Carrer dels Tallers Barcelona (calle Tallers): Street Profile #4

Carrer dels Tallers (Calle Tallers) is a beautiful hidden street, just a few steps away from Plaza Catalunya, Las Ramblas and the famous museum MACBA. The small street can be seen as a sort of connection between El Gotico and El Raval. Altough it´s so close to Barcelona´s busiest places, Carrer dels Tallers is not at all full of tourists. The street is a very secret place, full of vintage stores, restaurants, bars and spots to relax. Come and take a look around!

Carrer dels Tallers/ Calle Tallers by day:

Carrer dels Tallers is simply amazing. With a length of just 200m, it still has got so much to offer.  For music-fans, ice cream-lovers and for those who love vintage shopping - this is the place to be. When entering the street from "Las Ramblas", you walk across a tight and pretty dark sidestreet. Once you walk a little bit further down the street, Calle Tallers turns out to be a small but really beautiful "Plaza". That being said, you can go shopping and then relax with a nice cup of coffee on the grass or chill-out in one of the cute bars.

Things you shouldn´t miss when on Calle Tallers:

Relaxing in the plaza:

When I entered Carrer del Tallers for the first time, I was totally amazed by the variety of this street. I went there in order to take some photos and could´t believe my eyes when I reached the plaza.
One could say that this street has two faces. There was a woman sleeping on the grass, couples flirting and guys having a cold can of beer. If you are looking for a few minutes away from the trouble and noise of Las Ramblas and Plaza Universidat, The Plaza on Carrer dels Tallers is the spot to go.

Vintage Shopping:

My colleague Charlotte Giver recently wrote about the great vintage shopping opportunities on Carrer dels Tallers. Its something you can't miss. Check out her blog for more info.

Udon:

Udon is a Japanaese restaurant chain in Spain. It´s not unique to Carrer dels Tallers, but you can still go there and have their awesome noodle soup. Check out their site for further info.

Music stores:

Carrer dels Tallers ist THE street to be when it comes to buying all kind of music. While walking trough Carrer dels Tallers, I found out that there is a music store chain called "Discos Castelló". This store is located on Carrer dels Tallers 3,7,9 and 79. Having entered one of them, I can definitely recommend them!

Sports stores:

In addition to all those fun things, Carrer dels Tallers has great opportunities for sports shopping. There are four stores, offering customized shoes, american sportswear, all kind of New Era caps , t-shirts , jerseys and everything else you could possibly imagine. Those stores are packed to the rafters with really nice sportswear. Theyare all at the beginning of Carrer dels Tallers, entering from Las Ramblas.

Ice cream - Gelateria Tallers:

It can be hard to notice this little ice cream shop. Nevertheless, it´s simply awesome. I´m really passionate about ice cream - I just can´t get enough of it! So I know my stuff when it comes to ice cream The ice cream you can get at Gelateria Tallers is definetely one of the best I have had in my life. So you better not miss it!

Biker stores:

Calle Tallers is full of stores offering things you can't find anywhere else. I found this amazing bike store which offers vintage leather jackets, helmets and Harley Davidson products. For bikers in Barcelona, this is the place to go to.

Japanese food store:

There is a great japanese food store next to the square. It specialises in all those hard-to-find Japanese ingredients which you just can't find anywhere else.

Carrer dels Tallers by night:

Once nightfall arrives on Carrer del Tallers, the street turns out to be a pretty busy and crowded sidestreet off Las Ramblas. One can find bars, clubs, small restaurants and 24-h-open stores. This street is mostly visited by Spanish people, basically because it´s pretty hidden from tourists and foreigners. However, it has really fun things to do during the night.

Ovella Negra:

Ovella Negra is a typical bar for students, offering cheap drinks and good atmosphere. You can play pool and order huge 5 litre jugs of sangria and beer with taps. The service takes a little longer, but it´s worth the wait. It is located just a few steps away from Caller dels Tallers, on Carrer Sitges 5. Have you checked out Calle Tallers yet?  Is there another street in Barcelona that you're just dying to know more about? Let us know and we'll try and profile it soon! Cheers, ~Alex Kolb

Barcelona's Best Beaches: Look No Further!

If you want to spend a beautiful Saturday away from the riff raff on the Barcelona beaches, take the train at Plaça Catalunya towards Mataró (it only takes 20 minutes), jump off the train at Montgat Nord and go to one of Barcelona's best beaches, Montgat’s beach.

4 Good Reasons To Say Montgat Beach Is One of Barcelona's Best Beaches

1)      The sand and the water are CLEAN: Montgat’s beach doesn’t need any face lift. Here, the sand is full, crispy like brown sugar, and stuffed with little seashells. It’s a pleasure to walk on it and plunge your feet and hands in it. The water, without being crystal clear, is clearer than the rest of the Barcelona beaches. A pure pleasure! 2)      It’s not that crowded: if you want to relax and doze off, be Montgat’s beach guest!  Montgat’s beach is one of Barcelona's best beaches in this respect. No need to jump over towels, legs and arms to find a 1m2 spot. You won’t hear the beer sellers song either, nor the Spanish Donut’s man, nor the “Massage! Massage!” of the Asian ladies. Peace… Tranquility…  Lay down and sleep!
3)      The beach volleyball players are friendly: Montgat’s beach is great for its beach volleyball courts. Players will be more than happy to welcome you to play along with them! 4)      The café con hielo is amazing: when you get off at the station Montgat Nord, take a right to the beach volleyball courts. Then pass under the train lines and you'll reach the cafés that are aligned in the sun. They serve the best tapas and the best Ice Coffe ever! WARNING: it’s not an ice coffee as you could maybe conceive it. It’s Spanish style! The waitress will bring you a normal Espresso and a glass with only two ice cubes in it. Pour sugar in the hot coffee then pour the whole thing in the second ice-filled glass. The result is awesome (even better with Café con Leche).
Yours, Audrey

Bars In Barcelona- Everything You Need To Know!

Bars in Barcelona are varied, eclectic and more than anything, plentiful, but remember, as with all big cities, not every Barcelona bar is worth a visit. There is a Barcelona bar on every corner or every Calle (street), so here is a little guide to bars in Barcelona, so you know what to expect without wasting your sweet party time in Barcelona.

The Ovella Negra Taverna

Barcelona nightlife is unique, multifaceted and there is by no means a lack of great bars in Barcelona, however, after living here for the last year and a half I have become tired of a few things. Firstly I'm constantly moaning to my friends that we always go to the same Barcelona bar every weekend, but it's so much fun and so cheap, it's hard to find a place which beats it. The Ovella Negra Taverna (The Black Sheep Tavern) is a huge tavern style bar with a very "studenty", relaxed atmosphere, and provides VERY cheap medio litre (half litre) pitchers of San Miguel, it really is Barcelona nightlife at it's cheapest. At the time of writing, I pay about €3 for a half litre pitcher of San Miguel at this Barcelona bar which has led to many Barcelona adventures, of which I have promised my Motley Crew, I will never speak of.
The Ovella Negra Barcelona bar also do giant (and I mean GIANT) chilled-pitchers of beer with four taps so you can put one on your table and serve yourself. They're great as you can buy one between your amigos, typically enough for about5-6 people, and let the drinking games commence. I have never been to Ovella Negra and not made new friends, largely because of the friendly atmosphere but also due to the fact that the tables are SO close together, you are basically forced to sit with other groups of people. Throw cheap beer into the mix and you've got yourself a party - a perfect Barcelona bar. As much as I love the Ovella Negra bar Barcelona, I can't help but feel I should be exploring the other bars in Barcelona and making more of the Barcelona nightlife. The problem however, is that so many of the bars in Barcelona are completely over priced and it's very difficult to tell how much you will have to pay for your drink, until the bill comes. In fact, after being here for a while, I'm certain that the camareros (bar staff/waiters) charge people differently, depending on how they are feeling and where you are from. Remember to check your cambio (change), as many a time I have paid with  €20 note, and received cambio (change) for a €10 note, of course, as soon as they know you are on to them, they apologise and act like it was a mistake.

Barcelona bars to avoid!

Barcelona is a tourist haven, and let's be honest, if you're a tourist or "guiri" in Barcelona, you are an easy target for being over charged. The key to avoiding expensive Barcelona bars is this, avoid the Barcelona bars which are located in prime tourist locations. I know this seems obvious but I'm amazed how many people still do it. For example, the bars directly on Las Ramblas are probably the most overpriced rubbish you will find in the the whole of Barcelona. I've heard stories of people being charged €15 for a beer here. As a price guide, I wouldn't pay more than €3-4 maximum for a beer in any Barcelona bar, but remember, night clubs will and do charge much more. Irish bars in Barcelona are also a little on the pricey side and if you are looking for a cheap night out, you would do well to avoid them. However, I have to say that the Irish bars in Barcelona are great fun and do indeed provide a genuine taste of Ireland and the UK. But lets not get carried away here SuiteLifers, if you wanted to experience that, you would just head across the channel! As a Brit in Barcelona, of course sometimes I do crave  home comforts and my Barcelona Irish bar of choice is The Michael Collins bar, located right next to the Sagrada Familia. It's long and narrow and has all the comforts of home with the seemingly compulsory Guinness posters everywhere. But the coolest thing about The Michael Collins bar in Barcelona is the live music. Typically on the weekends, you will find live bands playing a selection of European music, sung by Spanish guys with Spanish accents. It really does put a new spin on some of your favourite rock classics!

THE Cheapest bars in Barcelona, but not necessarily the best bars in Barcelona.

The small bars in Barcelona (and there are millions) often called Granjas or Cervecerias generally offer the cheapest drinks in Barcelona, and I mean cheap. Typically you won't pay more than €2 for a drink in one of these little Barcelona bars. Generally, they are full of older Spanish/Catalan men, who drink there day in, day out. They choose these Barcelona bars because they know they won't find their beer any cheaper anywhere else. However,  these BCN bars are not the atmospheric party places that you dream of in Barcelona and I for one certainly don't go to the Granja bars in Barcelona for my weekend of partying, even though they are the cheapest bars in Barcelona.

Barcelona Bars - how to tell if it's pricey or not!

In general, bars in Barcelona don't look all that elaborate from the outside. I don't know why, but the Catalans don't seem to put that much importance on the physical appearance of their bars and restaurants. Los Toreros Tapas Restaurant which I wrote about some time ago, offers some of the finest Tapas in Barcelona, from the outside however, it looks shabby, old and un-loved. Many Barcelona bars look much the same as the next bar and I find that strange considering the competition is so high, you would think they would want to distinguish themselves from the other Barcelona bars. So, when you do see a bar which stands out, and looks beautiful and flamboyant, rest assured, it will be an expensive Barcelona bar. I'm not saying you shouldn't go to these bars, because they are also awesome, but remember it won't come cheap. With so many bars in Barcelona, many have offers and promotions advertised outside the door, to entice you in. This is a great way to suss-out whether or not a Barcelona bar offers good value, typically they show "Bottle of Estrella Dammonly €x" or "Mojitos €x". If the bar has no signs outside whatsoever, it's safe to assume it's because it's expensive. It's a kind of "If you need to ask, you can't afford it" kind of attitude. Admittedly, not everybody is as concerned with money as I am, but I think there is a huge "financial" difference between coming to Barcelona as tourist and actually living in Barcelona.

Bars in Barcelona that won't rip you off!

Gracia

Apart from the back streets of central Barcelona, I would really advise Gracia for great Barcelona bars. Typically small, quirky, bohemian and reasonably priced, you will find a great balance of value and atmosphere in these Barcelona bars.Bars in Gracia are generally small, independantly run businesses and you will typically pay around €3 for a bottle of beer. No it's not the cheapest, but the bars in Gracia are seriously cool and full of life. We go to these Barcelona bars in the summer to sit outside, drink, laugh and watch the world pass by, before heading to one of the many clubs in Placa Reial.

El Born

Another great area for great Barcelona bars is the El Born area. It's insanely chic and trendy but also home to some of the best bohemian bars and restaurants in Barcelona. El Born is pretty central and makes it an easy place to meet friends and party hard, with-out having to spend a fortune. One of El Born 's best bars is La Fianna, it's warm and welcoming interior with dimly lit lights and comfy couches makes it uber romantic and was featured in SuiteLife's TOP 25 First Date Spots in Barcelona. The food is average, but "eatings cheating" after all! Only €3 for HUGE glasses of wine and the mojitos are also well made here. So, now you know what to expect and what to avoid when partying in Barcelona, make sure drop us a message on our Facebook page. What is your best bar in Barcelona? Ben Holbrook - SuiteLifer and Barcelona Bar Frequenter.

Barcelona Tapas: It's Pintxo Time!

Tapas in Barcelona, and Barcelona food in general is an enormous field to investigate. Today we will investigate segment of Barcelona tapas, which are called Pintxos! (Pronounced Pinchos).
Pintxo means 'spike' in Spanish and the literal translation serves us well in understanding what these tasty treats are all about. Several savory items are spiked to a slice of bread with a toothpick for your eating pleasure. If you want to read about some traditional Barcelona tapas places read Matt´s blog Cerveceria Catalana: The best tapas restaurant in Barcelona? or checkout my blog about Tapas in Barcelona for free “Ir de pintxos!” (To go for Pintxos) is the Basque version of pub crawling. Pintxos originated in the Basque Country. They can be warm or cold, salty or sweet. Traditionally many pintxos come with seafood and goat cheese, but you can find a wide variety with combos such as tortilla de patatas, eggs with tuna, croquets and even  little hamburgers as well. The variety of this Barcelona tapas is never ending and you can find places that serve up to 100 different Pintxos at a time. You basically grab your plate and start loading onto it whatever tickles your fancy; it can be difficult because they normally all look so good that you want to try everything. When you're completely stuffed and can't even manage one more tapa the waiter will come by to count the the toothpicks you have on your plate and the most common model is you pay per toothpick leftover.
Because of how they charge, there is usually a standard price on all pinxos, no matter what they may contain. The average price is about 1,60 per Pintxo, but as with anything else, you can find cheaper and definitely more expensive also. It's quite typical to accompany this Barcelona food with cider or Txakoli which is slightly sparkling white wine. 6 Pintxos, or so, should be perfect for a light, but delightful lunch and "ir de Pintxos" is a nice sociable activity for you and your friends while having a drink and chat in a Basque tavern. We tried some places for you and here are our suggestions. Try one of these 10 best Pintxos bars.

Enjoy the Basque pub crawl with SuiteLife!

Maitea

c/Casanova 157 The word "maitea" means love or dear, and love is what we, SuiteLifers, feel for this place. Very friendly service and they offer you more than 100 different kinds of cold and warm Pintxos. The cold ones attract you to the bar and the warm ones are ready in a minute when you order them. Last time when we went to Maitea with my 3 friends we had 21 pintxos, 2 beers, 2 cokes and we payed 41 euros and got a big bottle of cider for free. They have some awesome home made little desserts so try not to fill up too much on tapas (easier said than done!).

Grupo Sagardi

Grupo Sagardi has quite a few restaurants in BCN and in Spain and it's three most notable pinxos restaurants in Barcelona are Irati, Euskal Etxea and Sagardi.

Irati

c/Cardenal Casanyes 17 Irati is said by some to be the best Pintxos bar in town. You will find this restaurant with Barcelona tapas near the Boqueria Market on las Ramblas. It´s a friendly little place with around 50 different and splendid pintxos. Another one is...

Euskal Etxea

Plaçeta Montcada 1 80 variations of pintxos at the bar with great atmosphere and a cool interior that you will just love!

Sagardi

Plaça de Pau Vila 3 This bigger restaurant has a long bar with excelent Barcelona tapas that can host around 100 people! You won´t be dissapointed if you decide to visit any of these three bars above, but the one that I like the best is Euskal Etxea.

Zarautz taberna vasca

c/Elisi 13 Excellent Pintxos for 1,50€ each or the more special ones for 2.20€, and yes they are totally worth a try! Don´t miss this place!

Taktika Berri

c/Valencia 169 If you don´t mind waiting a bit for really great Barcelona food, than you should come to check out Taktika Berri. It´s one of the best Basque restaurants in town, because the meat and other ingredients are brought in directly from San Sebastian, the epicenter of Basque food.

Itxaso

c/Còrsega 232 The name of the restaurant means sea, and you will love the marine white and blue decoration. They offer around 70 different cold and warm pintxos.

Special on Price: Check this out!

Txirimiri

c/de la Princesa 11 Have a lunch menu in the heart of Born for 5,50! You´ll get 5 pintxos and a drink. This place is special for another reason as well. The waiter won´t count your toothpicks here at the end of the meal, they just ask, "how many Pintxos did you eat?". It's quite a nice touch and makes the customers feel welcome an trusted.  I suppose the owner just believes in the quality of his food so much that he assumes if you liked the food you wouldn´t need to play with numbers.

Baserri

c/Correu Vell 4 Baserri opens at 6:30 p.m. And you can have 5 pintxos and 1 beer for 6 euros.

Blai Tonight

c/de Blai 23 Enjoy this place on a warm evening at one of their terrace tables and try any of their pintxos for just 1 euro. You probably have noticed that these restaurants' names don't sound too Spanish. It´s because of their Basque origin. Did you know that Basque country has its own language that is supposed to be the oldest in the Europe and so old that linguists aren´t even able to come to an agreement as to its actual roots? Go and check out some of the above taverns and let us know, which Pintxo was your favorite!

On Egin!

(Bon appetite) Sharka

SuiteLife’s Favourite Best Tapas in Barcelona: Cerveceria Catalana

Cerveceria Catalana is often referred to as one of the coolest restaurant to eat the best tapas restaurant in Barcelona, although if judged on the food alone this might not hold true, the whole experience of dinning there has made it a favorite of SuiteLifers looking to find the most enjoyable tapas in Barcelona experience.  It is one of the place that offers the best tapas restaurant in Barcelona, in the Eixample Barrio that is always popular with locals and tourists alike. Like many such joints that serve tapas in Barcelona, the restaurant itself seems small at first, probably because it is packed with people waiting for a table.  Once you’ve waited 30 minutes for your table and get in, you can see it's much bigger than you originally thought.  The bar is great and has a huge selection of premium-imported beers.  If you sit at the bar, you can simply point out the tapas you want to try from under the counter.  You can even drink beer and have a montadito or two while you wait for your table. The general decor of the restaurant is quite modern and elegant but it doesn’t feel too upper class; you would feel quite comfortable here wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
As far as tapas in Barcelona goes, the food here is brilliant.  There is a varied selection of tapas and they are quite reasonably priced.  The best way to order like any tapas restaurant is to just start pointing at what you like off the menu.  Going for tapas is a very social experience in Spain, and so you generally order for the table and everyone shares. For some of our most recommended dishes, checkout our Top Tapas blog.  Although the tapas at Cerveceria Catalana are great, we wouldn't call it the absolute best tapas in Barcelona. Even though it doesn't get the crown as king of Barcelona tapas, it's for sure a runner up and our favourite place to take any and all out-of-town visitors. The drinks are also great, as mentioned earlier they have a great selection of premium-imported beers (kind of what you would expect from a restaurant named Cerveceria).  They also have good draft beers that come in big glasses if you want a slightly cheaper option.  The wine selection here is reasonable and mostly Spanish, but if you do go here you should definitely try the sangria.  So far its the best sangria I have had in Barcelona. Service here is spectacularly fast, an added bonus in a city where the service usually doesn't exceed the pace of a snail.  If you get over the fact you're going to have to wait, then you will have a very pleasant experience in terms of service.  Most of the waiters/waitresses speak English and are very friendly.

One of the best tapas in Barcelona that are Actually Worth the Wait

As this is such a popular restaurant for the best tapas in Barcelona there is almost always a wait for a table.  At Cerveceria Catalana they won't let you call up and make a reservation.  When it is busy it's completely normal to wait for about 30-60 minutes; I waited 40.  The good thing is that once you have put your name on the waiting list you can have a nice drink form the bar and, if you're lucky enough to find a seat at the bar, try some tapas while you wait.  Or you could do as I did and go to a less crowded bar for a bit and come back when it’s your turn to be seated. A SuiteLife tip is they have two waiting lists, one for outside and one for inside.  Put your name on both and you'll be guaranteed the shortest wait possible! Either way, the wait is well worth it. Map More amazing restaurants in Barcelona. If you have any comments or know of any must-try best tapas in Barcelona, we would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment below. ~ Matthew Rutter

Where can I find English Cinemas in Barcelona?

Whether you’re on holiday and looking for a quiet night out or living in Barcelona and hungry for a taste of home, its always nice to catch up on the latest movies on the big screen. But if you can’t speak the language or, like me, absolutely despise dubbing, it can be difficult to find the original version of films…but only if you don’t know where to look. So we’ve done the work for you! Read on for a list of  English VO cinemas in Barcelona.

Cines Verdi

Verdi, and its smaller counterpart Verdi park just opposite, offers a diverse program of independent cinema. It is mostly European and Asian focussed but you never know what might pop up on the schedule! This cinema offers film in their original language, not always English, with Spanish subtitles - a great way to learn a bit of the language as well as have fun. It is just up in Gracia, easily accessible by metros Fontana (L3) or Joanic (L4) and surrounded by plenty of bars and restaurants for the perfect pre/post cinema bite to eat. Prices vary between €4.50 and €9 depending which day you decide to go. Monday’s are by far the cheapest at half the price of the weekend showings. Carrer Verdi, 32, Gracia, Barcelona, 08012.

Yelmo Icaria

Located right near the old port (the perfect place for a post-film stroll) this cinema has 15 screens in total - more than enough to keep you entertained! It is easily accessible from the metro Ciutadella Vila Olímpica (L4) which is just 3 blocks walk away. Prices range from €5 to €9 and the best day to visit is on a Wednesday. Carrer Salvador Espiriu 61, Barcelona, 08005

Cinema Malda

Right in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, this cinema is nestled right amongst the old streets of Barcelona. The best thing about this particular cinema is that for a fixed price per day you can watch as many films as you like! Not all will be in English but hey, there’s always room to expand your horizons. Prices range from €4.50 to €9 with Wednesday being the cheapest day but when you can watch multiple films for around €5 you’ll be getting your money’s worth any day you decide to visit this cinema. It is slap bang in between Liceu (L3) and Jaume I (L4) so you can’t miss it, right in the centre of the city. Carrer del Pi, 5, 08002.

Renoir Floridablanca

This cinema offers a wide range of VO films, mostly European with some American movies in the mix, so you’ll have a range of languages to choose from if you don’t fancy something in English. Close to a variety of restaurants on the border where Raval meets Sant Antoni, you’re bound to find somewhere to grab a bite to eat before or after the film. Prices range from €5 to €9. This cinema is accessible from the metro stations Universitat (L1) and Sant Antoni (L2) but if you prefer to drive, there is one hour of free parking at Parking Urgell. Carrer Floridablanca, 144, Barcelona, 08015

Melies Cinemas

Melies prides itself on offering the best that auteur cinema has to offer, whether that is English-speaking or otherwise. You’ll find it in Eixample, close to the metro stations Urgell and Hospital Clinic. Prices are between €4 and €7, with Monday being the cheapest day to visit. Carrer Villaroal 102, Barcelona, 08011

Cinemes Girona

With just 3 screens this cinema in Eixample will feel distinctly intimate making for a unique atmosphere and as its a little out of the way you shouldn’t find yourself battling through tourists to get in which can sometimes be the case when looking for English cinemas in Barcelona! Prices are between €6.50 and €8.50. Carrer Girona, 175, Barcelona, 08037

Filmoteca de Catalunya

With an array of classic films to choose from, you won’t run out of options at the Filmoteca de Catalunya. It has a massive variety of movies spanning all decades and ranging across the international film scene so whether you’re looking for something in English or looking to do a bit of listening practice with other languages this might be just the cinema for you. Located right between Rambla de Raval and La Rambla, there are plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from should you ever be able to tear yourself away from the big screen. Plaça de Salvador Seguí, 1-9, Barcelona, 08001. So whether you’re a tourist looking to spend a little time out of the Mediterranean sun, an expat longing to hear your own language in surround sound or just a film buff looking to catch up on the best that international cinema has to offer, check out these cinemas in Barcelona and let us know what you end up watching - we’d love to hear your recommendations! - Erin

Party in Barcelona: Chasing the Party - Nasty Mondays

Nasty Mondays is by far one of the best party in Barcelona and in our opinion it reigns supreme over all other Barcelona clubs. Admittedly, Monday night is not when most people go out to rage, however, that's one aspect of what makes this party so amazing. There aren't any amateur weekend partiers here.  The crowd, although quite eclectic, is interested in one thing only, dancing up a storm at the most unique party in Barcelona with arguably the best music and atmosphere going. We're not sure exactly where it got it's name, but we do know one thing, if you have to work the following day or sit through hours of early morning classes, it's a nasssty experience.  This party might kill you for the rest of the week, but simply stated, it's more than worth it. Wait! Have you never heard of Nasty Mondays? Shame on you! But don't worry! We spent many nights there, we've experienced it in all its glory, felt its beating sexy sweaty pulse, and we're gonna tell you everything you need to know about what might be considered the best Monday night in the world. Barcelona clubs will never be the same again.

Nasty Mondays: How Did it All Begin?

To understand what the Nasty Mondays party is all about, it is important to briefly talk about how it all began! It was 2004 when a guy called Soren Manzoni, skater, surfer, collector of vintage stuff - from robot toys to pinball machines - and addicted to music got together with Max Ochoa to create something that Barcelona clubs had never seen before!  Influenced by their life-style, they created a party that combines a perfect selection of music, a rock star stage for the DJs, and a lot of improvisation. As years went by, the party grew bigger and moved the Sala Apolo - one of the biggest Barcelona clubs - and also gained international attention. Besides his constant search for "new old stuff" around the flee market 'Los Encantes', Soren stared traveling more and more to New York, which brought even more identity to the party. Nowadays, Nasty Mondays brings together almost 1500 people every Monday and every month it crosses the ocean for its New York edition!
Though very famous now, Soren and Max still have the formula that we love: no gimmicky DJ tricks from the no fancy special effects. Nasty Mondays is simply about the right song at the right time and having fun.

The Club

Getting there is easy! The Sala Apolo is located at Calle Nou de la Rambla, 112, and it is easily reached by metro. If you take the purple (L2) or the green (L3) line and hop off by Station Paral-lel you are just a few meters away from the entrance. It is impossible to miss it, you will immediately notice the line organized by the security guards. As the party starts at 00:00 it is wise to get there before 01:00 to avoid queues. We got there around half-past midnight and in 5 minutes we were inside. They will probably ask for your ID,  so BRING it! There is no such thing as dress-code, but if you get there wearing some clubs jersey, flip-flops or a camouflage cargo shorts (a guy was kicked out in front of us because of that) you might have problems. The entrance is 14 € and includes a drink. So far so good!  We were in and ready to party! The first room when you enter called La[2] and is not the main part of the party. There, the DJ Kosmos and DJ Dr. Cartagena play a mixed of new electro and fidget house, with a touch of hip-hop. To be honest, we didn't spend much time there though the music and mood were very good. We wanted to go as soon as possible to the main dish! So some stairs up and there you are! Sala Apolo is a old-theater style club, which is an essential ingredient to the party! Once you are on the dance-floor you can see the DJs on the stage, just like rock stars, and when you look above you see the upper part, a balcony that has a full view of the dance floor and stage. The bars are usually crowed, and it might take a few minutes to get a drink. That's what happened when we went for our "free" drink - whether it is a Rum-Cola, Vodka-Red Bull, Whiskey-Red Bull - you will be surprised, they pour the drinks very strong making the paid entrance worth even more.
With time, the place became more crowed, but it was never a problem, unless you try to be right in front of the DJs. There, people go crazy, dance and jump like in a rock n' roll concert, and despite getting very sweaty and squeezed it is pretty fun. In the middle of the dance-floor you also experience the adventure of the smokers! As the place has no smoking area, the smokers try their luck hiding from the securities and smoking with their heads down. We didn't witness anyone getting busted, but if want to try doing it, take a lot of care, because the securities guards are not polite AT ALL. And there lies the downside in our opinion. Don't expect "please" or "thank you". We witnessed their rudeness to a lot of people. Of course we can not generalize, but from what we saw, it is a downside.

Music And Other Crazy Stuff

Ok and the music? Isn't it what a party is all about? You are right! Nasty Mondays won't disappoint you! Well, do you like The Strokes? Do you like Rolling Stones? Joy Division? Rage Against the Machine? So, that's just a few of what you gonna get there! The variety goes from rock n' roll from the 50's to the 80's getting to 90's grunge, with hint of new age and all this mixed with recents indie and electrorock hits!
We cannot forget to mention the all the crazy things that happen on the stage! While Soren and Max are playing, drinking Jack Daniels and acting like rock stars, a bunch of pretty girls are dancing and showing themselves to the crowd. And it can get even better! If you are lucky enough (or check in the website, which is more clever) you can be there when a Shitty Sessions is happening! It is a photograph session that takes place on the stage, just behind the DJs! Now, can you imagine what happens in these photos? Just try to put together loud rock and roll, alcohol and crazy people that you might get a bit of it! You can check it, just click here! Our verdict about Nasty Mondays? Don't think twice, go for it, feel it like we did! We are sure you are gonna love it! Now you have your Monday nights guaranteed! How to recover on Tuesday while sitting hungover at your desk? Well, that's another blog idea... What about Tuesday, Wednesday…Sunday? Any suggestions? Wait! Are you still considering staying at home next Monday? We really hope not! Because that's what CHASING THE PARTY is all about: finding the clubs, reporting to you and making you experience it! It will be a series of posts about the exciting nightlife in Barcelona, we will chase the parties, no matter if it summer or winter, sunny or rainy. We are going to find the ones that are rocking our city the hardest. After all, there is nothing like a local DJ. Want to know more about Nasty Mondays and some party in Barcelona? Check this video! http://vimeo.com/50067417

Pratical Information for Party in Barcelona

NASTY MONDAYS Local: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 113 Metro Station: Paral-lel Day of the week: Monday Price: 13 €  in advance / 14 € - at door - cash or card http://nastymondays.com/ Cheers! Jack

Sports Shops in Barcelona: Where to find the best of them?

Sports Shops in Barcelona cater to all kinds of different sports.  So if you're a runner or a surfer or anything in-between then, we have got you covered.  Read on to find the Sports shop in Barcelona that is right for you.

Sports shops in Barcelona - Decathlon

Decathlon shops are some of the largest sports shops in Barcelona.  They have all kinds of different sports equipment and clothing, so you will be sure to find what you are looking for.  You can buy anything from roller blades to football kits.  Decathlon is also very cheap, they may not have the best quality Sports equipment but it is great value.  There are a few Decathlon stores in Barcelona including one right in the centre just off Las Ramblas. Check their website over here: Website Check the map to get there: Map

Sports shops in Barcelona - Esports Nuria Barcelona

This shop has a good range of sports equipment, although it is not quite as big as Decathlon.  Esports Nuria is a great shop for swimmers as they sell all you would need for swimming in the Mediterranean or just in your local pool. Check their website over here : Website Check the map to get there: Map

Sports Shops in Barcelona - Inercia

Inercia is a more specialised sports shops in Barcelona.  They sell skate boards, long boards and roller blades along with any equipment that you need/ want with them.  If you like these extreme sports then Inercia is a great place to go.  They have high end products, which are a little expensive.  Although I would say they are worth the money.  The staff are very friendly and helpful and most of them can speak reasonably good English. Check their website over here : Website Check the map to get there : Map

Sports Shops in Barcelona - La General Surfera

This is another specialised sports shops in Barcelona, specialising in Surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding.  This sports shop sells high-end goods and brands, making it quite expensive.  It’s a very hip place that is perfect for you if you like to look good on your skateboard/snowboard/surfboard.  La General Surfera is quite large and they have a good selection of extreme sport clothing and equipment. Check their website over here : Website Check the map to get there : Map

Sports Shops in Barcelona - Adidas

There are also a couple of good Adidas shops in Barcelona.  One of them is an Adidas originals shop, which is more of a sporty fashion shop.  You can find this one in the Gotico area.  There is also an Adidas shop on Passeig de Grácia, which can be described as more of a sports shop.  It has a good selection of sporting clothing and equipment for sports such as running and football.  It is not one of the biggest sports shops in Barcelona but in this shop it’s all about quality not quantity.
If you know of any other great Sports shops in Barcelona or have any comments we would love to hear them. Cheers Matthew Rutter

Let's Talk About Art: Famous Catalan Artists

Dear SuiteLifers, as you might have already realized art in Barcelona is a booming activity. The city is filled with artists who express themselves in many ways through painting, sculpture, architecture or music. You can easily run into some people drawing in the streets or performing music somewhere. In the coming posts we'd like to give you a little insight into some of the Famous Catalan People, first of all introducing some of Catalunya’s most respected and famous Catalan artists. These famous Catalan artists obviously had a great impact on the city itself and the artistic life in Barcelona.

THE TOP3 MOST FAMOUS CATALAN ARTISTS AND PAINTERS

1.   SALVADOR DALÍ (1904-1989)

Dalí was born in Figueres, Catalunya. He was one of the most defining surrealist painters of the 20th century. He was also influenced by many styles of art from academically classic - through cubism - to cutting-edge avant garde. Beyond his brilliant paintings he was also involved in sculpture, film-making and photography. He worked together with the famous Spanish surrealist director Luis Buñuel too, making the short film Un Chien Andalou and later L'Âge d'Or. He also collaborated with Alfred Hitchkock, and worked on a Disney cartoon production called Destino.

2.   JOAN MIRÓ (1893-1983)

He was born in Barcelona, the capital of Catalunya. He also did paintings, sculptures and ceramics, mainly influenced by surrealism and dada. You can see his art all around the city, for example on Las Ramblas, Parc de Joan Miró and obviously in the Fundació Joan Miró in Montjuïc, Barcelona. As one of the most famous Catalan artists, some of Miró’s work manifests the Catalán pride.

3. ANTONI TÁPIES (1923- )

Tàpies is also from Barcelona and one of the most famous European painters of our time. In his early work he was influenced by Joan Miró and Paul Klee, but soon became an informal artist, working in a style called “pintura matérica”- which means that the paintings may consist of some non artistic materials too. Later he got into Pop art, incorporating more unusual materials into his painting such as parts of furniture. He is also interested in sculpture and lithography. We could say that his work is associated with abstract expressionismtachisme as well. Tàpies is still living in Barcelona, where is the Fundació Tàpies located, dedicated to his life and work. Among the top famous Catalan artists it is difficult not to mention architectures who embody and epitomise the style and character of Barcelona, which is very famous for its buildings. It is therefore important to list the TOP 3 Catalán architects as well, to show their impact on Barcelona’s arhitecture. Why dont you check out our cool series on Barcelona Architecture & Catalán Modernism? It includes the work of Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Lluis Domenech i Muntaner, and naturally Antoni Gaudi - who's very famous work, the Sagrada Familia was consacred by the Pope in 2010.

As most of you know, there are tons of Barcelona sights. Luckily, there are still a few "secret" places, not overtaken by tourists. I was taken to one of them by a Catalan friend of mine, born and raised here and therefore full of inside knowledge about the city.
The Bunker, located at the top of Rovira in the Carmel barrio is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon with your friends or your couple. And yeah - the bunker is more than just a nickname - the place is a remains of an old air raid civil war bunker. It was built in 1937 and has been renovated in the past few years. Renovated in sense that it's clean and safer than before, the sight still has its own unique vibe. Moreover, there are tons of graffiti improving the ambient atmosphere.
I must admit, the sunset view from the top of the mountain is very romantic. There's a 360º sight of Barcelona, which in my opinion is much better than the one from Montjuic. You can see absolutely everything - the vastness of the sea, the narrow streets of Barcelona, the city lights and the high mountain peaks. If you are a photography lover, this is the place to take amazing pictures of Barcelona!
So, the most important question - how to get there? You can see the location of the place on the map. The closest metro stop is Alfons X (L4, yellow) and from then on you can either walk or take a bus for two stops.
Interesting fact about the spot I chose to present to you - the Spanish rock band Nothink chose that particular sight in Barcelona for their music video of the song In a Row. Even if you are not the biggest rock fan you might like the video just for the astonishing location! I hope my words inspire you enough to go and check out the place yourself. If you have any tips about other cool Barcelona sights - drop a line in the comment section below! Cheers, Ivo