Tag Archives: Barcelona

Cocktails in Barcelona

Posted on by

Barcelona’s cocktail scene is varied and fun… underground speakeasies or rooftop bars, late night drinking and infectious music, the night life never ends. Though wine and sangria are the most familiar alcoholic beverages in Catalan’s capital, cocktails are increasingly popular, particularly the classic recipes. Though molecular and gastronomic cocktail artistry has not yet taken hold in this city there are still plenty of talented mixologists working their magic behind bars. As a cocktail snob I searched out the very best Barcelona has to offer… it is purely coincidence that my three top cocktail bars are all named after a famous concoction!

Dry Martini opened in 1978 and has remained the top place to drink fine cocktail in Barcelona. Owned and created by barman legend Javier de las Muelas this bar is a homage to the celebrated Dry Martini. Housed in a 1970s apartment block the venue is gloriously old-fashioned and luxurious inside. White jacketed men are cool and calm behind the bar, expertly pouring and mixing in a precise cheographed routine. A electronic board records the number of Dry Martini’s ordered, it reached 1 million quite recently and they celebrated in style. Earlier on in the evening civilised guests sit in the plush leather sofas enjoying a quiet, perfectly mixed drink, later once dinner has finished the speakeasy fills with locals and tourists in the know. We tried a variety of sublime drinks, fruity varieties and sour-sweet combinations, finishing with a strong, crystal-clear martini, topped of course with an green olive.

Gimlet is run by the Dry Martini company and offers a similar menu of twisted classics. The décor is simple and understated with a retro vibe, sitting at the bar I felt like I’d gone back in time. Suited and booted barmen serve immaculate drinks. We tried a traditional Negroni and a more adventurous concoction based on the class Negroni, both were delicious. Located in the lovely El Born area this cocktail bar has unbeatable drinks and an easy-going atmosphere.

Negroni is a small and discreet little bar which barely has a sign indicating its whereabouts, and inside there is no menu to choose from. The moody black interiors are accented with flashes of red and bottles of liquor glow behind the bar. Sit on the high stools and chat to the experienced mixologist about your preference of flavour and ingredients and minutes later your perfect drink will be placed in front of you. Our bartender exhibited creativity and flair in equal measure whipping up deliciously strong and unique cocktails, priced very reasonably.

Many thanks to the Barcelona Tourist Board for their help with this trip, more information here.

Generator Hotel, Barcelona

Posted on by

Weekend breaks in Europe can be just as expensive as a longer international holiday, so locating cheap chic accommodation is a blessing. The Generator Hostels brand is gradually expanding, providing young travellers with a thrifty lodging option in Europe’s best cities. The flagship establishment, Generator Barcelona, combines both hostel and hotel offering the very best in Catalan style and culture to its visitors at affordable prices.

Located in Barcelona’s trendy district of Eixample, Generator offers private hotel rooms with en-suite bathrooms and shared hostel dormitories. There is everything you need on site: a 24-hour reception, free private lockers and free Wi-Fi in public areas and private rooms. There is air conditioning and heating throughout to allow for diverse weather conditions, as well as individual power sockets and reading lamps for each bed. Female-only dormitories thoughtfully include magazines, hairdryers and other amenities. The eclectic and colourful communal areas are lovely spaces to eat, drink, work and chat.

Those interested in sightseeing will be pleased to know that Diagonal and Verdaguer metro stations are within five minutes walk. The Gràcia district, which has a multitude of boutiques and bars, is also just a short walk away. We enjoyed fine tapas at nearby restaurant La Pepita, and if you are peckish at night try the 24 hour churros outlet Xurreria Trebol.

In our 7th floor hotel room we found everything we needed for a very comfortable stay,I completely forgot I was in a hostel. The en suite bathroom had a small shower, sink, mirror, toilet and toiletries bag and the walls were covered in ornate tiling. The bed was made up in soft linen with plump pillows and an attractive rug hung on the wall above. Thick dressing gowns were folded at the foot of the bed for us to use. Outside we had a little private terrace with a lounger, perfect for soaking up the summer sun.

Guests can have a fresh daily breakfast at extra cost. Generator Hostel Barcelona also has a communal lounge with computers available for rent and a luggage storage service.

The décor in the main reception is reminiscent of festival celebrations with hundreds of paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and patterned arrangements on the walls. The look and sound is all about fun and everywhere you look people are enjoying themselves, so obviously Generator is doing something right!

More information and book here.

Many thanks to the Barcelona Tourist Board for their help with this trip, more information here.

Caelis, Barcelona

Posted on by

There are plenty of cheap and cheerful tapas restaurants to choose from in Barcelona, but when you feel like a special sit-down meal head to Caelis. Located inside the grand Hotel El Palace, this restaurant is refined and sophisticated in appearance and yet exudes a relaxed and calm atmosphere. When we dined at lunchtime the surrounding tables were crowded with families – despite the grandeur there is no stuffiness here.

Chef Romain Fornell creates haute cuisine with a whimsical and imaginative twist. His Michelin-starred talents are illustrated in the various menus on offer. We chose to order from the a la carte, which offers the most diversity. Sitting back in the plush velvet seats, we enjoyed a sparkling aperitif of Spanish Cava and tiny mouthfuls of happiness, of which the foie gras sweetie was most memorable. The starters were artistic delights, presented in clever bowls with a colander plate on top, allowing the delicious juices to drip down into the soup-sauce underneath. This meant we were treated to a two-tier first course. I tried the summery Warm Vegetables with thin Parmesano tart served with orchard vegetables soup, a colourful dish of assorted vegetables pureed, boiled or left raw, with buttery parmesan shortbread and a thin cheesy sauce. My companion opted for a decadent Macaroni: a surf and turf mixture with lobster, celery and foie gras, it smelt as aromatic and comforting as it tasted, with a flavoursome broth beneath.

Mains were a tour de force. I think everyone in the dining room was jealous of my Duck “a la presse” – it arrived whole beside me to be cooked again by the accomplished waitress, a delicate gravy made with the juices, butter and stock at the table. The highlight of the dish was the extra duo of accompanying duck treats: ravioli with bolognaise and warm crispy duck with oriental dressing, these demonstrated the versatility of Fornell with different cuisines and seasonings. The Dry Age Beef “Rossini” is served chunky and red, oozing rich juices and topped with grilled bone marrow, foie gras parcels placed alongside the beef steak. We were pleased to find a minimum of carbohydrates involved, leaving more space for more courses! The sommelier paired our food with elegant red wine that suited the meats perfectly.

We were persuaded to order the speciality Explosion St Honore, a chocolate creme glacee and strawberry dessert which must be chosen by the whole table; I didn’t understand why until it was brought to us. First a gold tablecloth was laid down, on which the dessert was made. A smooth chocolate sphere, filled with minty mousse, caramel popcorn and other sweet ingredients is placed on the table around which sauces, fruit, flowers, biscuit crumbs and dry ice is casually thrown. The chocolate ball explodes on the table and you are invited to eat the sugary mess in front of you. I have never seen anything like it.

Caelis offers so much more than just a meal, it gives an exciting experience filled with surprises and treats from start to finish, you will remember this food long after you have left Barcelona.

More information and book a table here: caelis.com

Many thanks to the Barcelona Tourist Board for their help with this trip, more information here.