In Barcelona, Gaudí's modernism is never far away, from the façades of Casa Batlló and Casa Vicens to the Fundació Joan Miró up on Montjuïc. Made in City also picks the tables that matter, from Disfrutar to Caelis, along with specialty coffee, cocktail bars and craft shops such as La Manual Alpargatera across the Eixample, El Born and Gràcia, in a city that never stops reinventing itself.
Fish
Barcelona, a quintessential coastal city, is brimming with culinary treasures for fish and seafood enthusiasts. From trendy fish bars to gourmet restaurants and fusion cuisine, here's our selection of must-visit addresses to savor the best seafood in the Catalan capital. Photo : Ikoya Izakaya
Mixology
Barcelona, a city of creativity, is also innovating in its cocktail bars. Here are four establishments that are renewing the art of the mixologist, each in its own way. From the recreation of a mythical train to the fusion of cuisine and cocktails, from distillation on site to a Polynesian voyage, these venues are redefining the cocktail experience in the Catalan capital.
Finger Food
Barcelona is a city where tapas are not just small bites, but a veritable cultural institution. Traditionally, tapas in Barcelona were simple dishes served in local bodegas. Today, this tradition has evolved to include more sophisticated creations, fusing local flavors with international influences. Here's our selection of the best places to enjoy reinvented tapas in Barcelona.
Barcelona's restaurants do not settle for one register. In Ciutat Vella, Caelis serves Mediterranean cooking with a French accent around a U-shaped table facing the open kitchen, while Le Grand Café Rouge blends French and Catalan cuisine with views from the Antares tower. La Madurada ages its beef and grills it over charcoal amid jungle-inspired decor.
In Barcelona, design hotels come with a backstory. On Passeig de Gràcia, Claris pairs its art collection with a pre-Columbian museum and a Mayan-inspired spa. El Palauet keeps an ornate modernist façade and listed ceilings for a handful of suites, while the Grand Hyatt, up in Sarrià - Sant Gervasi, favours Art Deco lines and a panoramic restaurant.
Cocktails arrive by miniature train at Orient Express, where guests order with a personal passport. Also in the Eixample, The Alchemix pairs each drink with Asian-inspired plates in a full tasting menu, while Bloody Mary, in Gracia, reworks its namesake every month alongside Italian cheeses and charcuterie. In Barcelona, every bar follows its own script.
Specialty coffee in Barcelona has its own roasters. In El Poblenou, The Miners roasts on site, with a central bar of colourful tiles and pink-tinted mirrors. Nomad Frutas Selectas lets you watch the roasting, while Nomad Coffee, in the Born, tries seasonal ideas such as an espresso sangria. Coffee shops for purists and the curious.
Slow Spa, in the Eixample, takes its cue from Southeast Asia and uses only natural, organic and vegan products. Evasiom Spa blends Eastern and Western techniques in a holistic approach to wellbeing, while Aire, in the Born, runs hot, cold and salt baths in a candlelit former warehouse. Spas that give Barcelona a slower pulse.
Gaudí's Barcelona is only the opening act. Casa Batlló stands out for its organic façade and sculptural terrace, but the story continues in El Born, where Moco sets contemporary works and immersive experiences inside an old palace. Bombon projects, a contemporary art gallery, shows local and international artists, including historical figures from the local scene.
Sustainability runs through Barcelona's design shops. Orígens artesania reworks traditional crafts with recycled materials, and noThrow design sells eco-designed furniture alongside downloadable DIY plans. In the Eixample, OBJETO de DESEO takes another route, as shop, design studio and exhibition space in one, with limited-edition pieces in noble materials.
