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

Barcelona Insider Info:  How to find cheap supermarkets in Barcelona and the best Spanish food

I finally managed to find cheap supermarkets in Barcelona! It isn't easy, especially when you’re new in Barcelona and still trying to figure out where you are and how you get from the apartment to the metro! These supermarkets are "student friendly" and by that I mean they have  prices which students, interns or young professionals who’ve just moved to Barcelona, can easily afford.

Tip #1:

The day you arrive in Barcelona is a day full of new impressions and can be sometimes very overwhelming - depending on how long your journey was and how many hours you slept. So, on arrival, you shouldn’t think about finding the cheapest supermarket in Barcelona but just go to the first fast-food place or nice restaurant and enjoy your first day in Barca.

Barcelona Tennis - Where to play Tennis in BCN?

We recently blogged about sports in Barcelona. Barcelona offers all kind of sports one could imagine doing during the summer. Barcelona tennis is probably one of the most popular ones. Although tennis can't keep up with the popularity of football in Barcelona, Spanish people passionately support one of the best tennis players on earth- Rafael Nadal. Furthermore, to play tennis in Barcelona is for sure one of the most common leisure activities.

Where to Play Tennis in Barcelona?

Barcelona is home to a lot of tennis and sports clubs. Since I haven't been to any of them, I did some careful research and I'm gonna point out the best ones.

CEM Can Caralleu

Above all, one sports club amazed me. It's called CEM Can Caralleu and is located on C/ Esports, 2-8. Beside tennis, they offer all kind of sport activites. The memberships are very variable. Tennis courses are held either in groups of 4 people or individually. In addition to the courses, you have tournaments from October to June. If you don't want to be a member, you can just go there and book a court for an hour or so. The quality of the courts is aweseome. Unfortunately, their website is only avaibale in catalan, but I used Google Translator and it worked out perfectly ;).

Club de Tenis y Pádel / Olímpia Centro Deportivo

Another cool tennis club is located on C/ Perú, 215 in Sant Marti. It's a club that specialises in tennis and the Spanish "tennis" - padél. A membership is not required at all. Just go there and rent a court with 1 or more friends. Rackets and tennis balls are rented at club house. They have 3 padél courts, four clay courts, 3 grass courts, changing rooms for men and women. Once, you are done with the match, the losers  treat the winner to a cold drink in the cafe which also belongs to the club property. The staff speaks English, Spanish and Catalan. The opening hours are pretty uncommon if you compare them to the usual ones in Spain. The club is open from 8am until 11pm during the week. During the weekends they are open until 9 on Saturdays and 7 on Sundays and holidays.

Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona

Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona is the best and most traditional private Tennis Club in Barcelona. If you are a professional player, or have the talent to become one, this is the club to enter. Right now, Raphael Nadal is a member of Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona. Also, the top female player, Nuria Llagostera, has a membership. In addition to practice and regularly championships, Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona offers a professional tennis school called "Tennis rCTB". Check out their website for further info.

Find a partner!

Although it’s really hot during the summer, a decent tennis match in the evening can be a lot of fun. I found this really informative website, which brings together tennis players in Barcelona who look 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 their site! Now that you have read this blog about tennis, you have all the information you need about playing tennis in BCN. Surely, there are several clubs and courts to rent. If you know a court/club, which you think has to be mentioned as well, please let us know and we'll add them. For now, enjoy your partido. Best, Alex

When you're in Barcelona, you want to see, do and try as much as is humanly possible. An important part of that is getting to know the local specialties, and Catalan cuisine has plenty of those to offer! Certain menus can even be a bit overwhelming, especially when you don't understand a word of Catalan. So to get you started, here's our top 5 food to try in Barcelona!

1. Tapas

This seems quite unoriginal but you simply cannot get around tapas in Barcelona. It's something you must eat when you're here, simple as that! Tapas come in all forms and sizes, but these are some very typical ones: (The fun is of course to randomly pick something from the menu, a great way to discover new things!) - Pa amb tomàquet: slice of bread rubbed with tomato, and topped with olive oil and garlic. Very basic, but oh so good. It is usually given as a side dish, but is also a popular breakfast. - Patates braves: potatoes with a special, spicy sauce - Xipirons: fried squids - Truita de patates: kind of omelette with potatoes - Formatge manchego: Manchego cheese - Pernil iberic: Spanish ham - Olives - Gambes a la planxa: grilled shrimps with garlic - Croquetes de pollastre i pernil: croquettes of chicken and ham Though they are in overabundance, it can be quite trick to find the right tapas bar. Have a look at our previous articles to get an idea of where to go.

2. Paella / Fideuà

Paella is also a very famous Spanish dish. You will find a lot of restaurants in Barcelona offering paella, though it is actually more of a Valencian dish. But that shouldn't stop you from trying it, of course! It is also very easy to make yourself, just follow our Paella recipe. A Barcelona variant of paella is fideuà, which is with thin noodles instead of rice.

3. Allioli

Allioli is a typical Catalan sauce quite similar to mayonaise. It is traditionally made with only garlic, olive oil and salt. There are many variations, though. It is eaten with bread, potatoes, fish, meat or vegetables ... so basically anything. I am personally quite fond of cod (bacalla) with allioli. The picture on the right shows the one I had in Els quatre gats.

4. Escalivada

A salad of aubergine (eggplant), peppers, tomatoes, onions, salt, olive oil and vinegar. The vegetables are roasted in a little olive oil beforehand.

5. Crema Catalana

The classic Catalan dessert, very similar to crème brûlée. The difference is that the cream is bit smoother (it is flavored with lemon zest and cinnamon) and the sugar on top is caramelized with a broiler instead of with a flame. All this is of course accompanied by some glasses of cava, wine or beer and great friends! Hope you liked our top 5 food to try in Barcelona! If you have other places or foods to try in BCN please drop a comment below!

Park Guell - personal guide to Barcelona'’s most famous and spectacular park designed by Gaudí

Park Guell was commissioned by Count Eusebi Güell and was originally intended to be a gated community to house the Barcelona aristocracy but in the end only two houses were built and the estate proved to be quite commercially unsuccessful.  Park Guell is now a municipal garden and a world heritage site.

Visiting Park Güell

When visiting Barcelona Park Guell I came from the Vallcarca metro station.  By arriving this way I came across a wonderful street that was one of the steepest streets I’ve been on, and I’ve been to San Francisco.  Just off Avinguada de Vallcarca near the metro you will find “Baixada de la Glória”.  It is mostly a pedestrian only street with stairs and escalators and when you reach the top be sure to look back and enjoy the view. At the top of the street you reach Park Guell, although you won’t see much Gaudí influence there as most of his work is near the centre of the park.  You do however come across a great viewpoint at the top of the hill with brilliant views of the city.  As you walk over this hill and down towards the centre of Park Guell you begin to see the works of Antoni Gaudí.
The main terrace has an unmistakable serpentine mosaic bench weaving around its edge.  Interestingly Gaudí designed the bench so you don’t get a wet bum.  The bench is tilted to ensure rain runs off it and the bench dries quickly.  Gaudí also installed small bumps, to ensure people don’t sit on the wet bits. Being very popular and famous ensures that Barcelona Park Guell is full of tourists and, as I found, children on school trips.  One downside of this is the amount of rubbish lying around.  You will also find salesmen trying to offer you tacky souvenirs off what seems like a bed sheet. (One guy was selling earrings off an umbrella).  But don’t let me discourage you, it is still a must see.
Under the terrace you will see what I found to be the most spectacular sight in Park Guell.  The terrace is supported by a series of spectacular columns, and the ceiling is decorated with unique mosaics that perfectly reflected Antoni Gaudí and his crazy visions.
Further down is the famous entrance with the mosaic dragon fountain.  This is an iconic Gaudí sight and so it is a little busy with tourists. You may struggle to get a picture with other tourists posing for their photos.  There are also the two iconic Gaudí buildings near the entrance, which are used as gift shops.

Opening times

January to March – 10.00 to 18.00 April - 10.00 to 20.00 May to September - 10.00 to 21.00 Oct ober - 10.00 to 20.00 November – 10.00 to 19.00 December – 10.00 to 18.00   If you like Antoni Gaudí then try our Gaudí one day tour or check our guide to the Sagrada Familia.   If you have any comments or have any good tips for visiting Park Guell then we would love to hear them! Cheers, Matthew Rutter