Barcelona, Spain

• More about your oliver guide: Susan Moody
• Trip type: Adult, City
• Activity level: moderate
• Ideal length of trip: 4-5 DAYS

to & from

Nonstop flights to BCN from the USA originate from: NYC, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC, and Atlanta. Once you’re there, taxis are easy to hail.

Where to Stay

• Hotel Neri
• The W is just cool. Better location than the Hotel Arts and has a slew of great restaurants and beach clubs right there.
• The Mercer
• The Wittmore
• Soho House (they have a sister beach club/hotel just 30 mins south too, but you need to be a Soho member)
• The Mandarin
• Alma
• The One Barcelona
• The Cotton House
• To rent an apartment and live like a local, check out Apartment Barcelona.

Where to Eat and Drink

** Disclaimer- Cal Pep was quietly bought by myself, my husband and our dear friends– with the intention of maintaining what Pep had created over the last 30 years.

• Paco Meralgo. For Lunch/Dinner. Simple decor but incredible tapas.
• Gallito. Underneath The W Hotel, right by the beach. Take a dip in the ocean (or if the surfs up, rent a board), towel off and let your hair wind-dry as you sip one of their amazing G&Ts on the terrace.
• Pinotxo. In the Boquería market. No reservations. Breakfast or lunch and be ready to eat something that you don't know what it is. So fun.
• La Cova Fumada. A seriously authentic hole on the wall frequented by local fishermen. Breakfast (think beer and the freshest sardines you can imagine) or lunch. Don't tell anyone else about it though.
• Cal Pep. ** Thomas Keller's "favorite restaurant in Europe". If you eat at the bar, sip some cava while you wait in the (chatty) line. Or you can reserve for parties of 4 or more in the back room.
• Bar Mut. Chaotic and fun- get ressie for either of the two dinner seatings. Don't hesitate to dine at the piano.
• Boca Chica. Great cocktails. You might even see a Barça player or two!
• Xavier Pellicer. Healthy and delicious
• Canete . Great tapas
• Taktika Berri. Incredible food from the Basque region

What to Do

To whet your appetite- take a second to see this video. https://vimeo.com/98123388

• Fun strolls: Las Ramblas de Catalunya, Parc de la Ciutadella, the beach in from of the W Hotel.
• Stop in the Boquería market on Las Ramblas.
• Picasso Museum
• Miró Museum
• Get your Gaudi fix: Sagrada Família (maybe from the outside), Parc Guell and La Pedrera (from the inside).

inside scoop

• Cuqui Mila. Her grandfather commissioned Gaudi to do La Pedrera! Contact her at valcarcelmaria@hotmail.com.
• The Spanish Queen loves the delicate dresses by Cortana (Carrer de Provença, 290). Make sure you pop into a Uterqüe (high end jewelry/clothes from Zara's parent company). Lydia Delgado has adorable clothes. Bimba and Lola- love.
• Catalans pamper themselves, so you should too. For high end: a massage at The W Hotel or in the Mandarin.
• The FC Barcelona Museum is the most visited museum in Barcelona. Like-- more than Picasso. It's worth it to just feel the sheer global magnitude of the Blaugrana.
• Jamón - You can never have too much!

skip it

• The double decker sight-seeing bus.
• Too much on Las Ramblas.

What to Pack