Barcelona: a city guide
I'll be honest with you all...until recently, I didn't understand the appeal of Barcelona at all. It seems to be a city that Brits love to flock to, thanks to its sunny climate, proximity to the sea, and buzzy nightlife scene. It took me a few visits to the city to understand why Barcelona holds so much appeal, from a myriad of cultural hotspots to visit, beautiful architecture, and great restaurants. Read on for my favourite places to eat and sleep in the city.
To stay:
Followers of my Instagram will know that I’m a longtime fan of The Hoxton, and their hotel in Barcelona (located in the industrial, artsy district of Poblenou), is my favourite property from the hospitality brand yet. The entire hotel is flooded with golden light at all times of day (thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows), and boasts a rooftop where you can munch on tacos and lounge on cabanas by the outdoor pool, alongside a bar with far-reaching views over the Sagrada Familia. Meanwhile, a second restaurant, Four Corners, even has its own bodega and serves up indulgent, Detroit-style deep dish pizza. Bedrooms are spacious and feature rattan lamps, plush sofas, and the Hoxton’s signature recipe of contemporary cool, while the downstairs lobby-come-bar is a tasteful riot of pattern and colour.
A restored townhouse in the heart of Barcelona, Casa Bonay has oodles of charm and spades of cool, attracting trendy locals and tourists alike. With four places to eat and drink under one roof - including a speciality coffee shop, rooftop robata grill, and all-day dining lounge where freelancers love to gather - you’ll never go hungry here, and will be centrally placed in the city to explore everywhere on foot.
One of my favourite ever Soho House properties, Little Beach House Barcelona is a chic bolthole located just 30 minutes’ drive from the city (free shuttles leave from Soho House Barcelona every day). With only 17 bedrooms and not much to do other than lounge on the beach, eat, swim - and repeat - this is the perfect location to escape from the buzz of the city. The hotel is beautifully awash in shades of blue and green, and the food offering spans Californian and Spanish cuisines.
To eat:
Quite possibly my favourite restaurant in the city, Bar Canete is an old-school, authentic tapas bar. The best seat is at the counter, where you can rub shoulders with locals and watch the chefs in action, plating up traditional dishes: pan con tomate, croquettes, and fried squid served in pillowy soft buns. Everything is delicously fresh and moreish.
La Balabusta is a bright and airy all-day restaurant, serving up modern takes on traditional Israeli fare. Order the freshly baked challah (to dip in tahini and labneh) and chicken schnitzel with roasted carrots.
Probably my favourite bakery/coffee shop in Barcelona, Funky Bakers serves up specialty coffee and an impressive array of homemade cakes every day, along with a tasty menu of brunch dishes. Try the delicious green eggs or shakshuka, followed by a generous slice of tahini banana bread. Next door to their eatery, they also have a deli selling a range of artisan goods.
A chic, beachfront restaurant serving up modern tapas and generous paella in elegant surrounds; dine on delicious tapas while kicking back on elegant armchairs underneath the shade of rattan light fixtures, before heading to Barceloneta beach to lounge away the day.
A charming cafe come co-working space, Orval serves up specialty coffee, matcha, and a range of vegan-friendly dishes and fresh bakes.
Casa Bonay’s renowned in-house restaurant offers a sophisticated twist on traditional tapas with French and Italian influences, along with an extensive wine menu. Sit at the elegant counter and watch the chefs at work, while they plate up delicious dishes like melt-in-the-mouth truffle pain perdu and sage butter gnocchi.
From the same minds as La Balabusta, Flying Money serves up a delicious brunch menu by day before turning into a sexy wine bar at night. Visit for creamy scrambled eggs served on homemade challah bread, and washed down with great coffee. Make sure to book in advance on weekends!
Located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, Bistrot Levante is a tiny but elegant restaurant serving up delicious Middle Eastern fare. Order a range of mezze to share (freshly baked breads dipped in a hummus and babaganoush), followed by roasted cauliflower, and lamb koftas…everything tasted wonderful here.
An Australian-inspired coffee shop in Poblenou, Little Fern Cafe serves up tasty brunch dishes such as chilli scrambled eggs, and indulgent French toast in a laidback setting.
And more: Nomad Frutas Selectas, Satan’s Coffee, SKYE coffee co, and Federal Cafe for good coffee, Matcha Gracias for matcha, and Gala for a scene-y spot serving up all kinds of dishes from pastas to sushi.
Have you ever been to any of these places? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
