Los domingos en Barcelona, en verdad, están llenos de actividades y pasatiempos. La ciudad es tan vivo y concurrido que siempre encontrarás algo que hacer en tu día libre.

¿Que puedes hacer un Domingo en Barcelona?

Para eliminar el estrés de hacer tu propio lista, este blog te ayudará a encontrar el plan perfecto para TU domingo. Así evitaremos que os quedáis encerrados en la casa todo el día.

Terapia de compras

Entre los turistas y la gente local, es necesario que algunas tiendas, restaurantes y otros empresas de ocio permanezcan abiertas. Está claro que la mayoría de las tiendas y supermercados están cerrados, pero no os asustéis! Hemos creado una lista de algunas de las tiendas y supermercados que podréis visitar durante los domingos en Barcelona. O sea que si eres una comprador/a compulsiv@, esto es perfecto para ti. Vamos a empezar por el centro comercial de Anecblau: está abierto desde las 10h hasta las 22h todo los días, y tienen un gran portafolio de tiendas. Además, puedes disfrutar de muchos restaurantes y cafeterías para tomar un té, café o sentar a comer. Otro centro comercial que está abierto durante los domingos es Maremagnum. Tiene algunas de las mismas franquicias que Anecblau, y también unas otras marcas como Lacoste, Natura, etc. Además, por las calles alrededor de la Catedral, hay muchos boutiques abiertos que tienen diferentes estilos de ropa. Si esto no te satisface tus compras compulsivas en un domingo, me daré por vencido. Mientras que estamos en el asunto de tiendas en los domingos o días festivales, lo último que añadiré será un poco de información útil por si acaso te falta unos ingredientes para una receta, o si te apetece algo de chocolate (es lo más probable en mi caso) y no hay en casa! Los SuperCOR exprés están abiertos cada día de 8h a 2h. Hay muchísimos más tiendas como el SuperCOR (hasta incluso de 24 horas) que seguro que habrás visto al pasear por la calle, pero aquí podrás ver una lista de todos los SuperCOR exprés en Barcelona. Entonces, ahora que sabes que hay algunos supermercados abiertos en Domingo, significa que también podrás planear una barbacoa espontánea.

Disfruta de la Comida en los Restaurantes

Los restaurantes están abiertos en los domingos igual que todos los días. Y como no hay nada mejor que disfrutar de buena comida con tus amigos y familia, ¿porque no salir a comer a un restaurante? En Barcelona, hay muchos diferentes estilos de restaurantes que cocinan maravillas de otras culturas a la misma vez que la comida tradicional de Catalunya. Unos restaurantes que recomendaríamos para aprovechar de la comida Catalana son “7 Portes”, “Senyor Parelleda”, Taverna el Glop” y “Can Culleretes”. Los platos son alrededores de 20 a 30 euros. También, gracias a su localización a la costa, Barcelona tiene bastantes marisquerías que prometen unas delicias frescas. En particular, “La Paradeta” es considerada un restaurante bastante asequible, y pleno de pescado y marisco delicioso.

Museos

Hay bastantes museos que ofrecen entradas gratuitas para los domingos en Barcelona. Sí, lo has leído bien, son GRATIS, entonces no hay excusa. Hemos preparado una lista extensa para que podéis hacer un plan que convenga tus intereses. - Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña (MNAC) Parc de Montjuïc, Sants-Montjuïc, 08038 Hay entrada gratuita todos los primeros domingos de cada mes. - Museo de la historia de Barcelona (MUHBA) Pl. del Rei, Ciutat Vella, 08002 El primer domingo del mes, todo el día o el resto de los domingos a partir de las 15h. - Museo de Música Padilla 155, Eixample, 08013 El primer domingo del mes, todo el día o el resto de los domingos a partir de las 15h. - Museo Frederic Marès Plaça de Sant Iu, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08002 El primer domingo del mes, todo el día o el resto de los domingos a partir de las 15h. -Virreina Centre de la Imatge La Rambla, 99, El Raval, 08001 Siempre es GRATIS. - Museo Picasso Montcada, 15-23, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Es gratis el primer domingo de cada mes y a partir de 15h a 19h todos los domingos. - Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona Montalegre, 5, Raval, 08001 Todos los domingos de 15h a 20h (aforo limitado) gracias al patrocinio de Moritz. - Museo Marítimo de Barcelona Av. de les Drassanes, Raval, 08001 Todos los domingos a partir de las 15h. - Jardín Botánico El primer domingo del mes, todo el día o el resto de los domingos a partir de las 15h. - Museo de Diseño de Barcelona Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, 37, 08018 Barcelona Todos los domingos de 15h a 20h, y cada primer domingo del mes. Hay otros museos que no ofrecen una entrada gratuita pero igualmente son interesantes y divertidos para visitar... - Museo Blau Pl. de Leonardo da Vinci, 4-5, Sant Martí, 08019 No tienen una entrada gratuita pero hacen entradas reducidas para jóvenes entre 16 y 29. - Museo de la historia de Cataluña (MHCAT) Plaça de Pau Vila, 3, Ciutat Vella, 08039 No es gratis, pero ofrecen una entrada reducida si eres menor de 25 años. - Museo de la Xocolata Carrer del Comerç, 36, 08003 Barcelona Es un museo de chocolate, vale la pena gastar el dinero con o sin entrada reducida!

Playa, Mar y Cascadas!

En Barcelona, es verdad que las playas como la Barceloneta e Icària se llenan de personas bastante rápido a causa del turismo. Sin embargo, si vais andando por el paseo, verás que hay un gran ambiente, entonces si os da igual estar pegados toalla a toalla como sardines, merecerá la pena.  Aunque, creo que la mayoría queremos estar tranquilos en la playa tomando el sol sin interrupciones. Entonces, ¿porque no ir a otras playas alrededor de Barcelona? Como  Sitges, Tossa de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar o Castelldefels. También, hay compañías que alquilan tablas, remos y neopreno para hacer paddle, o surf. Los precios comienzan desde €15 para una hora hasta €25 para dos horas. ¿No queréis ir a la playa? No os preocupéis, hay muchos pueblos hermosos que quedan a una hora o dos de Barcelona en coche. En particular, la cascada de Foradada (esto es un secreto) es una maravilla que sería perfecto para las personas que son amantes del senderismo. Tarda una hora y media para llegar en coche, pero si quieres coger el transporte público tardarás unos 3 horas.

Arquitectura y Cultura de Barcelona

Si no quieres viajar a otros sitios alrededor de Barcelona, podrías pasar tu domingo paseando por las bellas calles que ofrecen la ciudad. Barcelona está lleno de las obras de Gaudí: el palacio de Güell, la Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, etc. Cada uno de sus creaciones son vibrantes, vistosos y atractivos; todos sus obras merecen una visita. De todos modos hay mucho más arquitectura en Barcelona que Gaudí, por ejemplo, el torre Agbar. Es un edificio increíble. Los domingos está cerrado, pero, igualmente puedes pasar por el camino a ver su impresionante altura. Durante la semana, se puede entrar al vestíbulo del edificio (el resto es privado!!); da la impresión que acabas de entrar en una iglesia antigua con vidrieras.

Festivales y Eventos

Siempre estamos escribiendo y publicando sobre eventos de interés en nuestros redes sociales. Entonces, siguenos en Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter, Linked In y Pinterest para ver los mejores eventos que asistir en Barcelona. Hay un evento que se llama Eat Street Barcelona que normalmente ocurre durante los fines de semana en Barcelona. Es un lugar donde se reúnen "food trucks" (camiones de comida). A lo mejor, si tienes la suerte, pillarás uno de sus eventos en un domingo. Hablando de mercados temporáneas, echa un vistazo al Mercado Palo Alto. Atención: ocurre el primer fin de semana de cada mes. También, estarte pendiente de los festivales tradicionales como la Merce (24 de Septiembre). Este año caerá en un domingo, entonces, estarte atentos para otros días festivos que podrían caer en domingo. - A finales de Febrero hay Carnaval ! La fecha depende del año. -Semana Santa y Pascua es el tiempo de gran procesiones alrededor del Catedral y la Ciudad Antigua. -23 de Abril es la Fiesta de Sant Jordi (el patrón de Cataluña). -Los finales de Junio empiezan las Fiestas de "el Grec". -15 de Agosto son las Fiestas de la Asunción. -11 de Septiembre es la Fiesta Nacional de Cataluña. -12 de Octubre es la Fiesta de la Hispanidad y Santa Pilar. Espero que os haya gustado este blog! Si crees que hemos faltado algunas otras actividades, comenta abajo. FELIZ DOMINGO CHICOS!

Probably one of the more unique vegan cafés in Barcelona, the Blue Project Café is part of the Blue Project Foundation which is a contemporary art foundation situated in the beautiful el Borne. The idea behind it, is that the art carries through to the gastronomy. The café is the reflective art, but in this case chef Karlos is the artist with the way he delicately picks and assembles his art pieces – his dishes.
Blue Project Café is a vegetarian, vegan and raw food haven which is different from others, in the sense that it takes food to that another level. Priding themselves on the theory of slow food, we paid a visit to the café to find out more and taste some of the creations.
When we arrived to the vegan café, the very first thing that stood out was the cosy environment. The café has beautiful wooden touches, filled with cookbooks. The waiter – Jonathan welcomed us with a smile.

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Starter

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To start, Jonathan recommended that we try their smoothie and fresh juice. You can make your own smoothie, so we went ahead and had a banana, almond milk, acai & cinnamon smoothie which was absolutely delicious and a beetroot, apple, carrot, ginger and lemon freshly squeezed juice. For starters, we had a little taster of their hummus, Essene bread, enzymatic crackers and their cashew cheese.
Quick note, I love cheese. Like, love it. To my surprise, the cashew cheese was actually fairly close to the usual taste of cheese and it was really well seasoned with different herbs. The hummus was deliciously smooth, but my favourites were the bread and the crackers (they’re both completely gluten free). Typically, crackers tend to be fairly bland and dull, but the dehydrated bread and crackers were absolutely mouthwatering and packed with flavor, I could eat them all day every day.

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Main Course

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The idea behind the next dish was slow food. Slow food is a philosophy that honors the appreciation of the producers and users whilst being good for the planet at the same time. Therefore, this dish was assembled with ingredients that grow nearby to Barcelona, meaning that less food is imported and because it’s so close, it doesn’t need to be frozen and it’s still full of nutrients. What came next, was truly a piece of art.
The dish was made with fluffy quinoa, broccoli, grilled asparagus, artichoke, mushrooms and decorated by some edible flowers, which added a colour pop. This was not only well seasoned and really well cooked, but it was made fun with much thought put behind it and this is why we loved this dish that was made with a local produce of seasonal vegetables.

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Desert

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So after this marathon of food, we had one last dish to try – desert. For desert, Karlos brought us a little mix of bits and bobs to try, with a signature strawberry cheesecake.
Along with the strawberry cheesecake, we had the joy of trying some handmade chocolate delight with a mango puree, some sweet banana chips, dried strawberries and handmade chocolate. Karlos revealed that he tempers with chocolate himself, which is one of the hardest technical skills in desert – tempering chocolate to the point where it glistens. Normally in restaurants I refrain from deserts, because you leave feeling heavy and feel like you have (once again) over eaten. However, because the food here is so light, the desert really hit the spot and safe to say, we did not regret having it at all. So after all this food tasting, we felt super good. The food was delicious, the service was amazing, the aura and the vibe in the café was refreshing. If you’re looking for a place that even your non-vegan or vegetarians friends would enjoy eating in, this definitely is the place to go. The café also sells some raw snacks, bites and different various foods which you can buy to take away. If you loved the dishes and feel inspired, chef Karlos also runs cooking classes on Saturday’s, but be aware, they sell out VERY quickly.
More information about El Café For more information on Slow Food Tell us your opinion in the comments below!

Ever wonder who are the best architects in Barcelona? Don't look any further, in this article we give you the best contemporary architects Barcelona has to offer. They are all very successful architectural firms, some of them even work on an international level. Looking at their portfolios, we can assure you that they deliver impressive work, go check it out yourself below!

YLAB

YLAB Arquitectos is based in Barcelona, but most of their work is being presented worldwide with projects in Europe, Africa and Asia. They work on residential, commercial, corporate, hospitality and healthcare projects. Not only do they provide architectural services, they also take care of interior and furniture design. They focus on every detail, provide the finest craft work and they create timeless spaces. While focusing on that, they always keep in mind functionality and the personal needs and wishes of the client. You can tell that YLAB is a very renowned architect as they are included in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, El País, Archiportale and Houzz. Check out one of their residential projects below:

Alventosa Morell Arquitectes

Alventosa Morell Arquitectes is an architectural firm based in Lleida and Barcelona founded by Josep Ma. Alventosa Cuadrat, Marc Alventosa and Morell Jané. They are in particular specialized in making eco-friendly houses, for example the Green Roofed home that we showed you in this blog about eco-friendly houses in Barcelona. The eco-friendly aspect is reflected through designing houses that save more than 70% of energy, but most of all they focus on increasing the comfort of their clients. They are experienced in residential projects, schools, medical centers, hotels and restoration of buildings. We want to show you a small part of their impressive portfolio, you definitely feel the relaxing vibe with all the wood they used.

08023 Architects

08023 Architects is based in the Sarriá-Sant Gervasi neighborhood of Barcelona and specialized in designing incredible places to live in, to work in, to dream in, and so on! They combine architecture and design with the emotions, needs and desires tailored to each client. In order to create a dream house for someone, 08023 not only works FOR their client, but most of all work WITH their client by interviewing them to find out exactly what they want. They guide their clients throughout the whole project, or 'experience' as they like to call it. 08023's main focus is achieving dreams and solve needs, which is reflected in their amazing projects! In which of these luxurious properties would you like to wake up?

Velezcarrasco Arquitecto

The man behind Velezcarrasco Arquitecto is Óskar Vélez Carrasco, born in the Basque Country but ended up working as an architect in Barcelona. In the Catalan city he worked on large and massive projects such as hospitals, office buildings, and even golf court headquarters. However, for him the most rewarding part of his job was the eye-to-eye contact with the client, getting to know their exact wished and needs and then work from there. He thought over everything and finally decided to start his own firm as an architect, so he could be directly in touch with the person that eventually would end up in his project. He wants to experience the challenge of building a project, the good moments and the bad moments together with his client. His close relationship with his clients has resulted in some really awesome work! Can you imagine laying in that pool, enjoying the sunset?

OAB: Office of Architecture in Barcelona

The Office of Architecture in Barcelona (OAB) was established in 2006 by partners Carlos Ferrater, Savier Martí, Lucía Ferrater, Borja Ferrater and Núria Ayala. OAB is a renowned architecture firm. They received several awards such as the City of Barcelona Award for the Barcelona Botanical Gardens and Mediapro Building projects, the Brunel Award for the Zaragoza-Delicias Transportation Station project, the City of Madrid Award for the Benidorm Waterfront Project for which they also got the FAD Award, WAN Award and the Spanish Architecture Award. The list of awards goes on and on, so you definitely don't have to doubt about the quality of this successful firm! OAB works on different projects from renovation projects to residential projects. Although they are based in Barcelona, they work on an international level. Curious how their residential projects look like? Check them below, the oval house is mind blowing!

BC Estudio Architects

BC Estudio Architects is also a Barcelona based architecture firm that works on an international level in Spain, Greece, USA, Arabia, Portugal, France, Andorra, Indonesia, Mexico, Australia, Italy, India, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Russia and Qatar. So if you're ever thinking of leaving Barcelona (although why would you) then you can keep on using the services of BC Estudio Architects. If you value environmentally friendly designs, then this may be the perfect architect for you because one of their most important values is Green Architecture. They want to integrate cultural, social and environmental values into their architectural design. Not only are their projects beautiful, but they are also designed with functionality in mind. The second house is a perfect mixture of old and modern architecture.

DNA Barcelona

DNA Barcelona is an Architecture studio, but they also do Planning, Landscape, Interiors, and Design. Just like some other architects, DNA also works on international level as they are involved in projects throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Their range of projects goes from multi functional buildings to luxury single family houses. Their main focus is the future, they try to understand how their projects can adapt to future needs. They even have a special program called "Luxury Solutions" in which they take care of the whole process of the development of the project, from the beginning to the end, they basically take you by the hand throughout the project. Below you can check their luxurious projects.

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Impressed by these architects and their portfolio? Do you want to know more about their projects? We have listed their contact info below: YLAB Arquitectes www.YLAB.com Calle Pallars 85-94 34 934864807 info@ylab.es Alventosa Morell Arquitectos www.AlventosaMorell.com Calle Rocafort 67-69 Local C-9 08015 Barcelona 93 182 07 89 Arquitectes@alventosamorell.com 08023 Arquitectos www.08023.es Calle Copèrnic 3, 1º 2º 08021 Barcelona 93 417 37 23 info@08023.es/ Velezcarrasco Arquitecto www.velezcarrascoarquitecto.com Calle Pals 1 17200 Palafrugell 34 872 006 208/34 628 948 552 Info@VelezcarrascoArquitecto.com OAB Office of Architecture Barcelona www.ferrater.com Calle Balmes 145 Bajos 08008 Barcelona 34 93 238 51 36 oab@ferrater.com BC Estudio www.bcarquitectos.com Plaza Equilas 10 Entresuelo 3a 08017 Barcelona 34 93 204 42 06 javbarba@bcarquitectos.com DNA Barcelona www.DNA-Barcelona.com Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes 794 08013 Barcelona 34 93 539 75 66 info@dna-arq.com Let us know what you think of these top architects of Barcelona! Which architect would fit the best with your style and needs? Did we miss any really important ones? Let us know in the comments!

We want to present you the best event for kids in Barcelona: Chic y Tin. Did you move to Barcelona with your children? Then you should absolutely stick with us, because you and your kids definitely don't want to miss out this day full of fun! Chic y Tin is THE event of the city for most children. It takes place twice a year in April and October on a Saturday from 11.00 – 20:00 @ Jardins de Clara Campoamor, Avenida Diagonal 615. The entrance for Chic y Tin is € 5 and in return you can enjoy all day long with your children. It is a very unique and innovative event, as they try to make every edition different from previous editions. They do everything necessary to surprise the kids every year again.
Chic y Tin is set up by a team of mothers and businesswomen sharing one common goal: to have wonderful moments with their chiquitines/Chic y Tin (little ones in English) and share it with others. They wanted to create something new, something fun but also educational and family entertainment with the purpose to encourage play time between parents and children. With Chic y Tin they want to create 'magical' moments for children and parents.
The main goal of this event is to enjoy quality time with family on a day full of original activities. There are lots of fun individual and collective games, concerts, shows, animation, and many more things are created for families. Everything is led by artists and entertainers. Kids are able to play, learn, act, but above all have the time of their lives! Chic y Tin has certain very important values on this day in order to make the best out of this event. It is all about solidarity, respect, creativity, healthy living, education, cooperation, team play and most of all: kids having fun together with their parents!

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Let us know what you think of Chic y Tin or if you know any other fun events for kids and families in Barcelona!

English Speaking Doctors All Under One Roof: Convenient!

Did you just move to Barcelona or are you planning to move to the Mediterranean city? If so, then English healthcare services in Barcelona are probably right up your ally. I mean, have you ever wondered how the health care system works here? It's basically a two tiered system, with  both public and private routes available. For newcomers to the city, and especially people who would need to communicate with their doctor in English, we highly suggest private health care coverage for your family. Receiving medical assistance in English is not too common, so if it's important to you you would normally need to find hunt around for the appropriate doctor. We're going to share a gem of a tip with you and tell you about a great center in Barcelona that offers tons of medical services in English! Turó Park Medical Center (TPMC) is where you should go it you're looking for English speaking doctors and great variety of different services. They have a multilingual team, offering services such as a Family Doctors, Paediatricians, Dentists, Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontists and even Speech Therapy. Below we will tell you exactly about these services, which doctor provides them and what languages they speak. Continue reading to meet the international team of TPMC!

Family Doctor

If you have a family then you know that having a general family doctor is important. Dr. Victoria Howe is waiting for you! She is the family doctor of TPMC, devoted to comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases, and parts of the body. She obtains knowledge of her patients in the context of their family and community. She also is specialised in women’s health, focusing on primary care for women. Besides speaking English, she is also fluent in Spanish, Catalan and fair in French and Italian. So you don’t have to worry about being misunderstood. A first visit with Dr. Howe is 90/120€.

Pediatrician

Do you have children? Then the pediatrician is necessary. Dr María Dolores Terradas is the pediatrician at TPMC. She doesn’t only care a lot about children, she also understands cultural differences and particular circumstances in a family. For everything related to the health, growth or development of a child, you can go to the pediatrician. With Dr. Terradas we can guarantee you that your child will feel relaxed, and as parent you can share your doubts and questions without any rush. A first visit with Dr. Terradas is 70€

Dentist

Everyone needs a dentist, but most people find it difficult to find the right dentist. In particular when you are in another country and city. If you’re looking for a good dentist in Barcelona who is not only taking care of your teeth very well, but also speaks English, than you should go visit dr. Patricia Filippi (fluent in English, Spanish and Catalan) or dr. Allan Smelt (speaks English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish and Catalan). They focus on the prevention and treatment of diseases that affect your teeth and the rest of your mouth (tongue, cheeks etc.). You'll have no worries about your teeth when you are under the wings of dr. Filippi or dr. Smelt! A first visit with Dr. P Filippi or Dr. A Smelt is 70€

Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine

Are you a lover of traveling like us? Than we highly suggest to meet up with dr. Ambrosioni, specialized in Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine. If you’re planning to travel to a developing country or the tropics, you are at a risk of infectious diseases. Therefore we want to recommend a visit with dr. Ambrosioni at least two weeks before you leave for a pre-travel consultation. Oh wait, you don't speak Spanish? Do not panic. Dr Ambrosioni speaks, as all the other doctors,  English. A first visit with Dr. J Ambrosioni is 70€

Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery and ENT Specialist

Having health problems around the area of your head? Do not hesitate to contact dr. Alejandro Mazarro, specialized in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Sounds complicated right? Let’s just say that dr. Mazarro knows everything about the parts around your head: neck, face, jaws or mouth. Besides, he speaks fluently Spanish, Catalan, French and English. For ear, nose and throat problems you can go to dr. Eduardo Lehrer, he is a specialist in these parts of the body. Dr Lehrer speaks fluently in English, Spanish and Catalan. A first visit with Dr. A Mazarro or Dr. E Lehrer is 120€

Aesthetic Medicine, Facial Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology

Dr. Alejandro Mazarro also stands at your service as a specialist in Aesthetic Medicine and Facial Cosmetic Surgery. If you want to improve the quality of your skin, you might consider to meet dr. Mazarro. A better quality skin, might even improve the quality of your life, your psychological well being and social function. Furthermore, TPMC offers dermatology related services. They are specialized in dealing with the skin, hair, nails and its diseases. Whether you want to do a visit for medical or cosmetic problems, at TPMC you can come for both problems. A first visit with Dr Mazarro for Aesthetic Medicine and Facial Cosmetic Surgery is FREE

Orthodontist

Besides being the owner of TPMC, dr. Madeleine Smit is also an orthodontist. Dr Smit speaks English, Dutch, French and Spanish. She is a dental specialist focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of improper bites and un-aligned teeth. If you have children as young as 7 you might be interested in her service, because children of this age need to be routinely examined to prevent any trouble with their teeth when they get older. Not only the younger ones, but also the adults can be treated. So don’t hesitate to do a visit for yourself, you never know! A first visit with Dr Madeleine Smit is 70€

Speech Therapy

TPMC also offers speech therapy. They have a speech pathologist, Sofia Zelou, who treats speech, language and voice disorders. Besides, she is specialized in swallowing disorders caused by brain damages or neurological injuries. You can visit Sofia for both your child and yourself, she works with both. The treatment sessions are held in the languages she speaks: Spanish, Catalan, English and Greek. A first visit with Sofia Zelou is 50€

How about insurance?

No matter what doctor you choose to go to, you will get 80-90% reimbursed with the following insurance policies: ADESLAS Pymes Reembolso AEGON Salud Reembolso ALLIANZ Saludo Reembolso ASEFA salud Top (y TOP Familia) ASISA Integral AXA Optima Plus CIGNA Global CIGNA Saludo Blue / Gold DKV Mundisalud, Top Health y Residentes MediaFIATC Salud RACC Seguros Elección SANITAS Mas, Premium y Blue MAPFRE Salud Reembolso

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As you see, Turó Park Medical Center offers an ever lasting long list of services with doctors being able to speak many languages. Don't hesitate to contact TPMC for a consult, you can easily book an appointment on their website. How is your experience with English Healthcare Services in Barcelona? We'd love to hear about your experiences or recommendations in the comments!

Only 1 in 5 Apartments for Sale in Barcelona are 200.000 Euros or less!

If you are thinking of buying an apartment in Barcelona, you obviously need to be up to date about the current Housing Market in order to make the right decisions. We know how complicated reports and updates can be, as the figures presented can be heavily biased or influenced. Don’t worry! Because in this article we are going to explain the current situation in each district in a succinct and clear manner. [caption id="attachment_4815" align="aligncenter" width="341"]
2007 until about just recently...[/caption] As the Catalan city just recovered out of its worst of the economic crisis (everything went south in 2007), prices finally started recovering and increasing again. Obviously this means that many once affordable apartments have become more expensive. If we look at the sales market today, only one out of five apartments in Barcelona costs less than 200.000 euros ! That number itself seems startling, but if you take into account that the majority of apartments within this price range are located in Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Horta-Guinardó (some what 2nd tier neighborhoods in terms of investment) then the number is even more startling. Barcelona is a very popular city for investors. Even taking into account the hard economic times that we had in Spain, Barcelona was always special, not representative of the rest of the country, and hence a good investment. They say that up to 20% of the city is actually foreign born. There are many foreign investors who buy apartments and rent them out. As the capital appreciation in Barcelona is very good, this has always been a good and safe model to follow. The majority of buyers of course are looking for apartments normally within the price range of 200k-220k euros. However, lately as the demand is starting to creep passed the levels of the supply... And that means that prices are starting to rise, and quickly.  Apartments that do fall in this coveted price range of 200.000 are gone within days. This keeps the demand growing, the supply not so much, and hence the prices start rising like the tide.
One of the most sought-after types of property in Barcelona are apartments from 80 - 150 square meters situated in prime districts (such as Eixample, Ciutat Vella, Gracia) in a historical renovated building, however these apartments can cost between 700k - 1.5m euros. If  you want to know exactly what the possibilities are for buying an apartment in each district of the city within a certain price range (based on 2016 results), than keep on reading! It's in chronological order: from the most expensive district to the least expensive district.

1. Eixample and La Zona Alta (Les Corts and Sarriá-Sant Gervasi)

Eixample and La Zona Alta are the most expensive most expensive neighborhoods to buy an apartment in Barcelona. It used to be feasible to buy an apartment for less than 200k euros in the areas of Eixample, Les Corts or Sarriá-Sant Gervasi. However, since little over a year ago this has become a mission impossible. Only a small percentage of sales offers on Idealista is below 200k euros in this area. If you do find a house within this price range it is most likely a 'bajos' or an uncertified apartment. Or you may find them in this price with small footprints (if a flat for 200k is only about 30-50m2, it's still quite expensive per m2, especially if you need to renovated). Because this district is one of the most wanted areas of Barcelona, Eixample has seen the most growth in demand and therefore prices have increased here the most. In 2016 the average price in Eixample per square meters was 4610 euros. Meaning that you pay 200k euros for an apartment of 43 square meters in Eixample, which basically doesn't exist. In La Zona Alta the situation is quite similar, you have an 41 square meter flats for that price. Do keep in mind that the prices also differ from one district of the Eixample to another. There are 6 districts in total, and some of them (for example the newly trendy area of Sant Antoni) are more in demand than other (Sagrada Familia for example). An example of what you can buy for 220k euros in the heart of Eixample: 55m2 and 3 bedrooms (FYI, 3 bedrooms in only 55m2 is VERY tight).

2. Ciutat Vella

In Ciutat Vella 18.5% of the total offer is below 200k euros, but most of them are very small. For example, in La Barceloneta, you will have to pay at least 170k euros for 30 square meters (almost 6.000 a m2). In Raval the situation is quite the same. On top of that, the majority of buildings often don’t have an elevator and are in bad shape. In the Gothic and Born districts there has also been increased demand for properties, mainly investment properties. The most popular buildings are the renovated historical buildings with stylish apartments. The average price in Ciutat Vella in 2016 was 4100 euros per square meters, so for around 200k euros you have an apartment of 50 square meters. Of course the 4 neighborhoods that make up Ciutat Vella differ wildly, with the Borne being the most expensive and trendy and the Raval being the cheapest of the four although that is quickly changing as investors snap up property there. An example of what you can buy for 190k euros in La Barceloneta: 35m2 and 1 bedroom (Bajo)

3. Sant Martí

The beach side part of Sant Martí is very popular (read Poblenou, Vila Olimpica and Diagonal Mar). The other parts of Sant Marti are not really sought after at all (Provenciales, Clot, Besós, Etc...). There are many residential projects in this area. Most properties in this area are being bought for investment purposes, because the potential rental yields here are higher than average.  In 2016, the average price in Sant Martí per square meter was 3900 euros. So for around 200k euros you would have an apartment of approximate 52 square meters. However on the beach side the apartments are more expensive. If you want to have spectacular views and live across the street from the beach you can easily pay at least 650k euros. The investment properties are mainly in demand by Asian and Middle Eastern investors. In the El Camp de l'Arpa del Clot neighborhood you will find more apartments below 200k euros, most of these apartments are about 75 square meters, but you'd also have almost no chance of getting an interesting rental income as the area doesn't appeal to the right crowd. Here is an example of what you can buy on the beach side in Sant Martí for a modern apartment with spectacular views for 669k euros: 110 square meters and 2 rooms
Here is what to expect for 199k euros in the more affordable neighborhood El Camp de l'Arpa del Clot: 75 square meters and 3 bedrooms

4. Grácia

OK, it'll be a bit of a shocker that somehow San Martí came in as more expensive than Gracia. The reason why is that Diagonal Mar's prices can be so exorbitant that it jumped the neighborhood a whole spot on the list. In the Grácia district one out of seven apartments are below 200k euros! In this district the average square meter price in 2016 was 3600 euros. Meaning that for 200k euros you will have an apartment of around 56 square meters. The neighborhoods Vila de Gracia and La Salud are the most expensive parts of Grácia. The more affordable neighborhoods in Gracía are Vallcarca i els Penitents, El Coll and El Camp d'len Grassot i Grácia Nova. In those areas it's easier to find apartments of 80 (or more) square meters for a price of 170k - 200k euros. Read carefully: If you're buying an investment property in Gracia ONLY consider Vila de Gracia. An example of what you can get for 190k euros in Vallcarca i els Penitents: 80m2 and 3 bedrooms

5. Sants-Montjuïc

Just over a quarter of the apartments in Sants is below 200k euros, but you are practically limited to Zona Franca and the smallest houses in Poble Sec. In 2016 the average price per square meters was around 2900 euro per square meters, meaning that have an apartment of approximate 70 square meters for 200k euros. There are not many apartments available for less than 100k euros, but the ones you do find for that price are mostly studio sized apartments, meaning that are nog bigger than 35-40 square meters. Just two years ago you could snap up apartments in Poble Sec for under 100k. Those days are gone and this is one of the up and coming neighborhoods in Barcelona. An example of what you can get for 209k euros the neighborhood El Poble Sec in Sants-Montjuïc: 70m2 and 2 bedrooms.

6. Horta Guinardó

In the district of Horta Guinardó the average square meter price in 2016 was 2500 euros, so for 200k euros you will have an apartment of 80 square meters. In the neighborhoods El Carmel and El Guinardó you will find a lot of options for apartments below 200k euros. In the neighborhood La Vall d'Hebron there are a lot less options for apartments below 200k euros. For a normal/modern apartment of 80 square meters you could easily pay between 250k-300k euros in La Vall d'Hebron. Not a top choice, or even distant one, for investors. An example of what you can buy in El Carmel for 217k euros: 85m2 and 4 bedrooms.

7. Sant Andreu and Nou Barris

In this area you will have a lot more options. Almost half of the apartments are priced below 200k euros. However, the majority of these apartments are in the Nou Barris part, you will even find apartments for less than 100k euros in this area. In 2016 the average price in Sant Andreu per square meters was around 2300 euros, so for 200k euros you would have an apartment of 87 square meters. In Nou Barris the average price in 2016 was the lowest of all districts, around 1900 euros per square meters. So for 100k euros you would have an apartment of 53 square. These prices sound pretty fair right? But keep in mind that many new buyers or investors are less attracted to this area (and by less attracted we mean no at all so). It is further away from the city center and is basically a working class normal suburb. An example of what you can buy in Nou Barris for 99k euros: 60m2 and 3 bedrooms.

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Hopefully this article has given you some insight on the current housing market situation in Barcelona and will help you taking the right decisions, as you now know what to expect in each district of the city. Please feel free to leave us your thoughts in the comments. What do you think is the most interesting neighborhood to buy in Barcelona?

Prefab homes in Barcelona, like everywhere, are the future: stylish, sustainable, fast to build and affordable. Barcelona has more than ever embraced the concept of prefabricating homes. There are several companies working on prefab homes in Barcelona, "La Casa por el Tejado" is one of them, and probably the most famous. Their idea and purpose of prefabricated homes in Barcelona is very well thought out and mostly very impressive. However they are not the only ones, the company NOEM is another company in Barcelona that is specialized in delivering prefabricated homes. In this blog we will tell (and of course show) you all about prefabricated homes that are produced by two companies located in Barcelona: La Casa Por el Tejado and NOEM.

Building a city on top of a city

Building a city on top of a city sounds surreal, but that is basically what La Casa por El Tejado is doing. They have done research on how many square meters Barcelona has available on the rooftops, and they found out that there are 2800 buildings in Barcelona that can be built higher. So why extending a city horizontally while you can 'easily' extend it vertically and take advantage of the existing structures and services. There is a lot of wasted space left on the rooftops of Barcelona. To be more precise, 800.000 square meters. Yes, you read that right.
For that reason, La Casa por El Tejado started to put prefab homes on top of old (sometimes neglected) buildings. The only problem left was that the residents of these existing buildings were probably not waiting for some company to put a complete home on their roofs, because of all the noise disturbance they would experience. So that's why La Casa por El Tejado put in, as a return, modern utilities inside the buildings for free. Many people found that it was worth the disturbance. La Casa por el Tejado spent four years studying the available buildable square meters and how to build without disturbing the residents of the building. However the process of making the Prefab homes in the factory to moving into it, only takes a few months. The houses are being transported in modules. They are designed for transport, for division. When the modules arrive at the building they put them on the roof in pieces with the support of cranes. It sounds impossible to just 'put' a home onto a roof, but they really do. Below you will find pictures that show that it is really possible to lift a home on top of a roof. You won't believe your own eyes, it's pretty impressive!

Ecological and multipurpose

Prefabricated homes are not only useful to solve the housing shortage and fix up the old buildings in Barcelona, but they are also environmentally friendly. A company from Barcelona called NOEM thought the same and decided to build ecological modern wooden houses: green, practical, comfortable and transportable. The houses arrive in wooden modules and are almost completely finished when reaching their destination. It only needs to be assembled. Their work is reflected in three projects: NOEM Go - Casa Eliana, NOEM Concept - The Spaceship Home, and NOEM Stay - Casa Saüc. We describe and show them below.
NOEM Go - Casa Eliana is a beautifully designed wooden home of 74.4 square meters. It is designed to be practical and versatile. Although it's a practical home, it is at the same time very comfortable and stylish. The interior is comparable to Scandinavian design with the white and wooden elements. There are large windows to enjoy the views. They included the comfort and design in a minimum usable space. Of course, a very important feature of the house is that it's portable, you are able to transport it to another place and enjoy as many places on earth as possible without having to move your stuff. How handy is that!

NOEM Concept - The Spaceship Home is basically a dream home for every star wars lover. Even if you have never watched the movie, you'll still find this an insane place. This place is definitely far from a conventional house. The spaceship has large windows, providing panoramic views. So put your spaceship somewhere into the beautiful nature and you can enjoy the landscape all day without having to leaving your chair, because the house is fully automated. You can use your mobile device for automatic control in the whole house. Just an example of what you can automate: the insane futuristic door which you can access by climbing up the 'real' airplane staircase. Inside the house there is also a control panel in Star Wars style which centralizes the house's facilities. This place has just so many cool features, see it with your own eyes:



NOEM Stay - Casa Saüc is a two level multipurpose home. The low level has a large kitchen, meant for socializing. It's grayish blue, creating a Scandinavian style interior with some very characteristic tiling. The wooden elements of the house brings a certain warmth into the home. On the Western side of the house there is a strip which simplifies the design and gives order to the house. The house has 156 square meters, meaning there is enough space to pull back after you are done with socializing in the beautiful kitchen. Feel like you need some cooling down during the hot days in Summer? then we have another surprise for you, there is a private swimming pool outside! Curious how it looks like? Check the pictures below:
 

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We hope that this article has given you some more insight on prefabricated homes. The most important things to keep in mind are that they are eco-friendly, versatile, beautifully designed and transportable. Are you considering to 'order' a house at NOEM? Then go check www.noem.com or do you want to know more about the La Casa por El Tejado project? than go visit www.lacasaporeltejado.eu. Would you ever consider to live in a prefab home? Let us know in the comments!

Special Places to Stay in Spain aren't hard to find, however there is special and then there is extremely special! This blog goes to the next level and shows you a top 10 of incredible unique places to stay during a trip through Spain. If you are looking for unforgettable experiences than you are at the right place, because the hotels below are more than unique and mostly far from conventional. We saved the best for last. So sit down, relax, grab a cup of coffee (or a beer if it's the weekend of course) and let us bring you to the most special places to stay in Spain!

10. Container home, Palma de Mallorca

Container homes are very trendy. Not sure yet whether you want to move to (or buy) an container home? Than you can try this place first! Besides it's a perfect place to stay for a trip. It's located in Palma de Mallorca. The house has a lot of natural sunlight and comes with a small private pool and BBQ. It has all the facilities you need for a comfortable stay. You can enjoy the Mallorcan sun on the nice terrace (with the small pool). Although the area of this container home is quiet and very residential, you can still easily get to the center of Mallorca in only 15 minutes walking. Its interior deserves some attention too since it's beautifully designed! The exterior walls are made from wood, there is hardwood flooring, a comfortable and stylish couch, open doors to the terrace and a modern (big) bathroom with an industrial sink. https://nl.airbnb.com/rooms/328541

9. Hotel Les Cols, Olot, Girona

Les Cols is far from a normal hotel. Many consider a night in this hotel as a unique experience. It's all about relaxation and clearing your mind in the middle of the nature. There is not much furniture inside the room, only a bed and that's basically it. In this case luxury means less instead of more. The room is made out of glass, which helps in the whole 'becoming zen' process. Once you have completely cleared your mind, then check out the bathroom. It is a real gem! It has a waterfall shower on stones and a Japanese style bathtub. As if that wouldn't be enough, there is also some really good food to taste at the 2 Michelin star restaurant. If you are looking for a minimalistic, spiritual and relaxing space to stay & clear your mind ... then stop looking, because this is the place to be. Be prepared for something very unique! http://www.lescolspavellons.com/

8. Hotel Consolación, Monroyo, Teruel

Are you in Barcelona right now? then try out this peaceful hotel Consolacion nearly 3 hours drive from Barcelona. It is perfect to escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city and enjoy the silence in Monroyo, the province of Teruel (Aragon). This hotel consists of "Kubes" that are separate from the main building. There are also hotel rooms in the main building (a beautiful 18th century chapel), but we're gonna talk about the Kubes because they are really unique! The Kubes are very charming rooms with a modern interior design and wooden walls on the outside. All Kubes have their own fireplace, which makes this hotel also perfect for romantic getaways with your lover. The real feature is the floor to ceiling window which allows you to enjoy the stunning scenery.. or you could just enjoy it from your private balcony while sitting in the lazy leather chair. But before you enjoy the outdoors, first discover the beautiful features of the bathroom, which has an in-floor bath with beautiful dark slate, giving a luxurious feeling. Need some more refreshment? No problemo, Hotel Consolacion has an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the entire landscape. http://www.consolacion.com.es/

7. St. Katharine B&B Boat, Barcelona

This little gem is very special and is located in Barcelona... on the water! Yes we are talking about a boat, called St. Katharine. It's possible to rent a room, but if you want to go big you can even rent the whole boat. Now what is on the boat exactly? There are different rooms designed in 'marine style', a jacuzzi on the aft deck and some really nice food. The boat has historical stories that the owners can tell you all about. This place is not just a place to sleep, you actually feel like staying there all day, especially when the weather is nice. Even for dinner you don't necessarily have to go out. The owners serve fantastic paella, you should definitely try and taste this typical Spanish dish. Furthermore you will have your own fridge filled with soft and alcoholic drinks. The boat is staffed 24/7 so you can enjoy Barcelona until the late hours. Try out this unique experience in the harbor of Barcelona! http://www.bed-and-breakfast-barcelona.com/

6. Mil Estrelles, Borgonyà, Girona

This hotel is literally called 1000 stars, because that's what you see when you stay at hotel Mil Estrelles in Borgonyá close to Girona. The main building is an old farm house which has a dining room, lounge, offices, a massage room and a flotarium. All the ingredients are there for optimal relaxation. During the night you will sleep in a bubble, a bubble?.. yes a bubble! To be more precise, a transparant bubble in which you can enjoy the night-sky as you lay on a comfortable bed, while you are playing some background music from the speakers in the bubble. When you look at the starts, don't forget to look at the beautiful surrounding area and views of the mountain. When all the stars are gone and the morning has come you can have a nice breakfast buffet. This hotel has everything you need for a special (romantic) night out. Go check out this idyllic location in the photo's beneath: http://www.milestrelles.com/

5. Alojamiento Vagon Rural, Murcia

From one unique place to another. This is also unique in its own way, we are talking about old train wagons on the outskirts of Murcia. The wagons date from the 50s. They still look like train wagons and are very comfortable. In this place you feel the relaxed vibe of South East Spain. There is a lot of natural light inside the wagons. The wagons are simply designed but very comfortable and have some old features in the interior that remind you of staying in an old train wagon. The exteriors of the wagons stand out in particular, they are coloured in outstanding colors. Looking for a nostalgic but comfortable stay close to Murcia? Then try one of the wagons of Alojamiento Vagon Rural. http://www.vagonrural.es/vagonrural.html

4. Domed Cave House, Tivenys

This Catalonian place looks and feels perfect. The beautiful design, surroundings and the silence.. these are the main words that popped up in our mind when looking at this "Domed Cave House". When staying in this cave house, you literally hear the sound of your own thoughts while you feel the soft breeze on your skin as you stand under the beautiful olive tree. This house comes with an BBQ area where you can enjoy delicious Catalonian food with your friends or loved one. The owners of this house really though about all things, including the interior design. Everything is well thought out, from the beautiful wooden and stone kitchen to the modern bathroom (with traditional Catalan features). This house offers all the comfort you need during your visit and most of all.. looks gorgeous! https://nl.airbnb.com/rooms/518319

3. Air stream 'Glamping', Alozaina

Now this place in Andalucia is certainly very different from all the standard hotels you have ever visited and it's also very American! It's an air stream (a Christopher Deem Limited Edition). This air stream is placed in the middle of Sierra de las Nieves, a beautiful mountain range in the South of Spain. So if you look for an adventurous stay then you should really try this out. Although it feels like camping, this place offers the same luxury you have in a hotel room. You can say that staying in this air stream is glamping: glamorous camping. The interior is very modern. It's a perfect place for couples, it provides the ideal setting for a romantic getaway. You don't have to worry about cooking dinner either, because it has a fully equipped kitchen. This place even has a private pool! https://www.glampingairstream.com/

2. Cabañas en los arboles euskadi, Zeanuri

Talking about next level places to stay, this place literally goes next level as the accommodations are up in the trees. We all once dreamed about sleeping in a treehouse when we were young (admit it, you're still dreaming about that) ..now this is your chance! A hotel called "Cabañas en los Arboles" offers rooms in the form of treehouses. They are hidden in the beautiful nature of Basque country (Euskadi in Basque language). Now you might question whether it's comfortable to sleep in a treehouse. No worries, because these treehouses have all the comforts of a normal hotel room. There are 4 treehouses called Cabaña Elaia, Cabaña Txantxangorria, Cabaña Hontza and Cabaña Suite Oooh!. If you book the Cabaña Elaia you can even brag about staying in the highest treehouse of Europe, it is 17 meters high. The treehouses are also perfect for a romantic night, they have all the ingredients to create a romantic stay: you can order chocolate and flowers, a set of accessories for massages, and make use of the private hot tub. You can of course also just enjoy the sunset together on your 39m2 terrace in the Cabaña Suite ¡Oooh! The terraces of the other treehouses are 10m2 and all have terrific views into the wood. Curious how the treehouses look like? We won't let you wait any longer, take a look at the pictures below. http://cabanasenlosarboles.com/es

1. Tagomago private Island, Ibiza

Save the best for last is what they say, that also applies with this place. It's a private island called Tagomago, close to Ibiza. For the ones among us who have left some extra money, you can rent this private island from €100.000. The celebrities haven't missed out this place either (Justin Bieber stayed here). It has approximately 600.000m2 and there is one extremely luxurious modern villa. Let's sum up some services they offer: a private butler, a private cook (3 star Michelin chef), chauffeur service including helicopter transfers(!), personal trainer (in case you ate too much of the delicious food made by the 3 star Michelin chef), spa treatments, sports (horse riding, tennis, scuba diving, skiing etc), private guided tours, wine & olive estate tours and tastings, cooking lessons, nanny service, yacht and luxury car hire, concerts, photographers... Let's say that you can basically ask for anything you need/want and they have it. Enjoy the pictures of this extremely stunning island! http://www.tagomago-island.com/

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We hope you enjoyed these very special places to stay in Spain. Ever slept yourself in a unusual special place and want to share it with others? Let us know in the comments!

Going Architecturally Green in Barcelona Real Estate

Eco-friendly houses in Barcelona are becoming more and more trendy and some of them will definitely leave you speechless! If you want to get a sneak peak, see what actually makes them eco-friendly, figure out how to find one, and also how to turn your own home into a more eco-friendly place then stick with us. We have found some of the best looking eco-friendly houses in Barcelona. This blog will take you on an eco-friendly journey through Barcelona and its surroundings. Eco-friendly homes are trendy, even Leo Messi has gone green. Check out his home in our blog Messi Barcelona Home: What You Didn’t Know or look at another gorgeous example of an eco-friendly home in the form of a tree house in our blog called Barcelona Real Estate Porn: Eco-friendly in Sant Cugat.

Green-Roofed home

This eco-friendly house in Barcelona is totally integrated in its natural environment, having a roof of grass and a structure of wood. Barcelona can get cold in the winter but this Green-Roofed home helps to retain the heat inside. Not only is it built energy-efficiently, but it's also surrounded by the beautiful nature of Parc Collserola right on the outskirts of Barcelona. The house has a living/dining area, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. The interior design is beautiful clean, white and consists of pale wood. Then there is the unmissable view. It is absolutely magical, a feast for the eyes! Already convinced to move to an eco-friendly house? Not yet? Then let us show you some pictures and see with your own eyes the beauty of an eco-friendly home www.alventosamorell.com Arquitectes@alventosamorell.com +34 931 820 780 C/ Rocafort 67-69, Local C-9, 08015, Barcelona, Spain

The Million Dollar home

We are moving up north in Catalonia where we have found an unique eco-friendly property worth $1.8. million. This place is basically heaven on earth. It used to be a farmhouse but the Spanish Architect Óskar Vélez Carrasco saw the opportunity to update the place and add a modern villa with swimming pool. The result is without doubt stunning. Now let's take a closer look to the eco-friendly features of this house. Both parts, the farmhouse and the villa, are built in eco-friendly style including solar panels and a rainwater-purification system. The walls on the outside are covered with stones and highlight the historical roots of the house. This is perfectly combined with the modern contemporary luxury interior. To be honest, we could talk forever about this eco-friendly home but the pictures probably say enough! (don't forget to look at the breath-taking view from the pool and the outdoor dining area.. you won't be disappointed). www.velezcarrascoarquitecto.com Info@velezcarrascoarquitecto.com +34 872 006 208, +34 628 948 552 C/Pals 1, 17200 Palafrugell, Spain

Wooden Rectangle

Houses made of wood are always good (as are great rhymes), especially this rectangular house in Vacarisses, just outside Barcelona. Besides the picturesque view it's a very eco-friendly home, and the impact on the surrounding environment is minimal. During the building they did as little land movement as possible and they tried to make good use of the existing land shelves. Inside the house there is enough space to sit down, relax and enjoy the beautiful view or sit down and enjoy a good book, because there is an impressive bookcase. You can see the bookcase in the photos, it's the centerpiece of the house. A nice eco-friendly fact about this house is that the wood is removable, recyclable and reusable! All the wood gives the house a very rustic feel. Trust us... living in this wooden rectangle would absolutely soothe you. www.harquitectes.com Harquitectes@harquitectes.com +34 93 725 00 48 Carrer de Montserrat, 22, 2n 2a 08201 Sabadell, Spain

Catalan Hotel

This former office space has been transformed into a gorgeous hotel centrally located in Barcelona. Luckily they kept the Catalan features like the Catalan vault, mosaic tiles and wooden balcony doors. Besides its unique design, it also offers eco-friendly accommodations. During the transformation they focused on re-using old material, restoring original features, durability and VOC-free paints (VOC are chemicals given off by paints that have been linked to respiratory illnesses). Even on daily basis they think about the environment by saving water and reducing energy consumption. The cool thing is that they really care about sustainability and they know how to perfectly combine it with design. Besides the Catalan design, it also serves as a social hub where you can meet the locals and other visitors. Sounds like the perfect place to stay in Barcelona! www.helloyok.com +34 640 625 313 book@helloyok.com c/Trafalgar 39, 8º2º Barcelona 08010, Spain

How to make your own  home a more eco-friendly place

Not ready yet to build or move to an eco-friendly home? Don't worry, there are less radical ways to become more eco-friendly. We will show you some easy ways to reduce the negative impact of your home on the planet, (we are sure that you're probably already doing some of the things):

• Save electricity by unplugging your TV when it's not in use
• Move your refrigerator into the shadow, in the sunlight it has to work harder to keep cool
• Feeling creative? Reuse or re-purpose old furniture instead of buying new things. Check out some DIY projects from our blog on how to decorate your home for cheap. Not that creative? No worries, we show you were you can buy the best second hand stuff: Flea Market Barcelona: Antique and Second Hand Paradise
• Hang dry your clothes instead of using a dryer
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room
• Don't turn on the lights for as long as you can... enjoy natural light!
• Use CFL light bulbs, CFL is energy-saving light
• Replace your paper napkins for cloth napkins
• Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth

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As you can see, it's perfectly possible to combine interior & exterior design with being environmentally friendly. We really hope you enjoyed the gorgeous eco-friendly places we showed you and helped you a little bit with making your own place more eco-friendly. How is your house contributing to a more environmentally friendly earth? Please let us know in the comments!

An Irish Pub in Barcelona that's Actually Worth a Damn

Flaherty’s Irish pub in Barcelona is a family owned affair headed up by Gerry and his lovely family.  They also own another pub in Barcelona (Shenanigans) & one in Ibiza. Close to the sea and the famous Ramblas, Flaherty's pub lies in charming Plaza Joaquim Xirau. It as listed on our list of Top 5 Irish Bars in Barcelona as well. It’s a traditional family pub that was hand designed right down to the last detail by a true Irish man. The tables, furniture and even the bars were all carefully shipped from Ireland as authenticity for Gerry reigns supreme. If you're an Irish bloke looking for his home away from home, or you're just a person who loves to drink and be surrounded by great people, this is definitely the place for you.
As you enter the pub, its refreshing Irish-ness hits you straight on. The traditional pub décor has a Victorian style vibe & the handpicked posters added a certain character and charm to the place. It’s a fairly spacious pub with a large pool table & darts board for you to enjoy.

Our favourite quirky feature of the pub was the confession booth (top left in the picture above). There’s an actual confession booth positioned in the corner of the pub and even the owner joked by saying that after couple of pints it may very well be a good idea to start a ‘confession’ service later in the evenings.

Bangers and Mash and Mushy Peas Oh My!

It goes without saying that sometimes what we really miss in Barcelona is that amazing pub food from home and after doing some food tasting at Flaherty’s we are happy to say that... this part of our job is really fun, oh yeah, and the food here is incredible. Our entrees included succulent chicken wings in crispy battered coating and ranch sauce on the side and a big plate of nachos with a veritable mountain of barbeque pulled pork on top that was one of the best we’ve had so far in Barcelona.
Then we happily moved onto the mains. Many mains. The pub cooked up an English breakfast with true bacon (English back bacon), which is close to impossible to find here in Barcelona, black & white pudding, sausages, heinz beans – everything you would want for your perfect fry up. The steak dish was cooked to perfection, the fish and chips reminded me of the Brighton seaside, the vegetarian pie was a bowl of absolute goodness & the ribs were so mouth-wateringly delicious we ate until we couldn’t breathe.
But there was one more thing left to try – the Yorkshire pudding with gravy. Yorkshire puddings are my favourite part of Sunday roast and I was so happy to find out that one of the only places in the whole Barcelona – Flaherty’s – made their own Yorkshire puddings on site. Unless you like baking (and they’re quite difficult to make) or have enough luggage space (no one ever does) to take them back with you, just like the bacon, it’s pretty hard to get. But finally we now know of a place that make the softest yet crispiest Yorkshire puddings in the whole of Barcelona. The gravy is just, well, you have to try yourself to believe it.

What Else is There Apart from Stuffing Your Face?

So apart from having insanely good pub food, what else is there that makes Flaherty's pub such a popular place? Without a doubt, this becomes the place to be when any match is on. The pub features 7 different screens & some of them are projected onto a massive screen so you can see your match up close. If you want to watch a game and it’s not on, we’re positive that you can ask one of the friendly staff to put it on and they would be happy to help. They also have a great selection of drinks with 11 beers on tap, different types of whisky, gin & tonics and different cocktails – the hardest part is making the choice.
This place is suitable for whatever evening you want. It's got the atmosphere for you to watch a game with your friends, have a drink with your other half or just come for some food. What we also loved was the events that the pub organises. Probably the best one – their beer pong tournament of course! On Thursday’s the Flaherty’s hosts the tournament from 9pm & provides with a whole jug of beer just for €6 for an opportunity to win so much more.
Being the only Irish pub in the whole of Barcelona with an outdoor terrace, make sure to bring your sunglasses and enjoy some pints with like-minded people in this amazing pub – Flaherty’s. It's by far Barcelona's favourite Irish pub. For more information check out their Facebook Or their website Let us know what you think about the pub Flaherty's below in the comments!