxury bathing reasons. Well… you might change your mind after reading the benefits of this weird and exotic experience.
The Wine Therapy offers numerous treatments such as wine bath, wine massage with wine based oil and full body peel mask that is made from grape seeds. Using wine on your skin has several benefits. Firstly the antioxidant properties of wine can help fight toxins from your skin. Secondly it is a great way to make your skin really glow and remove stains. Thirdly wine (depending on the type) can provide great anti-ageing properties, open pores and acne prevention. Combine relaxing therapy and the special properties of wine and you will get a perfect relaxing experience that is good for your skin and soul and will make you feel like a brand new person. If you are interested you can check out Aqua Urban Spa, located on Gran de Gracia 7.

3. Freezing Cold Icebarcelona Bar

From the list of fun things to do in Barcelona this is definitely a must! So if you are in Barcelona during the summer, you are going to love the next location! Indeed seeing another bar is perhaps not the weirdest thing in the landscape of Barcelona. However, watching people wearing coats during the hot summer is definitely out of the ordinary. While the average temperature in summer can raise up to 28 °C degrees! Icebarcelona bar keeps a freezing temperature between -2° and -10°C!
Icebarcelona is located on the beach of Port Olimpic and from outside does not appear very attractive. However once you enter the bar you will immediately feel the fridge-like temperature and be amazed by the beautiful sculptures made entirely from ice. At the bar you can drink alcohol from frozen glass, enjoy good music and admire the detailed decorations that assemble to Gaudi and other famous artists. Whether you are looking to avoid the scorching sun of Barcelona or simply looking for a place to chill with friends and meet new people, Icebarcelona is absolutely worth checking out.

4. Anti-Karaoke!

When someone mentions Karaoke, the first thing that comes to my mind is a room full with drunk people who are singing so badly, they would make an old shrilling chainsaw sound like a masterpiece by Beethoven. Despite its name, anti-karaoke does not include unplugging the sound system. Quite ironically the activity of anti-karaoke consists of, you guessed it, drinking alcohol and singing karaoke! So... What makes anti-karaoke activity so different from other karaoke?
Well the answer is pretty simple! Beside the electrifying atmosphere and the various number of songs the club offers, the party is often accompanied with a bunch of singers and comedians wearing costumes that perform and sing with the audience! Therefore the major improvement of singing badly as a whole group is simply the extra show by actors, is that better or worse? You be the judge. The party takes place every Thursday at 22:00

5. FlyBoard like a bird over the Mediterranean sea!

We've all dreamed of flying like a bird, soaring over cities and nature while cruising through the clouds. These dreams are usually accompanied with an amazing uplifting feeling of being totally free and unchained from the ground and basic human needs. These yearnings of the heart are perhaps one of humanity's most primal and common wishes. It seems that the ability to fly manifested in the human mind for many decades and goes as far as ancient Greece, an example is the familiar story of Icarus and human obsession to reach near the sun.
Now you can finally realize your inner need to fly! In Barcelona you can rent FlyBoard and fly over the Mediterranean Sea, or even dive under the surface and swim like a fish! In my taste this is one of the most exciting and fun things to do in Barcelona that is truly unique and offers a thrilling experience! I highly recommended it for families and individuals alike. Make sure to register in the FlyBoard Barcelona offiicla website.  

6. Another one bites the dust - Catalunya

If you are a person who loves challenges and knows to appreciate lightning-fast cars, the next activity is made especially for you! We are all familiar with some of the brands associated with fast cars… Bugatti, Aston Martin One, Jaguar, McLaren are just some of them, yet the most familiar brand is most likely Ferrari. So... when was the last time you have raced a Ferrari?
Yes you heard correctly, in Barcelona you can actually race with one of the most iconic and fastest cars ever invented! This experience is for the strong hearted and of course any true fast car lover. So what are you waiting for? If you wish to take this baby (Ferrari 430) for 60 minutes ride of pure power and joy you will have to contact the agency. Adrenaline and excitement are guaranteed with this experience! The price is 560 euro and the only limitation is for the driver to be above 26 years old.

7. "I See Dead People" at Funeral Carriages Museum

If you are a person who appreciates art, you have probably already visited a Museum at least once in your life. Museu de Carrosses Fúnebre is however not a typical normal museum and to my taste it is the weirdest of them all. While most ordinary Museums offer various pieces of Art that reflects the artist’s mind set and feeling, Museu de Carrosses Fúnebre offers a glimpse to our (not-so-far-ago) history, to a time when death was celebrated with rich and stunning local tradition.
The display consists of a collection of elaborate funeral carriages, hearses and life-size mannequins of people dressed in costume. This unusual activity provides a perfect view to the era when honoring a dead person was followed with a huge and beautiful ceremony. The experience is entirely free and located nearby the cemetery of Montjuïc, Barcelona's main cemetery. Did you enjoy our list of fun things to do in Barcelona? Do you have any recommendations for different experiences you have tried in Barcelona? We would love to hear about it and so would others! So make sure to share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

5 Amazingly stylish Barcelona renovations that will pump creativity to your next project!

Barcelona architecture is an eclectic and diverse patchwork mixing old, new, and sometimes modernist. We see this often in some of the best renovations of apartments in Barcelona as well. Newly renovated homes that have once served a different purpose are getting to be quite the trend. The top 5 repurposed spaces we've curated for you will give you some great inspiration when you're tired of the typical cookie cutter Ikea-esque apartments that we're getting so bored of seeing here.  The takeaway here folks is that there can always be a creative spin on the old adage 'out with the old in with the new'. Without further adieu, I present to you our top five repurposed renovated homes in Barcelona.

1. The cement factory

The first on the list is an absolute piece of artwork. Actually it reminds me of something as beautifully twisted as the aesthetic of the movie Edward Scissorhands. The the way the breathtaking towers jett out into and contrast with the sky is enough to make you fall in love with this former smoking ruin. Designed by the architect Ricardo Bofill in the mid 70’s, this once decommissioned cement factory became a renovation project and a design challenge meant to turn the “the most ugly thing” into a thing of beauty, and to be honest, remarkably so. The spacious interior was designed with a special fervor to give the viewer an enhanced spatial experience and allow the mind to wander and increase its natural creativity. The furniture is made with minimalism in mind so that the free flowing feeling of the property will not be obstructed or cluttered. I can imagine myself sitting in one of the immensely spacious rooms, having a coffee and toiling away on a project, feeling the tranquility and calm that only such an impressive design can bring and feeling the creativity flow from my body and reverberate around the room. For me this is the pinnacle of Barcelona real estate dreams. For those of us looking to live in Barcelona in a home that might be a bit smaller than a summer palace though, the next renovation project might be a bit closer to reality. I also suggest watching this short about this amazing estate:

2. The sugar factory

Wow, just wow. Look at what a little creativity and a touch of amazing taste can make. Could you even believe there used to be heavy machinery and decaying structures in this newly renovated estate?? I just love the amazing work the architect did to accommodate the gym into this apartment using the natural space of this one time sugar factory to allow a feeling of a genuine fitness room with great air circulation for the hot summer days. This amazing renovated apartment is currently home to Jorge Gutiérrez, one of Spain’s most well-known personal trainers taking pride in his residence while making us all think about at least fitting a treadmill into our bedroom. Viewing this amazing apartment makes me constantly think if I ever get the opportunity to own this kind of real estate in Barcelona, I am going to lock my door and not step out until I have the build of a hunky model and the cardio prowess of an Olympic runner or a cheetah. This place is quite literally a fitness freak’s wet dream. Being a former sugar factory and puns about sweets aside, this apartment is really made for those of us who like to enjoy the SuiteLife. Without sugar coating it anymore, this is the crème de la crème of repurposed renovations.

3. The workshop

Talk about hard work huh? Might as well enjoy the amazing view! This former industrial workshop has been transformed by Nook Architects into a co-working office space that just makes you feel at ease while working on your daily routine. I find the way Nook Architects transformed the open space into smaller rooms separated by glass panes absolutely fascinating, and the minimalistic yet hip (it got its own bar!!) way this office space is built really separates it from what you would traditionally consider as an office space. Your daily work routine hence is transformed into an amazing visual experience. With all these things considered I definitely took a few design ideas from this amazing renovation even if I might not find my very own local industrial workshop to set it in.

4. The brewery

Beer and style, style and beer, what else can you ask for when wanting to relax next to a cool glass of fine lager in this amazing brewery from Moritz? This renovated brewery has just the right amount of old style mixed with new design features that meld together in such a fantastic way that it invites you to enjoy your surroundings while you savour the food and drinks offered. The architecture done by Jean Nouvel took the once decommissioned and old styled brewery and infused it with a fantastic modern touch. For those of you interested in unique real estate designs, I recommend you not to skip a visit to the Moritz brewery on your next visit to Barcelona, Cheers mates!

5. The dairy

Ok I will confess, I saved my favorite for last. This one Is an absolute beauty in terms of architecture and design, and I love it. With its spacious rooms, exposed walls to show the old architecture and the overall style that preserves motives of its old dairy origins, this renovated house just screams style. Bought by the French architect Marc Mazeres and designed with the assistance of the local architect Lluís Corbella this former dairy factory today accommodates Mazeres and his family. Now this is the kind of home I would totally go for at the first chance I got, just thinking of moving to such an apartment and living in a constant state of relaxation. This apartment I must say is more suitable for families, and for people looking to have a bit of a crazier lifestyle another choice of rental might be more appealing, but for people looking to settle in and enjoy the simple life or even to invest in an amazing real estate opportunity, this is the place for you. So this is it folks, I hope you found some cool ideas for renovations or otherwise just seen some awesome real estate that is just to die for. If any of you did any cool renovations or know a place that can be made totally better by just a touch of fresh ideas, let me know in the comments. Until next time, and remember to live the SuiteLife! ~Wiz

SuiteLife TV went outside again to shoot this Barcelona Hyperlapse video, and we are kind of proud of it! We spent uncountable hours of work for shooting and editing this video, shot around 3100 single pictures just to give YOU an amazing insight into the stunning cityscape of Barcelona. Lean back and enjoy the vibrant city of Barcelona, captured from November 2015 to January 2016.

Barcelona Hyperlapse 2015/2016 by SuiteLife Real Estate

SuiteLife TV went outside again to shoot this Barcelona Hyperlapse video, and we are kind of proud of it! We spent uncountable hours of work for shooting and editing this video, shot around 3100 single pictures just to give YOU an amazing insight into the stunning cityscape of Barcelona. Lean back and enjoy the vibrant city of Barcelona, captured from November 2015 to January 2016.