Tag Archives: Spain

Cocktails in Barcelona

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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

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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.

Freixenet #LittleThings Event, Hoxton

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Previous to this event, my knowledge of Freixenet was limited to occasionally spotting a bottle in my parents’ fridge. They are keen Cava drinkers so this suggested to me that the brand was worth looking out for. When the invite to Freixenet’s ‘Little Things’ event popped up in my inbox, I was intrigued and cancelled my pre-existing plans so I could accept.

A select group of bloggers met on the roof of the Queen of Hoxton in East London. The evening began with bespoke sparkling cocktails by renowned Catalan barman Javier de las Muelas alongside Spanish-themed canapés and delicious freshly carved Iberico ham.  The drinks were beautifully mixed and presented: Perfect Bellini, Garden Party and Black Luxury all using the Freixenet Cordon Negro.

We were blessed with bright sunshine and as we tasted a variety of the Freixenet range. The sun set magnificently before us harmonising with the pretty-in-pink Rose made with 100% Pinot Noir – the team had thought of everything. Next came fragrant dishes of paella followed by sugary churros with chocolate and strawberries, all prepared on the roof.

Stuffed full of food and drink, we reclined in the deckchairs for the grand viewing of the new promotional video, #LittleThings. This charming, comical series of four short films depicts surprise moments in life that are worth dancing about. It made the whole audience smile. Watch here.

Continuing in this vein, we then watched the classic 1980s feel-good movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, whilst enjoying Pops Classic Champagne ice lollies.

Zooming through London in the taxi home I looked through the goodie bag to discover a miniature bottle of Freixenet fizz. Every little thing was perfect about the evening: fun, food, films and fizz.

Learn more about Freixenet here.

Watch the #LittleThings video here.