Looking for a Barcelona Seafood Restaurant?

We found a delicious and cheap Barcelona seafood restaurant made for you: La Paradeta is the most unique Barcelona seafood restaurant due to its reasonable prices, its seafood's freshness and its informal "fish market" atmosphere. Barcelona seafood restaurant La Paradeta has been operating for 15 years. The first one of these alternative fish and marisco restaurant chains opened on Carrer Riego, 27 in Barcelona. It was not long before the owner, coming from South of Spain, opened 4 other marisco (seafood) restaurants in different locations in Barcelona, having established the popularity of his original concept. Ideed, La Paradeta is based on a very simple idea: people like fresh food and a fish market atmosphere. So the first thing La Paradeta's clients do is choose their fish and seafood directly from the market stall. I like to walk by just to see its explosion of colours enhanced by the pure white of the ice that surrounds all kinds of fish, lobsters, crabs, squids, shrimps, prawns and seashells. As La Paradeta's smiling manager on Carrer Comercial explained, the owner was very much inspired by Thaïland's fish markets where fish and seafood are caught, sold, cooked and eaten on the spot. Barcelona being a market's town, the mysterious Southerner decided to take advantage of this characteristic. All products are brought to the restaurants each day by La Paradeta's very own careful selection of general seafood and fish markets in Barcelona's famous port.
Once you've decided what you'd like to eat (it's not easy with so much choice!), you pay per kilo for the fish and seafood you want to eat (first reason for its cheap prices). Then you collect your cutlery, plates and drinks and chose a table while your delicacies are being cooked (you have a choice as well between several differnet and natural ways to have your food cooked). No waiter will come and harass you (in fact there are no waiters, which is the second reason for its cheap prices): you will be given a ticket with a number on it (similar to the system at In-N-Out Burgers, a famous hamburger chain that is well known in California) like at most European cheese, meat or fish markets. When you hear your number, just get up and fetch your food at the bar!

Some serious recommendations and useful tips about La Paradeta:

1) Make sure you understand numbers in Catalan or Castellano. 2) Order a few dishes at the same time in order not to wait too long between each of them. The cooking usually goes fast though. 3) Order the bread. I'm French and I know about bread. I ate, eat and will eat tons of it in my life, and believe me, La Paradeta's bread was a gift from heaven! 4) Order the white wine they serve there: el Vino Turbio: cheap, fresh, up-lifting, perfect after a hard day of work and with a lovely plate of marinated gambas (shrimp)! 5) La Paradeta doesn't accept credit cards. Please come with enough cash! My friend and I paid around 20 € each for a big salad, three huge plates of marisco, a big piece of fish and a bottle of wine. I loved this dinner.
6) Come early, before the opening if you can, especially on weekends, as the place is so packed you could not fit a pin in! However, you can sometimes be lucky: when I went to La Paradeta (the one located in Pasatge Simó) for the first time, on Wednesday, the 27th January at 10pm, I did not have to wait and could find a table very easily. However, don't court disaster! 7) La Paradeta doesn't sell drinks alone. If you want to drink you'll have to order a bite to eat as well. 8 ) La Paradeta is a NON-SMOKING area (rare in Barcelona, so enjoy it!). 9) Do not bring dates there, it is not a romantic restaurant but more for friends or already set-up couples. Unless your date is not a big fan of fancy crystal glasses and red roses in candle light and likes beer, loud noises and shouts from the kitchen and sudden bursts of laughter. Cheers! For more info on opening hours, locations and anything else you'd like do know, check their website. La Paradeta is simple and all about food (exactly how we like it here at SuiteLife). Do check it out: you will experience the best Barcelona seafood restaurant and seafood meal ever! Yours! Audrey.

BCN Map & Neighborhoods Map

A BCN Map is a must-have when visiting Barcelona but don't worry, we've got one for you as well as a Barcelona Metro Map! We've also written you an introduction to the Barcelona Old City so you can start exploring! We know you're new here so we recommend you start getting an idea of the neighborhoods of Barcelona by using our Barcelona Neighbourhoods map. Also, check out our Barcelona Neighborhood Guide! With a BCN map in hand, there is nothing better than taking a walk around the Barcelona Old Town (also called Ciutat Vella). Its made up of four main areas: El Raval, Barri Gotic, El Born and La Barceloneta. Its one of the most popular Barcelona tourist destinations as it is full of history and has its own distinct characteristics. Out of the four areas, the Barri Gotic is the most central to the Barcelona Old City. The Old City, as its names implies, is pretty flippin' old! Most of the buildings were originally built in medieval and even Roman times and quite a few of them are listed as World Heritage Sites. One famous one is the Palau de la Musica Catalana by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the only concert hall in Europe which is totally lit by natural daylight.

Another important BCN map: Tourist map of Barcelona

Once you have a tourist map of Barcelona, you can make sure that you won't miss any of the great tourist attractions in Barcelona. The best and most relaxing way to visit all the tourist attractions in Barcelona is to take the tourist buses. They are operated by Barcelona Bus Turistic regularly and all year round. They have three lines – red, blue and green. All the stops are located at the main and most famous Barcelona tourist attractions so you can't miss it. The map from Barcelona Bus Turistic can be downloaded from its official website.

The Barcelona metro map - One of the most handy Barcelona maps

If you think having a Barcelona street map is not enough, check out the Barcelona metro map. The Barcelona metro was started in 1924, and the very first line was between Lesseps and the Placa de Catalunya, which is still part of the modern Line 3. Nowadays, there are 8 metro lines (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L9, L10, L11) and the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat) line with twelve routes. The network is operated by two different operators: Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB); and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC). The individual journey for the metro is 2.15 euro per ticket, and €9.95 for 10 trips and, remember, within one hour you can transfer to different lines for free. Don't fancy taking the metro? Check out the 23 Alternative means of transport in Barcelona!
A word of warning: when you're desperately poring over your new maps in search of your next stop, make sure to stand to the side of the road or duck into a shop. Standing with your head buried in maps is like a flashing neon sign over your head identifying you as a tourist and it can make you a bit of an easy target for pickpockets if you don't have your wits about you! Charlotte Jiaqian Chen, SuiteLifer

Churros Con Chocolate: The Best Way to Eat Churros!

Spanish food is of course famous all over the world. Barcelona Tapas and Paella are served in many Barcelona restaurants, but when it comes to local Spanish food in Barcelona, it doesn't get much better than the Barcelona Churros con chocolate, served with thick hot chocolate (known locally as Churros con Chocolate) for dunking your Barcelona Churros into, definitely some of my favourite Spanish food!

"What Are These Churros You're Talking About?!"

Churros con chocolate are a sweet type of Spanish food, which are (surprise-surprise) fried, much like donuts. Churros con chocolate are made of  batter, and traditionally sprinkled in hot cinnamon sugar, buenísimo! You know when you have found a good Barcelona Churro stall or "Churrería" as it's known locally, when the Churros are crunchy on the outside, yet soft and yummy in the middle. The surface of a good Barcelona Churro, should also be ridged and shaped like a prism, in a long spirally-twisted length of Churro heavenliness, YES, I really did just say Churro-heavenliness!

How To Eat Churros?

So, you have followed our advice, and after much deliberation and assessment of your local Churro con chocolate suppliers, you have picked the best of the bunch. You are happy that the quality of their Churros con chocolate is sufficient for you to purchase a bag of those heavenly Churro-tastic Churros with a side order of that silky, chocolistic, hot chocolate. What do you do next? Well my fellow Barcelonian Suitelifers, it's easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy. First, find a bench or somewhere comfortable to park your bum. Grab hold of one of the crunchy sticks of Barcelona Churro goodness, and dunk it as deep as you can into your pot of hot chocolate, don't be shy, you need to enjoy this Spanish food to the maximum.

Enjoy Churros in the Morning and All Day Long!

Although typically, Churros con chocolate are considered to be a breakfast-time-kinda-food, they are eaten all day, and some of the Churro con chocolate stalls are open all night as well. There's a small Churro stall, near the Joanic metro stop in Gracia Barcelona, it's close to a club I go to and is open until God-knows-what-time, it sells the best Churros con chocolate in Barcelona and makes for the perfect end of night party food! I also advise you to try  the Xurreria El Trebol,  the Granja La Pallaresa  and La Xocolateria by Oriol Balaguer, which are some of the best places to taste de most delicous churros con chocolate. Remember, if you find a great Churros con chocolate place, you can tell us about it on our Facebook page! Yours, Ben Holbrook - Suitelifer and Chocoholic

Bookstores in Barcelona: What About English Books?

Bookstores in Barcelona are fantastic, if you speak Spanish or Catalan! Are there any Barcelona bookstores which cater to the English readers? Well young SuiteLifer, we're going to tell you about one of the best little bookstores in Barcelona!

Any Good English Bookstores in Barcelona?

[caption id="attachment_9987" align="alignleft" width="260"]
Hibernian bookstore in Barcelona[/caption] The Hibernian second hand bookstore in Barcelona offers a huge selection of books. You can find both old and new books but what's more importantly is that they are all in English! The Hibernian book shop is definitely one of my favourite bookstores in Barcelona for a few reasons; 1. A wide selection of books in English - This little bookstore offers some 40 000 titles with 30 non fiction sections ranging from biography to Business. I must say from personal experience, the Hibernian bookstore in Gracia is best for fictional books. 2. The best prices in Barcelona - Barcelona bookstores can be very expensive and although other Barcelona book stores such as "Happy Books" offer English books in Barcelona, they are generally very expensive. Hibernian Barcelona bookstore sells second hand books at great prices. Many of the books are around €3-4 which is better than $20-25 you will pay in other bookstores. 3. Hibernian bookstore Barcelona is in Gracia, my (and most people's) favourite area of Barcelona. You can buy your book and then hang out in one of the many cool cafes and bars in Gracia. 4. Hibernian Bookstore Barcelona offers a part-exchange system where you can take your old books and trade them in for something new....or second hand of course. They value the books based on age, condition and whether or not they think anybody will want to buy it. [caption id="attachment_9988" align="alignleft" width="320"]
Hibernian Books Barcelona[/caption]

NB - The Hibernian bookstore Barcelona, do not accept computer manuals, language teaching books older than 5 years, old mass produced books or as in my experience, dictionaries.

The Hibernian Bookstore Barcelona Carrer de Montseny 17 08012 BARCELONA Tel: (+34) 932 174 796 So SuiteLifers, now you know about the best bookstore in Barcelona! Enjoy and take care! BH - SuiteLifer and fellow bookworm.

The Traditional Dinner for the Perfect Catalán Christmas in Barcelona!

As Christmas in Barcelona gets closer and closer, everyone is staring to think about what to eat during their Catalán Christmas and also Catalán families and housewives are trying to figure out which traditional Christmas dishes they want to cook up for Catalán Christmas Dinner in Barcelona. Traditional Catalán food is very special and tasty all the way from tapas to paella to the delicious churros! Obviously there are traditional Christmas dishes in Catalunya as well, which are often served at Christmas in Barcelona. The traditional Catalán 'Christmas dinner' is usually served during lunchtime on the 25th of December, which distinctly differs from the rest of Spain, where they eat their Spanish Christmas dinner on the evening of the 24th of December. This is the same time when the infamous Caga Tió "poos" out presents to the all little children! If you've already been to any of the Barcelona Christmas Markets you might also see huge 'galets', which is part of traditional Catalán  Christmas  food. It's a type of noodle which Cataláns normally eat at Christmas time with their popular Christmas dish Escudella i carn d'olla!

Escudella de carn d'olla

[caption id="attachment_9966" align="alignleft" width="201"]
Escudella i Carn d'Olla[/caption] Escudella de carn d'olla or Escudella i carn d'olla is a typical Catalán Christmas dish. It is a slow cooked one-pot stew,  full of meat, vegetables and the traditional Christmas noodles Galets de Nadal, a very big, nicely shaped type of pasta. Cataláns normally put various meats in the Escudella de carn d'olla: chicken (for Saint Peter), beef (for Saint Luke), lamb (for Saint John) and with pork (for Saint Anthony), along with a large pilota (meatball). Besides this selection of meat they put a huge amount of vegetables into the pot including cabbage, potatoes,  carrot, onion, leek, celery and chickpeas. If it's ready it can be served altogether as a meaty soup for Catalán Christmas dinner, or separately - they remove and keep warm the vegetables and  the meat as second plate, and eat the rest as a soup with noodles for the first course! So this is the most typical traditional Catalán Christmas dinner, but other popular dishes are grilled prawns and stuffed turkey as part of the Christmas dinner in Barcelona.

The desert ? Turrón !

As desert - which I must say is always very delicious in Catalunya - they traditionally serve a selection of sweets and cakes such as marzipan, neules, Christmas bread, 'El Pa de Nadal' or turrón (torró in Catalán). [caption id="attachment_9967" align="alignright" width="202"]
A Mouth-Watering Turron[/caption] Turrón is really really popular and not only at Catalán Christmas.  You can buy it in every period of the year! This traditional Spanish sweet is a type of nougat in a shaped like a tablet, made of honey, sugar, egg white and a variety of nuts, especially almonds. I highly suggest you find a shop or Christmas Market in Barcelona to buy and try some turrón, delicious! We hope you enjoed this little selection of traditional Catalán Christmas food, if you have the opportunity try some of them, and let us know what you think! Merry Christmas in Barcelona!

Barcelona at Christmas Time: Get Ready for an Amazing Dinner!

Barcelona at Christmas is magical and oozes with a festive spirit that can be found in the soul of any great city. Barcelona sparkles after being draped with colourful, big, bright lights and spotted with Christmas trees. This time of year gives shop owners the chance to be creative, meaning many become a little too enthusiastic with the good old tinsel and have turned their window displays in to tiny North Poles. It’s also the time for Barcelona´s Christmas Markets and as the 25^th of December draws closer market stalls start to pop up all over the place.
The winding streets of the old town come alive with market stands selling all types of gadgets, gizmo’s and traditional Christmas cuisine, making Barcelona at Christmas time the perfect winter destination for shoppers.  People flock to these temporary shopping spaces in their droves. Some of Barcelona’s Christmas markets are more popular than others which will become obvious as soon as you arrive.  Truth is, you’ll either be swept along in the current of eager beavers keen to tick off the next point on their shopping list, or if you’re lucky you’ll be given a little more space to breathe and, more importantly, shop. Either way, the atmosphere is great and gives you that warm Christmassy feel that goes down as well as a fine glass of mulled wine around this jolly time of year. Anyhow, after raving on about Barcelona’s Christmas markets, let’s get down to the nitty gritty and find out how to get to there and what’s on offer.

Barcelona at Christmas: A Sample of Barcelona's Markets

Fira de Santa Llúcia

Noted as the most popular of Barcelona’s Christmas markets it has a special Christmas atmosphere and is drenched with Catalan Christmas customs. This is a Christmas market that has stayed true to its surroundings and has purposely avoided taking on a German Christmas Market identity. No sir, instead of beer and Bratwurst you’ll be able to pick up your very own Caga Tio, a smiling Christmas log which, although seems a little peculiar to many, in a Catalan world it’s a time-honoured tradition. Also, scattered sporadically between these stalls you’ll also find a few wooden open top shops selling decorations, jewellery and hand-made toys. Alongside the merry ambiance here you’re spoilt with the stunning backdrop of the Cathedral so if it’s a Christmas Market in Barcelona you’re after then Fira de Santa Llúcia has to be first on the list. Location: Plaza de la Seu, 08002

Fira de Nadal a la Sagrada Familia

This Christmas Market takes up residence, every year, in the snaking streets around the Sagrada Familia bringing the whole area to life. With a city so rich in fantastic architecture it’s hard to find a location in Barcelona that doesn’t have charm. However, although the other Christmas Markets have a good location, this market takes first price for most impressive scenery as none could be more eye catching and magical as the Sarada Familia. It has a very similar catalogue of products to sell as Fira de Santa Llúcia but is not so compact. This does mean there’s a little more room to manoeuvre whilst looking for items to fill your shopping bag in Barcelona at Christmas. Location: Plaza de la Sagrada Família, 1

Mercat Gótic (Fira de Brocanters)

This market has permanent residency and can be found open to visitors all year round. It’s the place to be if you’re looking for old antiques, jewellery, postcards and stamps. However, if it’s a peaceful and relaxed shopping trip you’re after then go elsewhere as this market is busy at the best of times never mind in the run up to Christmas. In fact, you’re more likely to find  freefalling from a plane a more relaxing experience than  taking a stroll here! That said if the crowds don’t bother you then it’s a great place to find a hidden gem that you can turn in to a first class Christmas gift. Location: Avenida Portal de l’Angel, 37

Col.lectiu d’Artesans de l’Alimentació

Again open all year round but with a certain added charm at Christmas time. This small market sits gracefully under the watchful eyes of the Church Santa Maria del Pi and unlike the others this market is the one to be at if it’s your taste buds you’re looking to spoil this season. It’s full of delightful delicacies from honey, pate, herbs, and most importantly chocolate. So, come on and treat yourself, it is Christmas after all. Location: Plaça del Pi 08002 Barcelona at Christmas is amazing! The city does Christmas very well and does Christmas markets even better. If you’re looking for anything from decorations to stamps or even a tasty treat, you’re likely to find it here! So, whatever tickles your fancy this festive season, you can be guaranteed to find a little Christmas spirit at all of them. Just be sure to watch those purse strings as even scrooge wouldn’t find it difficult to spend a few dimes at Barcelona´s Christmas markets this year!

Modern Art in Barcelona: Some Hidden Galleries in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of those cities where you can find art galleries all over the place. This city has inspired so many Spanish and foreign artists over the years thanks to the city's Gaudi heritage and its creative environment. There's art around every corner here, from the smallest streets to the  the main streets and the cool thing about Barcelona is that artists have plenty of space to host their own exhibitions with all different art styles coming together to join the Barcelona art scene. Of course, there are many art museums in Barcelona such as the Picasso, Gaudi and Dali museums which are full of these master artists' work but if you're looking for something a little more edgy and unique, you just have to walk around Barcelona to find something that suits you. I'm going to share some of my favourites with you but the art galleries in this city are best discovered by getting out there and discovering them yourself! Carrer Consell de Cent is the main street where you can find the best art galleries in Barcelona. There are lots of those on both sides of the street from Passeig de Gracia to Carrer Aribau. If you're looking for a classic piece of art to add to your collection, just go there!

Ikara Gallery and Shop

Ikara Gallery in Eixample is a typical skateshop/gallery in Barcelona where local artists exhibit their art. Opening up just a few years ago, this skateshop is also a gallery with different kinds of art especially linked to skateboarding. If you're a skater and looking for some stuff, go to this gallery/shop to find whatever you're looking for! This is one of my absolute favourites and its worth stopping by just to chat to the owner - such a nice guy! Where: C/ Urgell, 82 bajos. 08011 Barcelona. For more information: Ikara Gallery website. [caption id="attachment_16233" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Ikara Gallery[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16234" align="aligncenter" width="383"]
Ikara piano[/caption]

Artevistas Gallery

Artevistas Gallery is a hidden gallery in Barcelona located in the Gotico, in the Passatge del Credit. An interesting thing about this building is that it's where the famous Catalan artist Joan Miro was born. This art gallery is composed of two parts: The first is for the permanent collection and the second is for the VIP section. Different artists exhibit their work every month in this VIP section so you're sure to find something new every time you visit. This art gallery promotes local artists by exhibiting their paintings, drawings and sculptures. Where: Passatge del Crèdit nº4. 08002 Barcelona. For more information go to: Artevistas Gallery Website. [caption id="attachment_16235" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Sculpture at Artevistas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16236" align="aligncenter" width="383"]
Artevistas in Barcelona[/caption]

The Disseny Hub Barcelona: DHUB

The Disseny Hub Barcelona is a museum which occasionally features exhibitions mainly focusing on conceptual and modern art. This place is divided into 4 areas: a museum; a scene, which holds conferences and workshops; a research part, which aims to foster discussion and debate; and the action section which attempts to fuse the work, products and services with the world of business. The main activity of the DHUB, however, is concentrated on design. Indeed, their main focus is on its different aspects such as product, visual communication, architecture, and fashion design. Where: C/ Montcada, 12. 08003 Barcelona For more information: The Disseny Hub Barcelona DHUB. [caption id="attachment_16237" align="aligncenter" width="383"]
DHUB Disseny Hub Barcelona[/caption]

Miscelanea

In Raval you can find the multidisciplinary arts space Miscelanea which is an art gallery/bar/place to hang out with friends and where different exhibitions are presented. There are around 10 or 15 exhibitions each year from small barcelonese artists to international artists. Where: C/ Guàdia, 10. 08001 Barcelona.

For more information: Miscelanea Website.

[caption id="attachment_16259" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Miscelanea Gallery in Barcelona[/caption] Opened last year, The MUTT is an art gallery located in El Borne in Carrer Commerç. This art gallery is a balance between art and design. This gallery is also a bookstore with a pretty amazing choice of art books that are more relevant and intriguing than those at FNAC. Go to visit MUTT and become one of the MUTTERS (The United Association Of People Who Love Mutt). Where: C/ Comerç, 15. 08003. Barcelona For more information: The MUTT Facebook page. [caption id="attachment_16253" align="aligncenter" width="590"]
Mutt Art Gallery in Barcelona[/caption] Open your mind and visit these galleries. Maybe you will find a piece of art which could light up your place or find the perfect investment piece. Maybe you'll buy something from an unknown artist which could one day be worth millions! -by Kok Natha HEN.

Brunch in Barcelona is amazing! So, where is a good place to eat in Barcelona? Get ready, it’s time for a picnic!

Finding the best brunch in Barcelona can be a tricky task on a lazy Sunday morning. Therefore, we at SuiteLife are here to help you!  Read this article and I can promise you that your Sunday afternoon and your Sunday Barcelona brunch will be perfect! Sunday – the end of the weekend, but this doesn’t mean the end of fun, especially if you have the luxury of going for Brunch in Barcelona. I mean, you can wake up at noon and still get breakfast with extras (and yes, by extras I domean cocktails!) In fact, one of my favorite parts of the weekend is the Sunday brunch in Barcelona and my favorite part of the city is El Born so I thought, why not combine the two? From living in Los Angeles, I am used to gathering all my friends together, dressing up (even though it might be the day after a big night...) and spending Sunday afternoon updating each other over brunch and a couple of cosmopolitans. That’s why I got really excited when my best friend here in Barcelona told me about this new and chic place in El Born called Picnic. “They have the best brunch in Barcelona and amazing cocktails” she said, adding “and the menu is great!” “However, it’s supposed to be very popular so fingers crossed we’ll get a table.” “Let’s go there” I said with excitement. And so we did!
We walked a few blocks down from my friend’s apartment and in a corner between the beginning of Comerç and Ciutadella Park we finally found the cute little restaurant Picnic. Weekend brunch in Barcelona is definitely the part of the week when this cosy restaurant gets busiest and it was crowded as in c-r-o-w-d-e-d!  “Popular huh?” I said to the waiter at the door who smiled and nodded “ I am sorry but we are full, Sundays are really busy but call this week and make reservations for the next weekend! You girls would love our Strawberry mojitos and Bloody Marys”. Although we didn’t make it this time, I got a glimpse of this chic and hip Barcelona brunch restaurant. I was very impressed with the menu in which different kinds of pancakes, smoothies, fruit-plates and scrambled eggs were just a few of the options. The menu even featured smoked mussels, olive toast, a special recipe for fried green tomatoes as well as a kangaroo fillet. Furthermore, I noticed how the kitchen was open and not divided from where you sit and eat. In other words, the atmosphere was amazing and very friendly! People by the bar were chit-chatting with the chef and outside, people were having conversations with some of the waiters.
Unfortunately, this Sunday we ended up having a picnic in the park with some salad and snacks. Not as good as the real Picnic itself but we got our Sunday picnic after all. This week, me and my friend will definitely make our reservations for Picnic and make sure we have a table for this coming Sunday. Will I see you there? What's your favourite spot for brunch in Barcelona?
If you already have been or looking for more brunch options, don't look any further. Try Milk, famous for it's Eggs Fry up & The Eggs Benedict. Que Aproveche! Charlotte Giver

Barcelona Activities - Never get bored during the Summer

Football in Barcelona is definitely one of the most popular Barcelona activities - The famous team, coached by Josep Guardiola, won the Champions League and National Championship this year and delighted millions of fans all over the world. Unfortunately the season is over - but why don't we go out and play ourselves? Also, there are tons of other Barcelona activities to do! Read on and you won't miss any cool activities in Barcelona.

Barcelona Activities - Football

As already mentioned, more or less everything is about football in Barcelona. What a lot of people don't know is that there's another pretty successful team in Barcelona apart from FC Barcelona called Espanyol Barcelona. They're absolutely crazy about football here and, being a passionate football player myself, the first thing for me to do in Barcelona was to find a spot to play. It can be difficult to find one, especially if you're trying to join a game rather than set one up. After a few hours of research I found this pitch in "Parque Joan Miró"
This pitch is public and accessable for everybody as long as nobody rents it. I went there yesterday and I asked two groups if I could join them. They told me that they rent it every Tuesday at the same time and that I could of course play with them. The surface of the court is pretty slippery but it's still really cool to play there. As the court is surrounded by a high fence, you don't have to hunt for the ball all the time - which is definitely a big plus. Also, they didn't play with a normal size football but with a smaller one which is useful considering the pitch is much smaller than usual. If you are not in the same situation as I am and already have a bunch of buddies around you, you might also want rent this or another pitch. There are plenty of different ones to rent in BCN. Usually it's a 7-a-side pitch but you can also rent the entire football pitch. I never rented one in Barcelona, but this site seems to be good. Let me know if you are planning on renting a pitch. I'm totally in to it ;)

Barcelona Activities - Basketball

Right next to the football pitch in "Parque Miró", there is a basketball court which is the same size as the football pitch. I guess there are a few more courts in Barcelona, but this is definitely a good one.

Barcelona Activities - Water sports

As we already know, Barcelona is surrounded by the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. This means that there are tons of activities to do in the water. If it's sailing, boat trips, swimming or diving Barcelona has everything to offer when it comes to water sports. Nevertheless, one thing is for sure - you have to avoid crowded beaches to really enjoy water sports in BCN.

Sailing:

There are different sailing and boat clubs in Barcelona. They offer a rental service and sailing courses. In order to get all the information concerning courses, races, rentals and local conditions, you should contact the closest marina. Port Masnou Tel: (+34) 935 403 000 Port Olímpic de Barcelona Tel: (+34) 932 259 220 Base Nautica Municipal Av. Litoral s/n (not numbered) Platja Mar Bella Metro:  Poblenou Tel: (+34) 932 210 432

Surfing / Kite Surfing

The lastest in-sport is Kite Surfing. It's pretty hard to learn, but once you get it, it is super fun. Just drive a little further north of Barcelona and you will find perfect conditions for Surfing.

Diving

If you want to discover Barcelona under water, seek for old boats or beautiful reefs, you should go diving. I found this professional company which offers everything around diving. Check out their site for further info.

Barcelona Activities - Tennis

Although it's really hot during the summer, a decent tennis match in the evening can be very fun. I found this really informative website, which brings together tennis players in Barcelona who seek for someone to play with. The site is non-profit and organises everything around the match. They offer tennis courts all over Barcelona. Sign up, edit your profile and you will find someone who is in the same situation. Tennis Barcelona: check out there site!

Barcelona Activities - Running

Barcelona is a beautiful city so you can find great places to go running. Sad enough I didn't really get the chance to go running yet.  However, I can think of a lot of places in Barcelona to do so. You can go to the Citaduella Park, Montjuic, or Parc Güell. Simply check out our great blog about where to run in Barcelona and you'll find out everything you need to know.

Barcelona Activities - Biking

Biking in Barcelona can be very fun. To use bicing in Barcelona, you have to be a permanent resident. Anyways, bicing is not really biking and can't be considered as a sport ;) If you want to do real biking, you either buy a bike or simply rent one. The conditions to do biking in Barcelona can't be any better. Being surrounded by mountains, Barcelona has so much to offer for the off-road cyclist. Also, if you don't like the mountains too much, you can go biking through Barcelona which is quite flat. If you aren't familiar with Barcelona and it's surroundings, I'd suggest a guided tour. There are different guided tours, for instance around the Gothic Quarter. Now that you've read this blog, you know everything what there's to do when it comes to sport- activities in Barcelona. I am pretty sure that there are tons of more things to do. You can play golf, go climbing or simply throw frisbee in a park. For now, you should know enough to never end up in front of your computer watching movies with such nice weather outside. What are your favourite Barcelona activities ? Do you know other cool spots to play? Let me know and I'll add them. ~ Alexander Kolb

Shopping in Barcelona: The hidden store that the tourists have not yet discovered

I remember, three years ago, when I was a "tourist" in Barcelona. Coming here with my family, I remember going shopping around Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas. When letting our maps guide us to El Born in order to continue our shopping spree I started to feel a little bit lost so we decided to do some last-minute shopping in the Born neighborhood and then hit the beach in order to avoid the nausea. Little did I know what I was missing because after living in Barcelona for almost half a year now, I can tell you one thing: the best shopping is not to be found in the touristy-areas. No, the opposite! The best shopping is to be found on the hidden streets of Barcelona! Therefore, when I  saw a chic newly-open store while walking home from grocery shopping in Raval the other day, I thought: if I don't blog about this shop, how will people coming from outside of Barcelona ever find out about it?

Bulala On Ramelleres 24 in Raval

To the left: Marcos Lowy, owner of Bulala. Therefore, I decided to visit Bulala this week in order to get some fab pictures, talk to the owner and...do some shopping! The store is called  Bulala and is located at Ramelleres 24 in Raval. Just go down Las Ramblas from Plaza Catalunya. Make your first right and you are on Carrer Tallers (the street where I live..) then keep walking until you see a big palmtree and make a left. On that street, to your left hand side, is where  you will find this amazing store. Carrying beautiful summer-dresses for no more than 35 Euros, cropped tops with matching cute skirts, outstanding jewelry and hats, blazers and  champange-colored jackets that you won't caught anyone else wearing.


After walking around the store I got a sense of what type of style(s) the owner was focusing on selling to his customers. Romance and laces, 70s styles, stripes and Paris chic type of clothes were all to be found. However, I was curious and I wanted to know more. I asked the owner ,Marcos Lowy, what he considered to be the trends for this summer. "I am trying to push exaggerated colorful clothes." he told me "neon is the big thing for this summer and it is all about being brave and having the courage to stand out from the crowd" "I like clothes with stripes and prints." he continues "as well as everything-cropped. These styles are all very happening this summer!" Walking around the store however, I didn't find that much neon but what I did found was a lot of cropped tops (love love cropped tops! Wear the cropped beauties with some high-waisted pants or skirts and you are all set!)
Neon colors for the brave.
Happy Shopping! (Sidenote!)  These are the open hours: Monday - Saturday 12-15 h / 17-21 h - Charlotte Giver