Barcelona Vietnamese Restaurants that you need to know about

Barcelona is heaven for food lovers with mixed cultural gastronomy with respect and curiosity about the foreigners so it is not strange that many Barcelona Vietnamese Restaurants appeared in many corners of this wonderful city,  especially when Vietnamese cuisine becomes more popular in the world nowadays. Moreover, it  conquers Barcelona little by little by a balanced combination of sour, sweet and spicy, fresh ingredients and less oil usage in cooking. If you want to try the real Vietnamese food, we suggest you to go to one of 5 best Barcelona Vietnamese restaurants! They belong to native Vietnamese therefore they bring you the true taste of this popular Asian cuisine! Now, it's time to  quickly check what a food-loving Suitelife blogger offers you.....

La Vietnamita

[caption id="attachment_54796" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Vietnamese sandwich[/caption] Located in 2 crowded streets of Gracia and Born areas, LaVietnamita now is known much more as the best Barcelona Vietnamese restaurant offering the true Vietnamese fast food. However, unlike other kinds of fast food, this restaurant 's slogan is " Be food conscious" so all of its dishes are created by local fresh and healthy organic vegetables. With a base of rice and noodles, it also a perfect choices for vegetarians. Full of colorful vegetables but still keeping the best taste for each bite, its food really satisfies even the most difficult customers. Moreover, this Vietnamese restaurant also offers ready-to-go Vietnamese sandwiches - the world's best street food you have to try at least once in our life. Check out the menu  there Addresses: Torrent de l’Olla, 78 08012 (Gràcia)  or Carrer Comerç, 17 (Born) Phone: 935 18 18 03 Hours: 1:00 – 5:00 pm, 7:30 – 11:00 pm

Bun Bo Vietnam

Last week, the first time I enjoyed the meal in Bun Bo Vietnamese restaurant, I felt like I was in Vietnam, my homeland, eating the most traditional and dedicate  dishes. This place is really amazing with a oriental and distinctive decoration and copious menu full of most popular food such as Vietnamese xoi chien nhan, rice balls with meat inside, lettuce rolls, spring and summer rolls, or pho soup, a plate that combines meat and rice. It also have wide range of special drinks such as beer and Vietnamese coffee  smelt like heaven. Let's go there in the Gothic Quarter and enjoy a stunning meal at the terrace for warmer days! Check out the menu  there Address: Calle Sagristans, 3

Hanoi and Hanoi II

Following the success of first Hanoi restaurant, one of the first Barcelona Vietnamese restaurants, the owner decided to open the second one in Avenida de Sarria. Named after the capital of Vietnam, both restaurants offer high quality and flavorful Vietnamese dishes cooked by a native chef in elegant and fancy space. Especially, it is more varied with the addition of Thai and Chinese specialities. Even though the average price for dishes is a little bit higher than others ranging from 20-30 euros, it is still acceptable because of their  delicate flavors and unexpected combinations of ingredients. However, if you are on a budget, the perfect time to visit is at midday when they offer lunch courses with cheaper price than normal, for example only 10,90 € for the set lunch menu. Must-try: Beef with mandarin or Mussi shrimps Check out the menu  there Addresses:

• Hanoi Plaça Doctor Letamendi, 27 08007 Barcelona Tel. 934 515 686 L-S 12:30-16 h y de 20:30-24 h. / D 12:30-16 h.
• Hanoi II Av. Sarrià, 37 (Josep Tarradellas), 08029 Barcelona Tel. 93 444 1099 L-D 13:00-16:00 / 20:30-24:00

Indochine Ly Leap

I am just an intern who is on a budget so I rarely come to this Barcelona Vietnamese restaurant because of its pricey menu but if you are in a generous mood and desire an outstanding and tasting menu, you should give it a try. The most attractive thing is its interior beautifully decorated like an Asian tropical garden with bamboo and fish all around. Also, it is really nice that  your dishes's colorful garnish are made from plants grown at the restaurant terrace by Ly Leap, the place owner. Some of the highlights on the classic menu include marinated chicken in ginger, garlic, soy, coriander and wrapped with lemon leaves and Green mango with caramelized pork meat. Just imagine you enjoy your dinner in an exotic landscape with tables set in an artificial pond with huge gold fish, it would definitely be an unique experience! Address:

Me

[caption id="attachment_54827" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
Vietnamese style secreto de Iberico, marinated and sous vide on the grill[/caption] If you are an Asian food lover but want innovations and creations in cooking, this Barcelona Vietnamese restaurant is obviously the best option for you. The secret of its success is in the perfect fusion between 3 cuisines: Vietnamese, Catalan, and Cajun in all recipes inspired by 2 owners: one Vietnamese and another from Catalunia. Thus, you will have a chance to taste the most innovative plates such as bo luc lac (a salad of watercress and sauteed veal) or xao bahn (a Vietnamese crepe stuffed with vegetables).... You shouldn't miss the delicious bonita  a type of fish) and the "crawfish pot pie". The bonita was prepared in a roll that is covered in various delicacies and the presentation is gorgeous and mouth-watering. Also, order goat cheese cheesecake for dessert and you will be addicted after first bite. :)) Not only an excellent menu but also the service and the owner's hospitality  makes this place become one of the best Barcelona Vietnamese restaurants! Address: C/ Paris 162 Check out our last blog about  Pho ( one of best Vietnamese food)  and where to enjoy the best one there :) Linh

OY VEY! WHERE ARE THE KOSHER RESTAURANTS IN BARCELONA?!

Welcome back, SuiteLife gang, to my newest blog in which I’ll be talking about Kosher Restaurants in Barcelona and where to grab a bite either out and about the city. As a bonus we’ll also tell you where you can buy Kosher meat to cook in the comfort of your own home. A bit of a WARNING: Kosher restaurants in Barcelona are very few and far between and tend to be a bit (read: quite) overpriced due to a marked lack of competition. Another reason for this is the very small Jewish population in Barcelona. Hence, Kosher restaurants in Barcelona do not have a big target market. They Cater to the tiny Jewish population that actually eats Kosher, tourists, and religious expats. So yeah, get ready to get our your wallet, but hey, we gotta eat, right?

MACCABI RESTAURANT

Maccabi is probably the most famous Kosher restaurant in Barcelona. With a great location right on La Ramblas, cozy decor and atmosphere and a delicious menu, Maccabi is considered one of the best Kosher restaurants in Barcelona by locals and tourists alike. The restaurant occupies a former bakery from the seventeenth century called Montserrat. This restaurant just screams vintage and culture.
Apart from their extensive menu of delicious dishes, Maccabi also offers tapas for when you just want something quick and delicious to enjoy over a cup of coffee or a nice and cold pint of beer. Unlike other Kosher restaurants Maccabi is a full service dining joint with fast and friendly service. The menu is a mixture of traditional Israeli dishes and Catalan cuisine and it successfully combines the best of both worlds. The staff knows a little Hebrew and English so language barrier in Maccabi is not an issue. So, ladies and gentlemen, if you are looking for an excellent dining experience, Maccabi is one of the best Kosher restaurants in Bacelona that will meet your every requirement. Address: Las Ramblas 79 / Web

DELICIAS KOSHER

Delicias Kosher is a great dinning experience.  Its located in one of the ‘posh’ areas in Barcelona – Sant Gervasi – Galvany, and the food is really delicious and they have above average service for Spain as well, which is always appreciated.  As a common theme with foreign cuisine restaurants in Barcelona, Delicias Kosher incorporates a lot of Catalan dishes and cooking techniques in its Israeli menu. Nevertheless, a pinch of Catalan is all that takes to make their Kosher dishes exquisite.
The service in Delicias Kosher is what really closes the deal. The staff is very open and motivated to do everything it takes to make you feel like home. No matter if you’re dining alone or with company you will always feel like you are in the comfort of your own dining room. Address: c/ Santalo 125 / Web Well folks, that’s kinda it for Kosher restaurants in Barcelona. New ones haven sprung up but tend to die quickly because of a lack of customers. Now for our Bonus, where to find a Kosher butcher in Barcelona and where to buy a Challah in Barcelona!

ISAMAR KOSHER

If you’re looking for Kosher food in Barcelona, it is one on the few places you can buy Israeli foods and kosher meat. Isamar Kosher is not just a Kosher supermarket. From noon until 5 pm every Monday through Thursday you can enjoy some of their delicious food in their deli. What you can also find in Isamar Kosher is a bakery with freshly baked pastries offered throughout the whole day, a butcher with all sorts of meats to ‘meet’ all of your cravings, prepared dishes and take away.
Whether it is for Shabat, Hanukah, Passover or any Jewish holiday or even on a regular day, Isamar Kosher is your best choice for stocking up on some delicious Kosher meals and stocking your fridge at home. It is actually the only Kosher butcher in Barcelona, and by having a virtual monopoly, it also has some scary prices. A bag of chicken schnitzels with about 8 or 9 pieces, at the time of this blog, is about 17 €. Address: c/ Avenir 29 / Web The only other location we know where you can buy Kosher meat in Barcelona is at the Cortes Inglés  department store located on Avenida Diagonal 617. Enter the department store and go down one flight to the basement where the supermarket is, and on aisle 13 you’ll find a small freezer with a small assortment of Kosher food. Don’t get too excited though, it’s a bit underwhelming to say the least. I hope you enjoyed this blog, folks, if you know of any other Kosher restaurants in the city or hear of one that has sprung up, please let us know in the comments and we’ll add it to the blog! Weekly joke: Customer:  Waiter, waiter, there’s a bee in my soup. Waiter:  Yes Sir, it’s the fly’s day off. Sincerely, Chris

Moving to Barcelona - let's go over what you need to do

When it comes to moving to Barcelona, it can be complicated and you might not know where to start. But no worries I can help you, let's take it step by step and you'll see that relocating here is not that hard! You've made the right choice coming into our beautiful city, so congrats on that and let's get started!

Find a flat

First of all when moving to Barcelona you have to find a flat and that's not always an easy task! Take a look at the flats on our site or get in touch with us any time at all! Or take a peruse through our free ebook on flat hunting tips in BCN. If you don't find what you're looking for on our website, just drop us a line at info@suitelife.com.

Spanish NIE

By far the most annoying step when you are moving to Barcelona! The NIE means Número de Identificación de Extranjero, it's a foreigner identification number that you need to have if you're staying more than 3 months in Spain (even less for non-EU citizens, depending on your Visa) and which is mandatory for certain transactions. It's actually a little bit complicated so we have already made a detailed guide of how to get the NIE, check it out on our blog.

Transports

Of course when moving to Barcelona you'll need to find a means of transport. If you're bringing your car with you, then you'll need to register it on this website, and find parking! Check  our blog to find free parking in Barcelona. The easiest way to move through the city is not by car, but by metro or train ! Check out this website to find out more about transport in Barcelona, where they explain how it all works very well. You can also check the official website of TMB (transports metropolitans de Barcelona) if you are searching for specific info about the metro. If you have your NIE, you can also use bikes with bicing. You just sign up on the website, pay the €47.60 yearly charge (correct as of 2017), then they send you your card in the following 10 days. It's really cheap and really cool on sunny days !

Find a job, a school, and healthcare

Next step when moving to Barcelona, is of course to find a job and a school ! To find a job (and some other various things such as flats or services) you can check loquo website ! It can be really helpful ! As for schools, you might want to check this website or our blog where we list the best international schools in Barcelona ! And of course if you wanna take a few spanish classes to fit into the spanish life, check out this website !
And finally, last but not least ! What about healthcare ? Well you have to check the official website of Catalonia to find out everything you need to know about it ! Well guys, I hope my blog was helpful. If you feel like we've forgotten some info about moving to Barcelona, let us know! We'd be happy to help! Mathilde

Housewarming Party in Barcelona: inaugurate your new flat in style!

Now that you've found your apartment in Barcelona, settled in and decorated it with your amazing taste, it is time to throw an amazing housewarming party in Barcelona! For more decoration tips you should check out our blog on home stores in Barcelona and find everything you need to kit your place out! But let's get back to our topic. You're probably wondering what housewarming party is. A housewarming party in Barcelona is basically a must to inaugurate your new place in this awesome city! Its absolutely essential to show off your brand new designer couch and impress your guests with great activities - well, we think so at least! Find out below some tips to give your friends the best housewarming party ever and set yourself as THE party planner of your group!

Housewarming Party in Barcelona tip #1: get yourself a Catalan caterer

As you are enjoying your new life in Barcelona, what you might be interested in is to find out what the fantastic region of Catalonia has to offer to you and your guests in terms of leisure, food, music and so on. Why not combine all those Catalan wonders that are yet to be discovered in one big house warming? Impress your guests - locals or foreigners - with the best Catalan caterers in the city. You will enjoy the most exquisite food from the classic tapas such as pa amb tomàquet or queso or even jamón ibérico to the traditional dishes such as escudella and ollada or mar i muntanya ("sea and mountain") dishes. Finish the dinner with the excellent traditional Catalan desert: la crema catalana. Most caterers in Barcelona have found a way of mixing tradition and innovation by introducing in their cuisine international tastes. Find below a list of caterers who might interest you and your friends, fellow gourmet!

• Ambrosía catering
• Hotel Arts Barcelona
• L'Emporda catering

Housewarming Party in Barcelona tip #2: entertain your guests

Living in Barcelona gives you access to plenty of activities. Between all the clubs, bars, sports and entertainment available in the city you might ask yourself, what can I bring to my own party to entertain my friends in an original way? Well here's one piece of advice for you: get stereotypical. That might sound strange but I assure you, nothing is as great as a night listening and dancing to the traditional Spanish music: Flamenco! And there are plenty of other stuff that Barcelona can bring to your party.
Just so you know, you can hire flamenco dancers, singers and guitar players right here. You get to have your own flamenco show in your home, enjoy the very rhythmic music and maybe learn how to dance it yourself! Your guests are going to be astounded by the perfect Iberian night. Otherwise, if you prefer to hire a DJ, Barcelona is the perfect place to find one and enjoy a house warming party with the last Spanish and international hits. But this is not all! If you are a smoker or a cigar aficionado you should consider hiring your own cigar roller who would come to your party and roll cigar right in front of you - can't be more fresh. And the bright side of it is that you get to choose the tobacco you prefer while the cigar roller entertain your guests by telling it all about the cigar-making process. All you have to do to get your own professional cigar roller is click here. This is the perfect mix of class and cool.

Housewarming Party in Barcelona tip#3: hire staff and relax

Just like a superpower, planning an event such as a fancy housewarming party in Barcelona comes with great responsibility. If you really want to enjoy your night just like your guests, you will need help. First because you planned so much fun stuff and it's not fair if you miss them just because someone broke your favorite vase and you have to clean up. Someone should do it for you so you can relax and just be your fabulous self. That includes of course a waiting staff that your caterer will usually provide but not only, you need to keep in mind that your place need to be cleaned up in the morning. I know, no one wants to hear about what happens in the aftermath of a party but I am telling you, a cleaning service is the best idea for you not to worry about the mess, they'll deal with it for you.
Alright readers, we gave you the keys to organise the best ever housewarming party in Barcelona and we hope that you will enjoy your special night or any other one in the wonderful city of Barcelona! You can always read more about the nightlife in Barcelona in our blogs! See you! Aurélien

The New Year is coming up and what better way to prepare than deciding on your New Year's Resolutions now...before you have the chance to back out! After the fiesta of a lifetime on New Year's Eve be ready to begin 2018 feeling re-charged, re-fuelled and ready to being your new lifestyle with our Barcelona New Year’s Resolutions 2018! And remember, always be a DO-er, not a DON'T-er! So let's get started, peeps!

1. Barcelona New Year's Resolution #1 - ENHANCE YOUR PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

As they say 'Beauty comes from the inside'. Being strong and healthy is extremely important in order to prolong your life and to prove those people right. Here is all you need to know about gyms in Barcelona! In addition, also take a look these tips of how to stay healthy in Barcelona! Wanna join a sports club? We've got something about sports clubs in Barcelona as well! With all that reading you'll be exercising your mind as well as your body. And on that thought...

2. Barcelona New Year's Resolution #2 - ENHANCE YOUR MENTAL WELL-BEING

Since ancient times, people have been fascinated by mental wellness, which is why the Romans had the saying 'Mens sana in corpore sano' (healthy mind in a healthy body), just to emphasise how important it is to have a perfect balance between your brain and your body. So, start thinking more positively, laugh more and basically enjoy your life in Barcelona! Perhaps some chocolate might cheer you up? Or a new movie? Or maybe just the relaxing Barcelona atmosphere will do do!

3. Barcelona New Year's Resolution #3 - INCREASE YOUR WEALTH

Money doesn't bring you happiness, but it certainly helps! It is important to have enough money to enjoy the experiences life offers you and to be able to help those less fortunate than yourself. So why not join a course in Barcelona to help your raise some cash? Barcelona business schools are famous worldwide for their quality, so a course done will be worth its weight in gold!

4. Barcelona New Year's Resolution #4 - IMPROVE YOUR EDUCATION

Did I already mention how many high quality universities there are in Barcelona?  Anyway, improving your education makes your CV stand out when analysed by the employers, so check out the most essential stuff that you need to know about studying here in Barcelona! Besides, education always goes a long way to improve your lifestyle - as we said before, heathy body, healthy mind!

5. Barcelona New Year's Resolution #5 - LEARN TO PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

Nothing trains your coordination better than a musical instrument, and coordination is something that you need every day. So this year we suggest you learn or improve your skills of playing an instrument (the younger the better). If you're into drums, click here to see the places where you can practice drums in Barcelona!

6. Barcelona New Year's Resolution #6 - TAKE A TRIP

Travelling is awesome! It doesn't only improve your general knowledge, but also your capacity for empathy the experts say. So this year you need to take at least one trip from Barcelona to see the places around it, as Catalunya is not just Barcelona. There are dozens of other amazing sites that you should not miss!!

7. Barcelona New Year's Resolution #7 - SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THE DEAR ONES

Aristotle once said: 'Man is a social animal', meaning that if we do not socialise we are practically dead. This is year it is crucial to spend more quality time with your family and friends, as they are the only people you can always count on! Here's a list of the best places in Barcelona especially crafted to provide you with a great night out!

8. Barcelona New Year's Resolution #8 - DISCOVER A NEW CULTURE

Different cultures are what makes this planet beautiful! As Barcelona is starting to turn into a more and more multicultural city, now it's your time to explore them a bit more. Here are our blogs about Catalan culture: #1 and #2, here you can find one about  Japanese culture in Barcelona!

9. Barcelona New Year's Resolutions 2015 #9 - BE MORE SPIRITUAL

This year, also take care of your spirit! Meditate and reflect more, because this is the only way you can change, by acknowledging your current state. In other words, be closer to a higher power! Here's how you can do that in Barcelona! In conclusion, we wish you the best year of your lives and bear these words in your mind: BALANCE and LOVE! These are the precursors of a marvelous life! Till next time, muchisimas gracias, Dragosh (El Dragon).

Ibiza Party Island!

I’ll begin my Ibiza review by saying that I do get it. Sort of. I absolutely understand what this party island has to offer. Lovers of house music (among other things) can travel to Ibiza every summer to work on their tan by day and see some of the world’s best djs perform by night…or morning… So yes, nightlife in Ibiza is pretty crazy and perhaps my expectations were just a little TOO high. But after my weekend get-away I’d have to say that I’d choose Barcelona over Ibiza parties any day of the week. Here’s why…
Wake up ->beach ->disco ->sleep (but probably not) ->repeat. Sounds ideal right? I literally could not have been more excited for my trip to the Ibiza party island. I even watched YouTube videos of ridiculous Ibiza parties as I packed my suitcase and listened to the HOUSE MUSIC playlist on my iTunes.  So when my friend Mari and I exited the plane in the Ibiza airport and saw the neon advertisements for AMNESIA SUNDAYS plastered on the luggage carousel, it was clear that for better or for worse, we had arrived. We knew that our hotel was a little ways outside of town, but given that it is high season and even the cheapest, bare-bones hostels near most Ibiza nightclubs are astronomically expensive, we figured that we were making the best choice. Wrong. The island is huge, so unless you plan on shelling out a lot of cash to stay centrally, you have to rent a car to get around. There’s no need to lecture on the dangers of drinking and driving, so obviously your rent-a-car becomes a poor choice for travel to and from the famed Ibiza nightclubs. Thus, you’re once again stuck with the €30 cab rides that you were trying to avoid in the first place. Trust me, this hassle will seriously detract from your ability to fully enjoy nightlife in Ibiza.

Nightlife in Ibiza

On the first night we went to one of the most famous Ibiza parties at Pacha: “the world’s best club” home of the world’s best djs.” I’ll give credit to whoever did the decorating in that place though, because it was pretty incredible -or at least what I could see in between debilitating blasts from the fog machines. Half-naked women danced around in gigantic champagne glasses, while others frolicked around the stage in sparkly corsets and stiletto pumps. Oh la-la how magical!!  Every room was absolutely jam packed with people (mostly men) most of whom were hollering at and actually grabbing every female that passed by. At this point I’m thinking to myself, did I seriously pay €50 just to get man-handled at one of the TOP Ibiza nightclubs?
The music was quite good, although not one of the best djs I’ve heard (Tiesto IN Barcelona, anyone??) SO theoretically if you’re able to keep your 20 euro drink from spilling, all while fending off the sexually frustrated male club goers ranging in age from 16 to 45, and finally make your way to the dance floor then you’re definitely in for a good time!!!!!!! *please note my sarcasm*
In an attempt to be as thorough as possible, Mari and I were sure to check out all of the “top” Ibiza nightclubs. I can therefore tell you with confidence that they were all more of the same: Good music, insanely crowded, theme park-sized venues, ridiculous cover charges (60 euro to enter Space on a Sunday afternoon), crowds ranging from shirtless 16 year olds to 50 year old divorcees, overpriced drinks, etc etc.

Ibiza Beach Clubs

The beach scene was pretty similar. Upon arriving at Playa de’n Bossa, home of Bora Bora and Space, one of the most infamous Ibiza nightclubs, I was unpleasantly surprised by what I found. The dirty streets parallel to the beach were full of vendors selling knock-off Gucci bags and Ray ban sunglasses, and promoters shoving flyers in your face about various “HOT HOT”  Ibiza parties. And if they weren’t selling you a €50 ticket to one of the  “HOT HOT” Ibiza nightclubs they too were hitting on and/or groping every female that passed them by. This was a far cry from the pristine sand beaches and fabulously chic venues that I had envisioned when I dreamt of the Ibiza party island.  I must say that the Bora Bora restaurant/club was...well…entertaining Mari and I soaked in the scenery as we drank our 20 euro mojitos (no joke) and danced amongst a crowd of people that were either so drunk they couldn’t stand, on some sort of illegal drug, or hooking up on the dance floor. Partttyyyy!!!
We did, however, encounter a few exceptions to that which is typical nightlife in Ibiza. Enter Blue Marlin beach club. Hidden away on Cala Jondal, the Blue Marlin stood out like a God amongst mere mortals. The Mazarati parked out front set the stage for a place where the “Ibiza elite” could come to lay on the white canopy beds, sip on their €100 bottles of Moet, and relax to the interplay of the melodies from the saxophone player and resident DJ. I’d be lying if I said that the place wasn’t beautiful. Plus the meal we had was fantastic in comparison to our other Ibiza meals, but again everything comes at price (and a high one might I add).  Blue Marlin- from the people hanging out there to the staff- can be best described as snobby. But hey, if you have lots of money to blow on your vacay to the Ibiza party island and enjoy the aforementioned scene, then you’d probably love this place.
Don’t get me wrong. I DID have a lot of fun experiencing it all- from the absurd Ibiza parties to the larger than life Ibiza nightclubs. However, if I had it to do over again my Ibiza trip would have gone a little something like this: Hit up one of the famous Ibiza nightclubs (just for the story) and then rent a car and spend the rest of my time driving around the island and exploring the small bars and beaches that are “off the beaten” path. Next, I’d come back to Barcelona a few hundred Euros richer and head down to Opium del Mar and party like a rockstar for one-tenth of the price. But hey, that’s just my humble opinion!

Chinese Food in Barcelona: A Piece of Asia in Your Kitchen!

I've missed my mom's homemade cuisine ever since I've been in Barcelona and eating Asian food in a restaurant is not what I prefer (my mom's cooking is much better!). So I wanted to cook dishes like Cantonese rice, curry or even just noodles by myself. The first part of the mission was to find all the different stuff that I needed to cook, and especially soy sauce (which as you know is the basis of Asian cuisine) and fish sauce (fish sauce can be substituted with salt if you don't like the smell of it but I don't guarantee that the taste will be the same). You can find soy sauce and the basics for Asian recipes in different european stores like Carrefour Market or Al Campo but the price and the brand will be different. But for the others ingredients we're here to help you and we've listed the main Chinese and Japanese grocery stores to get Chinese food in Barcelona. When you go to this kind of store you can find interesting stuff, sometimes you may not really understand what the thing is but you just have to try! It is really funny to buy some random stuff and taste it - sometimes you'll get good surprise but sometimes it can be bad.

Asian grocery stores

• Lee's Food Iberica : "All East In West"

This one specializes in Asian food. You can find fresh or frozen Vietnamese, Japanese and even Korean products. You can also find clothes and kitchen implements. They also have an online shop which is really good if you already know what you need and which brand you want to buy, so with a busy schedule you can always shop from work or from home, all your groceries will be delivered to your place. Address : C/ Sicilia 212. Hours : Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 3:30pm to 8:30pm. For more information and for their online shop visit Lee's Food Iberica Website.

• Superstore Asia Food

This one is in Raval. It's a pretty small store with all the basic stuff for Asian cuisine like rice and soy. The advantage of this store is the fact that on Sunday it's open all day. Address : c/ dels Tallers 77. Hours : Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 9:30pm and on Sunday from 10am to 9:30pm.

• Dong Fang - Extremo Oriente Chinese

This store is one of the oldest in the city (opened in the 80's). It stocks different kinds of food from different Asian countries. In this store you can find fresh fruit, vegetables or even roots like ginger, curcumin, chili or fresh mint. This store is 5 minutes from Plaza Catalunya so go check this store while you will do your shopping. Address : c/ de Balmes 6. Hours : Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 4pm to 8:45pm.

• Supermercado Honesto

In this supermarket you can find Chinese, Japanese, Thai or even Indian food or ingredients but this one is especially known for the fresh fruit, vegetables and meat or poultry. Address : c/ Diputació, 342.

• Thai Gourmet

When we talk about Asian food we always think about Chinese and Japanese food and we always forget Thai food. This kind of cuisine is not so well-known by people and it's a shame. Thai food is sweet and spicy at the same time and with lots of fish and fresh vegetables or fruit. Here in Barcelona there is one specialist Thai store in Eixample, with lots of different thai products. But the advantage of this store is the fact that they also give thai food classes. Address : c/ Comte Urgell 24. Hours : Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and 4:30pm to 8:30pm. Thai Gourmet Website

• Yang Kuang - Chinese Supermarket

This one is praised by vegan and vegetarian people. It has plenty of products made from soy bean like soy milk or tofu. This store also has an important fresh vegetables section where you can find all the different Asian vegetables like chinese cabbage or mango and litchi. Address : Passeig Sant Joan, 12-14 Hours : Monday to Sunday From 9am to 8pm

Japanase grocery stores

• Sakura-Ya Barcelona

This one is pretty fancy - there is a sushi-bar in part of the store. But if you want to make your own sushi you can go to the grocery store where you will find all the ingredients that you will need for your Japanese dinner. The good thing is that there is not only sushi or sashimi but also miso soup or even tempura ingredients like tofu, seaweed, fish for sushi, rice... To complete your Japanese dinner you can also find kitchen implements like bowls, cups for the ceremony of tea and of course chopsticks. Address : Centro Comercial L'Illa Diagonal Planta El Rebost Diagonal 557. Hours : Monday to Saturday from 10am-2pm & 5pm to 8pm Sakura-Ya Website

• Tokyo-Ya Barcelona - Japanese Supermarket

This store is a part of a bigger branch based in Madrid. In this Japanese store you can find all the Japanese products that you're looking for like the seaweed and Japanese vinegar to more specialized products like the Dragon-Ball caramelos or black sesame flan. Address : c/ de Girona, 119. Hours : Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm Tokyo-Ya Website Link for an interactive and bigger map Bring A Piece Of Asia In Your Kitchen - List Of Asian Grocery Stores In Barcelona Explore these stores to get Chinese food in Barcelona and get ready to cook! Don't think that the recipes have to be complicated or confusing - the thing with Asian food is that you don't really have to follow the recipe, it's just a question of feeling (that's what my mom always tells me when we cook;)). And don't forget to invite us! -by  Kok Natha HEN.

Carrer Muntaner: Barcelona Street Profile

Carrer Muntaner is located in Eixample left. It starts at Universitat and goes all the way up to Passeig de la Bonanova. Due to it's length, you can find almost EVERYTHING on Carrer Muntaner. Beautiful buildings, wonderful architecture, all kinds of restaurants, bars, supermarkets and much more.
However, the other day, I went on a hunt for the best and coolest things on Carrer Muntaner. There's so much going on its hard to focus on just the best ones but here are my favourites: 1. 7 Sins Pub Barcelona / Muntaner 7 7 Sins Barcelona might be one of the coolest bars in town. Start your evening with an American dinner, foreign beer and a good atmosphere. Once you are done with your dinner, head downstairs and you'll find yourself in a wicked location with dancing girls, relaxing music and very good drinks! They have special offers every day. By the time I got there, they offered 4 coronitas plus 1 portion of yammy nachos for 12€. For further information and upcoming events, go to their website or follow them on twitter.

2. BoysBar / Muntaner 6

Since parts of Carrer Muntaner are in the heart of the gay area in Barcelona, this bar is a dance bar for boys. I didn't enter the place but I saw pictures from outside. BoysBar is probably one of the many gay orientated bars in Eixample.

3. Biking Clothes / Buy New Moto

Right next to a carwash, there is one shop for biking clothes. Also, a bit further up, there is a shop for buying motos. I am not to much of a motorcycle expert but those stores looked highly professional. The store for buying motos is called KTM Barcelona (Muntaner 95). The one for buying clothes is called Dainese (Muntaner 83b)

4. Zona Eleven / Muntaner 61

Zona Eleven is a great, small designer shop offering high price clothing and shoes. Brands like Dsquared, Dior, Moschino and many more are sold here. If you are really into designer clothes and are looking for something special, Zona Eleven is the place to go on Muntaner.

5. Cremeria Toscana / Muntaner 208

Cremeria Toscana is one of the best ice cream shops in BCN! You can either take the handmade ice cream as a takeaway, or eat it in the cosy little café inside. The price is fair, the ice cream delicious! The place to go for ice cream on Muntaner!

6. Bar Velodromo / Muntaner 213

Bar Velodromo is a really popular bar/restaurant on Muntaner. It is always crowded. The food is amazing, the interior is wonderful and the service is friedly. Who can ask for more!?

7. Starbucks / Muntaner 239

I know it's nothing special but Starbucks lovers might be happy for the tip. Located a bit further up Muntaner, you can't go wrong stepping into this classic coffee shop.

8. Music Store

This huge music store buys and sells old and new instruments. They basically sell everything and the staff are experts. A must for any music lover.
Carrer Muntaner is packed with highlights. It's long, beautiful and offers tons of stuff to do. However, I prefer smaller streets, e.g. Carrer Montcada in El Born. What about you guys? What's your favourite street? Yours, Alexander Kolb

Don Bratwurst Barcelona - Feel German For a Couple of Hours!

When my friends and I entered Don Bratwurst Barcelona for the very first time, the Don welcomed us as if we had known each other for years. He says: "People either love or hate me. If somebody doesn't like me, the person can stay outside". One thing is clear - Don Bratwurst is probably the most unique person I have ever met.

A German Bar in Barcelona!

Beer, All Kinds of German Traditional Food And Football! - An Easy Concept!

Don's concept is fairly easy. He has three waitresses serving beers and food in traditional German clothes (Bavarian Dirndl), one chef who is responsible for all kinds of tasty sausages, french fries or German pretzel and the Don himself who is more like an entertainer. His place is packed with all kinds of football jerseys, souvenirs or things that doesn't really fit in any categeroy. People sit on beer benches from Germany and the atmosphere is pretty similar to a football stadium. He says: " During the football matches, the atmosphere is crazy! Germans feel as if there are at home and celebrate either the win of the National Team or their favourite team in the German Bundesliga!". The Don opens his doors for all kind of football matches. Whether it's the German Bundesliga, Champions League or National Tournaments.
People might think that Don Bratwurst is THE place to go for Germans in Barcelona. However, most of Don's visitors are Spanish. Don: "Spanish people get here every weekend during the evenings and nights. They start eating my sausauges, drink German beer and then start partying with the famous German shot "Jägermeister". They love it!" That being said, Don Bratwurst is a unique and hilarous place to go for everyone! The sausauges are awesome and the beer is delicious. Since the German Bundesliga starts on Friday night, this weekend is probably a good time to go! Be there a bit earlier, since good seats are pretty rarely.

How to get to Don Bratwurst Barcelona:

The German Restaurant/Bar is located a bit further away from the heart of Barcelona. You are looking for  Line 5 - Green Line. Once you get out of the metro, just walk up the hill until you reach Passeig de Fabra i Puig 374. The restaurant is open from Thursday-Sunday every week. If there is a special event, Don Bratwurst is open as well.
We had an awesome time at Don Bratwurst Barcelona ! It's definitely not the place to go for everybody but you should give it a shot for sure! Do you like German food or the Bundesliga? If yes, let's meet for a beer at the Don's place. And if you want to discover another awesome true German bar, check out Devil's Kitchen! Cheers, Alex

Discover "Sabater Hermanos" - A Homemade Soap Factory Hidden in the Middle of Barcelona

In the center of the Gothic Quarter, hidden among the numerous little streets of Barcelona, the soap factory Sabater Hermanos is one of those unusual little stores that you can stumble across. The soap factory is just near the Plaza de San Felip Neri.

Sabater Hermanos History

Sabater Hermanos is a family enterprise established in the 90's, founded in Buenos Aires by the granddad of the Sabater clan when he started making soap in many different tints, flavors and shapes. Since then they always use skills passed from generation to generation to make their soap. The family society is known worldwide. They have customers from around the world with 4 stores based all around the world in Chile, Argentina and Greece. In Barcelona, they first opened a workshop in 2002 and then in 2006 a store was opened in Gothic, the store is run by Eliana Sabater, grand-daughter of the founder. Sabater Hermanos offers different kinds of soap. All the soaps are made in the workshop behind the store, when you go to the store you can see the different machines used to make the soap (every time I go there I picture myself in the Patrick Suskind book "The Perfume").

Their products

They offer different shapes of soap like card symbols, small characters or animals, and even golf and tennis balls. But their it-soap (like the designer it-bag) is the petals shape soap, you can buy those in a simple box where you can mix different smells or you can buy big boxes with different smells, this thing is a pretty good idea for a present - not so expensive and really original. You can find 40 different aromas such as traditional ones from jasmine to rose and more exotic ones like mint and ginger. If you spend a few days in the city you can also order personalized soap (a good way to get a nice present).

These soaps are a cheap and easy way to transform your bathroom into a fancy one.  If it's a present you are looking for, however, don't forget to tell them that it's soap as it can quite easily be confused with chocolate!! Where is the store? This store is kind of hidden but you just have to go to the Placa Felip Neri which is for me one of the most beautiful plazas of Barcelona. There are bullet marks on the walls from the Spanish Civil War and a nice little fountain in the middle of the plaza. Adress : Plaza Felip Neri, 1.
Go there and bring your family or friends a nice present from Sabater Hermanos Barcelona, they will love it and you'll probably also find something for yourself too.
- by Kok Natha HEN