48 Hrs | Barcelona
48 hrs is a 2-day itinerary designed to not only take you by the main attractions but also to conveniently locate the best food & drink options along the way. Cheers!
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Let’s get to it.
Barcelona
Map
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Day 1
Sagrada Familia & Arc de Triomf
Waking up in a foreign city for the first time can feel a little awkward. It can take a while for you to become accustomed to your surroundings. Eventually, you begin to relax and see things a little more clear. To get to the point of clarity with as much efficiency as possible, espresso, unsurprisingly, helps.
To begin the first morning in Barcelona, head to Satan's Coffee. It has a nice vibe inside with friendly baristas. Food’s pretty good too.
After your meeting with Satan, not too far of a walk will be your first taste of Gaudi; The Sagrada Familia. Take your time here, as Gaudi started this back in 1882 and is still being worked on today. It’s structural design is unmatched.
Moving towards the Arc de Triomf, one spot popular for brunch, Granja Petitbo. I'm not really a brunch guy, but this place definitely moved me closer to everyone else on the planet in enjoying it. Delicious, bright and most of all, fresh. Elsa y Fred is right off the bank of the Arc on a quaint, quiet side street. A perfect menu for a romantic date night, or just enjoying delicious food out on a patio.
Eating’s not the only thing you can do in this area. Enjoy the bountiful green space and sidewalk entertainers. Just keep an eye on your wallet ; )
Continuing south towards the the Gothic quarter, La Xampanet and Cal Pep are two classic spots to get in. If they're packed, don't feel ashamed in sitting in any of the other smaller restaurants in the area that aren't as refined. You might even enjoy yourself more inside these more relaxed spaces.
There’s good food to be had in Barcelona, and people will know where the good spots are. If a place looks packed, join them!
Tasca el Corral is close by. A great spot for a beer and small plates.
A couple spots to refuel (espresso) around here are Clandestina and Cafes el Magnifico. Both on opposite sides of the spectrum for all the right reasons. More laid back cumbersome cafe in Clandestina, will allow you to catch up with your thoughts. While Cafe el Magnifico pumps out some of the best espresso in the city and gets you on your way.
El Raval is jammed with tourists, but certainly worth a bit of your time. Grab some gelato, hide your wallet, and enjoy the street performers and people watching.
Nightlife
A train ride away, is Bar Marsella, in the eclectic, former red light district of the el Raval neighborhood. A past watering hole for Hemingway (where didn't he drink??), this place serves the ever so decadent absinthe with sugar, water and crunchy, greasy, salty, potato chips. F*cking delicious.
They marriage the sweet absinthe makes with a fatty, salty potato chips is something I’d never think to pair. But it’s delcicious.
For a place that’s a little more down within Catalan roots, Succulent is a fantastic restaurant to try out your Spanish. Food, wine, the company, the staff, all amazing.
The El Poble Sec neighborhood is tucked away on the south-western side of the city and this is also the name of the Metro stop to get off on.
Quimet y Quimet is a restaurant that appears as if it’s held inside someone’s walk-in closet (see photo below). If you can manage the wait, and the tight space, it’s definitely worth it with the delicious, toothpick small bites and flavorful wines.
A bit further down, be sure to grab a cheap bottle of wine at Gran Bodega Salta. A super (with a capital S) fun atmosphere.
If you’re still going, the impeccable Mikkeler beer bar back up north always has delicious beer to satisfy your needs for carbonated yeasty beverages so late at night. Please do try all of their sour beers. Goodnight!
Day 2
Park Guell
Wake up and enjoy the sounds of Barcelona. Which totally might entail a few people still carrying the night of drinking into the day....
Enjoy brunch at Brunch & Cake. It feels more like a neighborhood place than anything. It’s a bright space with a fun space. Fuel up with Onna Cafe and take your time within Mercat de L'Abacaeria to pick up items for a picnic within Park Guell.
You can take a bus (outlined on the map) and it’s easy enough. If you'd like a little more privacy away from the park, you can climb a little higher and get to Bunker del Carmel. A perfect spot for you picnic.
If you didn’t bring a picnic and were looking for a good lunch spot, Delicias restaurant is right there. Old time place serving up homey dishes with a smile.
South to the Beach
Back down south, The Pudding Coffee Shop is a nice stop for a slice of pie and letting your imagination run wild within their elaborate setting of Alice in Wonderland within their shop. Quite a site to see.
To the beach. —> There's a grocery store within the back streets of the Barceloneta neighborhood that I could spend days in. Restaurante Caballa Canalla is on the backside of that grocery store and serves well executed tapas. Seating also right in a local square doesn't hurt either.
Whether you decided to jump into the water or not, the perfect spot to satisfy your salt craving is Las Fritas. They specialize in french fries. Enough said, right?
A few cocktail places to check out would be The Lime House located back within the el Born neighborhood, or The W located out on a pier away from everything else that has a rooftop bar. You pay for the scenery with the price of the drinks, but it's worth it.
Hope you enjoyed Barcelona!
