It seems the world (and you) can’t get enough of Barcelona. This blue-skied Catalan siren dazzles with its glittering Mediterranean sea, architectural marvels, stunning museums and culinary fireworks.
Alas come summertime, Gaudi’s playground is also teeming with the visor-clad hordes – but that’s where LUXE has your back. Arm yourself with a Barcelona city guide for priceless insider intel on how to avoid the crowds and discover the city’s best late-night bars, funkiest tapas joints and haute restaurants.
Read on for the Top 5 Barcelona picks as chosen by fans of LUXE.
5. MACBA
In at number five is Richard Meier’s metal and glass-clad vision in white, aka the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), housing an outstanding collection of all media from the 1950s onwards. Also worth a peek is the lovely C.16th chapel opposite, which hosts temporary international shows and seriously curious cats should join the free tour in English (every Mon at 6pm) that promises to pull down the pants on contempo Spanish art.
Pl dels Àngels 1, Raval, macba.cat/en/
4. Pakta
Next, meet the colourful, yarn-strung and woody eatelier Pakta. After giving good Nikkei game nigh on 5 years, 2019 sees chef Jaume Marambio steer a brand-new menu uniting international influences and skills with flip-fresh Japanese and zingy Mediterranean flavours. Reserve ahead.
Lleida, Poble Sec, pakta.es/
3. El Palace
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this century-old unabashedly lavish hotel right in the heart of the city is gussied up in red velour, tinkly crystal and traddy dark wood furniture. It seems you share our love of its glam-bam damask-papered suites, luscious roof garden Jardín Diana, viewy pool and Mayan spa, all in one of Barcelona’s swankiest must-shop nabes.
Corts Catalanes 668, Eixample, hotelpalacebarcelona.com/en/
2. La Manual Alpargatera
An iconic and bustling shoe shop and an institution in its own right thanks to a rainbow of inexpensive, colourful and natural espadrilles hand-finished to order. Well, if they’re good enough for Picasso…
Avinyó 7, Barri Gòtic, lamanualalpargatera.es
1. Barceloneta
Swimming into the top spot is seaside strip Barceloneta, home to W Barcelona, Hotel Arts (with its divine spa) and sizzling day-night scene. While we’d advise avoiding the swarmy summer, should you find yourself drawn to the boardwalk spectacle, nab a copy of the LUXE Barcelona guide for inside tips and tricks on how to sidestep the sunburnt masses – vamos!
Barca bound? Remember to pack some LUXE.
