Your definite guide on restaurants to enjoy Barcelona Brunch

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 Barcelona Brunch? 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 recommend you this 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 Barcelona brunch 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.

Top 5 Barcelona Pickpockets Scams and Street Scams

We, here at SuiteLife, are proud of our sweet home Barcelona. We love to share the beauty and enjoyment of the city with as many people as we can. We are always excited to hear from new Barcelona transplants and tourists alike. As we have mentioned in previous blogs, like 5 True Stories to Help You Avoid Pickpockets, this city is the pickpocket capital of Europe, so it is important to watch out for Barcelona pickpockets scams and Barcelona street scams, while you are reveling in the exquisiteness around you. Our last blog, Barcelona Crime part 1 discussed the top 5 locations to watch out for pickpockets, now we are going to give you more info about Barcelona street scams and what to watch out for. Here are the top 5 Barcelona street scams.

1. The Tourist Trap ~

Over 5 million people visit Barcelona each year. This can create a lot of congestion for streets and walkways in well known spots like Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas, Passeig de Gracia, Plaza Catalonia, and the beach as well. It is fairly easy to spot tourists in the city, and Barcelona pickpockets know this. They will often times dress as tourists, carry a map, have the camera, the whole nine yards. In this disguise, the thief will enter into a crowd of tourists pretending to take pictures and enjoying the scenes as well. After infiltrating the group, they will enter as many pockets as they can, pilfering anything they can get their hands on. Just because you are in a group, do not think you are safe. Barcelona Pickpockets go after groups because there is usually more confusion and less attention in crowds. Always watch your belongings, no matter where you are or who you are with. Another trick involves a thief pretending to be a tourist who has just been robbed themselves. They will ask for help and ask for money. Do not give any money! While enjoying your day in Barcelona, you may be approached by another tourist asking for directions. This person will throw their map in your face asking for help in locating a famous location. During the time you try to help them, you will be swindled by the “tourist’s” partner. The “tourist” is nothing but a distraction to allow their partner to steal your belongings without your knowledge. This is another trick that tries to use people’s kindness against them. Remember that you are a tourist or a visitor, you shouldn’t know where these things are either. Politely excuse yourself from the situation and move on. These are only a few examples of the tourist trap. Just remember you should be the one asking for directions, and if people are asking you for help and are being relatively pushy about it, they are most often trying to rob you.

2. The Pigeon Pickpocket ~

Okay, no one likes to get bird poo on their jackets or their shirts. Besides being gross, it leaves stains. To go even further, no one is ever happy when they get a ketchup, coffee, or wine stain either. The point is that we will always stop what we are doing to try to clean the mess. Here lies another Barcelona street scam. A thief will secretly squirt you with a substance and stop you to point out you have bird mess on you, or someone will “accidentally” spill ketchup or wine on you. Next they will offer to clean the mess. They will help you take your jacket off to better reach the stain. In this moment, they will either slip their hand in the pocket while they help you take the jacket off, or simply run off with it. Tip for this trap, never let people help you with something you can do yourself. There is no reason to take your jacket off, and there is no reason to let someone help you do this. Politely refuse the “assistance” and continue moving until you can deal with the “mess” in a comfortable setting such as a bathroom sink.

3. Flowers for Fools ~

I'm sure you have seen these guys plenty of times already. The men and women that enter the restaurants and bars trying to sell flowers to couples and drunks. They are actually Barcelona pickpockets: they will place a flower on the table and try to offer the flower to you only then to demand money for this unsolicited gift. When you reach for your money they will try to “help” you get the appropriate amount from your wallet. If the flower seller is not able to reach for any wanted money themselves, they will try to sell this single flower at an outrageous price such as 10 Euros.  Do not buy individual flowers or other items from people on the street. If you were not thinking about purchasing something, you probably don’t want it to begin with. Keep your money in your purse or pocket where it belongs.

4. The Friendly Fiend ~

The over friendly drunk may in fact be Barcelona pickpockets. This trick has plenty of variations but they all have the same theory, if the thief can get close enough and actually touch you then they can steal from you as well. Some famous methods to this trick include the over friendly dancer in the club, the football foot dance, or the lost tourist. All of these tactics involve thieves inside of bars and clubs or outside along the street. When tired drunk patrons begin their exodus from the clubs, they find jovial youth wanting to chat and wanting to play. Often this group of youth will try to play games with the drunk, want to hug, dance the football dance, or put their arms around your shoulder and say they will help you home. This should be something we had learned as children, do not let strangers on the street touch you. They will try to trip you with the soccer dance, or they will try to make you jump. In any of these situations, you give them access to your body and in
doing so, it is incredibly easy for them to grab what they please.

5. The Bump and Bolt ~

This trick is designed for high traffic locations. Basically as you try to move through a crowded street or metro car, it is common to be bumped or pushed by people. Barcelona pickpockets use this; they will work in pairs, while you are bumped by one person another from a different position will use the distraction to enter your purse or pockets. Children and older women use this strategy in groups in an effort to disorient you and make you feel flustered. While you are bumped by one person, another bolts with your belongings. Do your best to avoid crowded places, and if you are in the middle of the metro or a crowd on Las Ramblas, always keep your hand over your purse or your pockets. It is common to be bumped into when in a crowded area, however the common person does their best to avoid any contact to begin with. Be wary of anyone who is willing to come into contact with you. I hope you are not scared. I hope you do not think that Barcelona is dangerous. Being aware of your surroundings and of the people around you will save you a lot of stress. It may seem like paranoia, but it is just smart to be wary of strangers wanting to touch you, especially when you are not in your familiar settings. Do what you can to avoid being a target by Barcelona pickpockets. Keep all valuables hidden, or better yet keep them at home. Do not take large amounts of money with you, keep your purse or camera bag closed and secured around your body, do not stop to talk with strangers in highly congested traffic areas, and most important do not let strangers touch you. Use some common sense and be a bit cautious, you can help keep yourself safe and keep your trip positive and memorable. Take care and be safe Brettsky Check out other SuitLife blogs about staying safe in Barcelona Barcelona Pickpockets Hit the Road

Barcelona Nightlife Has Never Been This Crazy!

Barcelona nightlife can be really crazy and intense where people party until the next day when the sun comes up again. But if you are looking for the hottest, craziest and most insane Barcelona nightlife activities, stop wasting your time and join Erasmus Barcelona to sign up for SHAZ’s Guest List that gives you great deals on clubbing in Barcelona and even free access to the best clubs in Barcelona. Erasmus Barcelona is Barcelona’s biggest International students community that organizes multiple social activities for exchange students in Barcelona, which also includes the number ONE activity of most students,  Nightlife in Barcelona. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, Erasmus Barcelona provides the opportunity for students to enter the best clubs in Barcelona from Monday to Sunday where you can meet many students with the same interests as you.

Best Clubs in Barcelona with Shaz’s Guest List

Barcelona is a culturally enriched city where people enjoy tons of activities during the day, but as the sun goes down, the city transforms into a hub of nonstop partying at the most exotic bars and clubs in town. Whatever the night of the week it is, there’s always something going on when it comes to nightlife in Barcelona. Check below for guaranteed great nights out to the best clubs in Barcelona with SHAZ’s guest list.

Opium Mar

One of the best and biggest clubs in Barcelona located at Villa Olimpica area right at the sea shore. The club is known for its awesome terrace on the beach and its huge dance floor. A perfect place for those who love glamor and love to experience a VIP treatment. Several internationally famous DJ’s play here. With its great music and exotic dancers, Opium Mar gives everyone a guaranteed night to remember. Free entrance until 02:00 am with Shaz’s Guest List.

Sutton

The Sutton Club is one of the most fashionable clubs in Barcelona with a huge dance floor. It has designated VIP areas for its premium guests and the club has been visited by internationally known people such as Hollywood actor Nicholas Cage and Brazillian soccer stars Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The club is situated in a upscale part of the city (Diagonal/Tuset). Free entrance with Shaz’s Guest List until 02:30

Shoko

A popular club with a romantic and comfortable atmosphere with a beautiful terrace which opens towards the beach. Shoko is considered to be one of the best clubs in town by locals and tourists as it has a nice dance floor with great music playing. Free entrance with Shaz’s Guest List until 01:30 am

Sotavento

Sotavento is located alongside the beach, with a nice elegant Mediterranean atmosphere. The club has a huge terrace in front of the beach and 2 club areas where different music is played. The club has a nice restaurant where you can taste the specialties from the kitchen. One of the most popular places for university students as the club offers free dinner every once in a while for people on Shaz’s Guest List. Free entrance with Shaz’s Guest List until 02:30 am

Catwalk

Catwalk is a stylish club in Barcelona with two different dance floors. Mostly young people between the age of 18 and 25 are attracted to come and party at Catwalk. There are 2 dance floors with different music playing. Dance floor 1: House Dance floor 2: RnB, Hip Hop Free entrance with Shaz’s Gues List until 1:30 am.

Not Tired Yet?

It's guaranteed that plenty more nightlife in Barcelona will follow. So get involved with other exchange students by joining Shaz’s Erasmus Barcelona. To be on the Guest List Form:
Go to Barcelona Parties, click on parties / fiestas section above, choose a day and which club you want to go, and write your name + the number of friends with you in the Guest List form. Or like their facebook page  ‘’Barcelona Night Life’’ and you will receive invitations for upcoming events. The only thing you have to do here is to click on attending and write your name + No. of friends on event’s wall. - Alper

Gay Bars in Barcelona : Cheers !

Overlooked

A couple of days ago I couldn't find a thing to write about for the SuiteLife Gay Bible Series: From Behind The Rear. It is the worst feeling for a writer. So I did what any respectable person would've done...ask for help. My flatmate has been living for a while in Barcelona, so when I told him my problem, the light bulb on top of his head turned on and knew exactly what I needed. He took me to a gay bar located on Carrer de Villarroel. This bar is like no other I have been to so far - it is a hidden gem that can and have easily gone unnoticed on the gay radar. The bar is called People's Lounge. Here you'll never see twenty-something year old people loitering outside smoking cigarettes blocking the entrance, nor will you hear the music blaring.

Icons

A handsome bouncer held opened the door for us - which isn't unusual here in Barcelona but in this case was misleading to the kind of crowd I would find inside. The first thing that impressed me when we entered was the beautiful and tasteful decorations. The walls are cevored with movie posters of iconic Broadway musicals, films and their stars - a great  representation of that gay era and the foundation of ours; Victor Victoria, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Phantom of the Opera, Betty Davis, just to name a few. The dimmed lights gave the place a smokey-bar-from-the-1940s kind of look, especially since the only light source came from the chandeliers and shaded table lamps (yes, very old fashion but it added to the decor).  The only modern looking thing in the place was the firefly laser disco lights that illuminated those who sat on the couches on every corner of the place. The bar is a wooden island placed in the center, here a young bar tenders - ok - a hot bartender waltz around serving customers a wide range of cocktails and bevarages. Don't have fear of them running out of alcohol, they have over 30 brands of whisky and you can see them displayed above and around the bar. The most important icons (at least according to me) were the people there. The crowd at this gay bars in Barcelona is 50 and up and it was a breath of fresh air to be amoung them. Right away you can see how different their generation is to ours today perhaps this is because they were more, if not completely, restricted to be who they are. So it was an exciting experience to see them have fun and made me realize that I live in a time I shouldn't take for granted and should enjoy it while I'm still around. So I started with dancing. Why not? The music at People's Lounge range from Jazz and blues to all-time favorites from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. In the early hours some very special traditional Spanish and Flamenco music from Andalusia. Conclusion The down side of this bar (understandable knowing their niche is very small) is that drinks are more expensive here than any other gay bar in Barcelona. What would normally cost me 2.50, I had to pay double that amount at People Lounge. They are wi fi free zone with broadband wi fi access if you want to use your smartphone or laptop.  Add to all this a professional and friendly service from bilingual staff and you have the ideal place for an early cocktail, meet up with friends or make new ones. It is a definite guaranteed that you will have as much fun in this bar as in any other gay bar in Barcelona.

Flea markets in Barcelona are a great place to shop if you are interested in Barcelona antique, art, clothes or in general second hand „stuff“.

We went to see two of the most interesting Barcelona flea markets and although this way of shopping is very cheap, it still left us broke!

El Flea Market Barcelona - “One man’s garbage is another man´s gold”

That´s the main philosophy of the Flea Market Barcelona, which is organized monthly in the streets of Barcelona. The last one that we visited took place on Plaza Blanquerna, just behind the Museu Marítim. The market has an open friendly atmosphere with some nice guitar tunes and people chatting away the afternoon from their little stands with clothes, jewelry, books, LPs, and much more. All the wares must be in good condition and at reasonable prices so I bought 2 bags, 2 scarves and 3 t-shirts, because I just had to have them, and in the end I spent around 10 euros. This place is great for anyone who wants to reduce waste and consumerism, because a longer life is given to products.  Also  Barcelona flea market is perfect for those who love to hang out on the street and buy original pieces that really can't be found anywhere else.

Largest Barcelona flea market - Mercat dels Encants

If you like this way of shopping, you should visit the best known flea market in Barcelona. It´s just enormous and you can get really everything from Barcelona antique, books, cosmetics, computers to rasty bicycles and used mattresses. You'll see as much variety as London´s Harods, but in more lively, cheaper, and more bohemian way. Mercat dels Encants takes place close to the metro Glories every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but some of the sellers close their stand around midday, so it´s always better to come in the morning. When I came, the market was literally packed. It was on Saturday at 11 a.m., probably the worst time to go in hindsight. The nice thing is that the merchants are quite motivated so you hear “barato barato” (cheap cheap) or “one euro one euro” a lot. If you go, be prepared to bargain. It´s the way of shopping here.  It´s more than expected and it´s fun too! The prices are usually set about 2-3 times higher than what the merchant will accept, so you better get bargaining quick! I wish you the best deals! Did you manage a real bargain lately? Let us know! Sharka "like the animal"

Barcelona Spa: 3 Great Options to Treat Yourself

To find a Barcelona spa is very easy as they are all over the city, and if you lead a stressful lifestyle like us you should consider taking a trip to one of these three Barcelona spas, sure to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the town. Every metropolitan city has a whole host of luxury hotels offering everything from planned excursions to Michelin starred restaurants, and Barcelona is no different. The high rises near the beach are well-known for catering to the rich and whether you have the dinero to stay there or not, the unique Barcelona spa housed inside are worth a trip. Amidst all the partying, everyone needs to relax. I’ve been thinking about this a lot and so I decided to create this list of three unique Barcelona spas for those of you, who are thinking like I am.

1. Sit Atop the City at The Majestic Spa Barcelona

The Majestic Spa in Barcelona qualifies as both unique and also one of the best rated Barcelona spa. It was the first in Europe to be awarded the prestigious Spa Excellence, certificate by the American organization, Spa Quality LLC, and it takes its reputation seriously. The Majestic Spa Barcelona boasts a hot and cold sauna, a steam bath, a “sensations” shower, an ice fountain, and stations for beauty treatments from head to toe. Its treatments do not come cheap, but when it comes to pampering, many people are willing to pay top-dollar for what has been deemed THE BEST. I find that cost closely parallels quality, most of all when it comes to massage. You can visit the spa, located in Eixample off Passeig de Gracia, seven days a week from 8 am until 9 pm. [caption id="attachment_20414" align="aligncenter" width="445"]
Pool at the Majestic Spa Barcelona[/caption]

2. Enhance your Green Energy at The Spa by Six Senses Barcelona

The Spa by Six Senses in Barcelona is located in the Hotel Arts Barcelona right next to the beach. With its natural wood flooring and breezy terraces, it was clearly designed with the Barcelona-beach goer in mind. The spa provides all of the traditional treatments, as well as Thai and Oriental massage, Ayurvedic treatments, and a Hopi Ear treatment (curious about this one). The Six Senses Spa also has a holistic calendar on their website of “wellness consultants,” who visit regularly to explain to their guests the benefits of beauty rituals and massage. Of all the Barcelona spa, this one is the most "green." [caption id="attachment_20415" align="aligncenter" width="424"]
Thai Massage at Six Senses Spa Barcelona[/caption]

3. Experience the Middle East at Aire de Barcelona

Aire de Barcelona is known for its unique atmosphere, modeled after a traditional Arabic bath, and its distinct Aragan treatments, which can be included in the “wet” series of temperature controlled pools.  The baths have special weekend breakfasts, tea and fresh fruit on the weekdays, and singing every Sunday morning. For a very reasonable price, you can soak in all three pools (hot, temperate, and cold) and finish with a 15, 30, or 45-minute massage. Unlike the previous two mentions, Aire de Barcelona is not inside of a hotel. This is just one of several Barcelona spas located in the hip Borne district, and it is open from 10 am until 2 am most days. [caption id="attachment_20417" align="aligncenter" width="442"]
Candelit Bath at Aire de Barcelona[/caption] Have you been to any Barcelona spa? What are some good ones you've found? Ciao bella Kathy

Cool Spanish Slang Expressions - Speak Like A Local!

Why should you learn Spanish slang? Think when you are sitting at a café in Spain with local people, or walking down the streets : very often you hear expressions and you have no clue what they mean and can't find them in a dictionary. Spanish slang is the real way local people speak, so it would help to improve your overall comprehension and your understanding of Spanish culture. Last but not least, we believe that If you start to use some cool spanish expression, locals would really appreciate it! But mostly, it's just super fun! Ready to become a cool spanish slang speaker? Vamos!

• Guay

  Cool

• ¿Que tal, tío?

  What's up, mate? (Tío/tía means uncle/aunt, but you use it colloquially with friends)

• ¡Estoy machacado!

  I'm exhausted!

• Me estás toreando

  You are messing around with me

• ¿Vamos a zampar?

  Shall we eat something?

• ¿Tengo monos en la cara?

  Why you're looking at me? (Lit. Do i have monkeys on my face?)

• Es una gozada

  It's really great

• Beber como una esponja

  To drink a lot (lit. like a sponge)

• Pasarlo bomba

  To have a great time

• La marcha

  The nightlife

• La Dolorosa

  The bill (in a sarcastic way, lit. means "the painful")

• Ser un muermo

  Being boring (La discoteca fue un muermo total)

• Cambiarle el agua al pajarito

  To pee

• Dar la lata

  To bug, annoy, bother

• Acostarse con las galinas

  To go to bed very early (lit. to go to bed with the chickens)

• Esa chica es muy potable

  That girl is really good looking (lit. drinkable)

• Un Hincha

  Fan of a soccer team

• Gente maja

  Good people, very nice and pleasant

• Un/una guiri

  Foreigner (if you're reading, you probably are one!)

That should be enough for today...Now all you have to do is "salir de marcha" and show off your cool vocabulary! If this introduction to cool Spanish slang was useful, we would be pleased to write more! We're still discovering the Spanish slang world, so please help us collecting new words and expressions! Vale?
¡Olé! - Elio

Breakfast in Barcelona is the best thing before starting your sightseeing or after finishing your party. We bring you the top restaurants and cafes to have a real breakfast in Barcelona. Let’s a have a look, where to eat in Barcelona, when the sun is still above the sea !
Breakfast in Barcelona, and in Spain in general, usually consists of coffee with milk. You can add in a croissant and you will survive on it. But what about letting your imagination float on and find some delicious bagels, sandwiches and frilly pastries? Whether you're an early bird or a late party animal, a nice breakfast or brunch in a calm friendly place may be the thing you need to start your day. Even though breakfast is not the most important Spanish meal, there are still some great places where us breakfast lovers can rejoice in Barcelona.

La Parodia

If you decide for the coffee with croissant, we have a place that claims to have: The best croissant in Barcelona. We have tried it out and it´s de- wait for it- licious! The place is called La Parodia and it´s on the street carrer d´Aribau, between c/ Mallorca and c/ Provenca. La Parodia is a small and friendly place just a few minutes from the Plaza Universitat. They have an amazing lunch menu as well, which you can read about  here.

There are bagels rolling to you!

Car Sharing Barcelona and Car Pooling

People's interest in alternative ways to travel is growing, because it's cheaper and eco-friendly, so let's talk about Car Sharing Barcelona! First of all, we have to distinguish Car Sharing from Car Pooling, which is also very popular now. Car Pooling is when an individual, as member of a car pooling community, shares his own car with other members, generally for short distances. Car Sharing is similar to car rentals, but community based. In fact, in UK it also known as "Car Club". Members get easy access to a car when they need it, but without all the expense and hassles of owning a car of their own.  Users pay a small annual membership, and after that it's pay-as-you-go. Vehicles are owned by the Car Sharing company, and can be rented by the hour, or for days at a time.  And fuel costs, vehicle maintenance and insurance are all included in the price.

Car Sharing Barcelona: how it works

Barcelona Green revolution, successfully started with the Bicing experiment, and now also Car Sharing. Barcelona's  most popular Car Sharing network is Avancar, owned by the American Zipcar. You can find many other Car Sharing companies, that work basically in the same way:

1 - Become a member and get your Smart Card.

You only have to register online, create an account and pay a monthly fee. There are different tariffs depending on how much you're planning on using the service. The Smart Card will allow you to unlock/lock the car you are going to use.

2 - Search on the Car Sharing Barcelona map to find the nearest cars.

3 - Choose your car

Each car has a detailed page, with  features and costs, and location in real time.

Gay Book Stores in Barcelona : Two Great Choices !

There aren't many gay book stores in Barcelona but the few - two to be exact - are great locales where book lovers can immerse themselves in their glory. You may have probably come to Barcelona for the nightlife, for the food or culture, for the sun and the beaches but if you're anything like me, then you won't - for the life of you - spend a thirty days holiday without some reading material. When I moved to Barcelona in mid-February, my search for the best English book stores - especially Gay book Stores in Barcelona - began but the available information on and offline was very little to none, so I set out to find one. So here are my findings for those of you who are visiting Barcelona and enjoy reading between outings.

Libreria Complice

The first of the two Gay Book Stores in Barcelona is a spacious library specializing in fiction and non-fiction literature for English, Spanish and Catalan speaking customers. Their services ranges from assisting gay and lesbian travelers to find their way around the city and by providing guides and maps to helping writers publish their work that are ignored by mainstream publishing houses. So, this makes Complice both a book store and a publishing company. As varied as their services are, their catalogue offering is even more so with a great selection of material in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender genre for every age: books about general diversity and themes, comics, movies, magazines, and a lot more. If you want to see everything that they got to offer in their catalogues you can visit their websites...most of the information found there is in Spanish and Catalan. CÓMPLICE is the Historical LGBT book store of Barcelona, this doesn't mean that they specialize in historical literature, it just means that they are the oldest operating gay book store found in the city, going strong with 17 years diffusing the homosexual culture while intergrating the rights of gays and lesbians around the world. When you subscribe to their blog and newsletter, you can be kept informed about their catalogue udates and the latest information about what goes on in the Barcelona gay scene such as parties, clubs, presentations, meet-ups and other news of interest. Recently, Tevevision de Catalunya filmed a short segment on Complices. It's in Catalan but even if you can't follow the dialogue, the visual gives you a good sense of the store.

Antinous Library in Barcelona (Librería - café gay- lésbica)

If the bars and clubs scene gets old and a little exhausting, then a fantastic place to hang out, meet people and immerse yourself in the gay scene, is Antinous. Both a bookshop and a coffee shop for gay men and women, it is a perfect spot for browsing the latest in gay literature, enjoying a great cup of coffee and learning more about community events and organized gatherings. New clubs, shows and meeting groups are advertised, so if you’re fresh to the area and want to meet new people, this is definitely one to remember. This is our second of the two Gay Book Stores in Barcelona but don't think this is a ranking competition. This shop has its own charms and it's a very popular meeting point for gay and lesbians just off the southern end of La Rambla and very much like Complice, their catalogue varies tremendously from books to videos that caters to the GLTB community. They also provide a copy of "Nois Magazine," a publication with all the information about the gay events taking place in Barcelona, hold book presentations and exhibitions. Both stores are wonderful when looking to purchase a gay book, it all depends on how you want to invest your holiday time shopping for a book. Do you know of any other Gay book stores in Barcelona that are great and that we haven't mentioned? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments! ~ Argenis