If you were to ask anyone knows me well, they will tell you that I am obsessed with food (to the extent that I often plan my days around where and when my next meal will be), therefore, when it came to a Barcelona trip with the girls, I couldn't help but research the best places for food and drink that Barcelona has to offer.
Here is the summary of our three days in Barcelona through the point of view of all I consumed.
Zenith - Brunch
We arrived in Barcelona and wasted no time planning the most important part of the day, Brunch. Zenith was very highly recommended and we were certainly not disappointed! We ordered a Mimosa party which was a jug of Orange Juice and Cava sufficient for 2 flutes each between the 4 of us! There were so many options to choose from on the menu, but I finally went for the Poached Eggs and Smashed Avocado on Sourdough toast with extra bacon. It was amazing! We also sat outside in the sun which felt very Mediterranean!
Bar Lobo - Dinner and wine
After exploring the city even more and seeing some of the sights we where soon ravenous for some dinner. We chose Bar Lobo, a restaurant that provides traditional Spanish cuisine, but also a variety of other options to choose from. We got a glass of wine each which was shockingly cheap (I love you Spain) and delicious. I chose the Lobo Burger with the salted fries and it was so tasty.
Ice Bar-celona - Drinks
We had booked Ice Bar-celona for the evening which I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a fun change of scenery and a new experience! Before you are let into the bar, you are dressed in a silver puffer jacket with a fur hood and a pair of black gloves to keep you warm, then you march on through looking like a group of silver spacemen to the bar.
All around are ice sculptures of famous celebrities and characters which provide countless great photo shoot opportunities.
However, when we went we had the whole place to ourselves, which is great for a bigger group, but as there were only four of us I would recommend to book it for a bit later on so there are more people there with you! There was one cocktail included in the entry price, which you could pick from a menu before you went in and these were served in cups made completely out of ice!
Shoko Barcelona - Cocktails
After the ice bar we were ready to continue the night in a warmer place! After a quick stroll down the beach we found Shoko which stood out starkly from the others as it was glowing due to its red LED lights inside. We sat down on the outdoor terrace and ordered four Sangrias de Cava (which is now my favourite drink). It was such a cosy atmosphere because of the outdoor heaters and comfy sofas. We then went to explore inside and it was as if we had entered another world, flashing lights, techno music and even more of those glowing red LEDs! As it was my friend’s 21st birthday, it was a no-brainer that we were going to ditch the outdoor terrace and dance the night away inside!
I would definitely recommend this place if you are celebrating something or fancy a treat, but the drinks are definitely on the pricier side.
Farggi - pancakes and brunch
For the birthday breakfast we just had to find an aesthetically pleasing place for Brunch, which was hard to find to try and top Zenith the previous day. We just so happened to pass this place on the way to check into our hotel and we just had to put it on our list to start the birthday off! The hanging plants and cute fairy lights really caught our attention and we were sold even more once we had perused the menu! I shared a jamón bagel and some Nutella, walnut and cream pancakes with the birthday girl because I couldn’t possibly choose!! The eggs benedict with bacon also looked amazing too!! This is definitely one of the top places from this trip that I would recommend, I couldn’t fault one bit of it, from the service, to the variety of options on the menu to the food, everything was a 10/10!
Mood rooftop bar - Drinks and Snacks
After a long day of walking around Park Guell and then to La Sagrada Familia we decided that the perfect way to end the afternoon would be to watch the sunset from a rooftop bar. Barcelona is renowned for its rooftop bars due to its stunning skyline, but I would definitely recommend booking somewhere like this in advance as we had a bit of a struggle finding one so last minute! Luckily we were able to make a last minute reservation at the Mood rooftop bar, which was only a quick metro ride away from La Sagrada Familia. I am so glad we did because this place was amazing! We were even lucky enough to be able to access the VIP pool area as it was a quiet night. We ordered a few wines and watched the sunset together which just felt like a perfect end to such an amazing day.
Bar Momo Barcelona - Tapas
For the evening birthday meal we surprised the birthday girl with a table at Bar Momo which was close to our apartment and had caught our eye every time we walked past it! I shared the two options of Bao bun (Pulled Pork and Peking Duck), Patatas Bravas, Croquetas and a portion of Pan con tomate, all of which were delicious! The birthday girl ordered the Steak and Chips and to quote her directly, ‘it was the best steak [she] ever had’! We also shared a jug of Sangria de Cava which ended up being such good value for money!
I would definitely recommend this place. It was so cute and the food was amazing!!
Bar Paradiso - Award-winning cocktail bar
As a self-proclaimed cocktail enthusiast, I had googled the best cocktail bars to go to to end the night and this one came up frequently due to its award winning cocktails and service, therefore, it was a no brainer that we had to check it out. As it was later on in the night by this point we ended up having to queue for an hour and a half as it is so popular! However, I would definitely say that the wait was worth it once we got in!
The bar is actually a secret bar, meaning that the entrance of it is hidden behind a fridge door in what looks like an ordinary shop! This just added to the grand reveal of the bar inside which was dramatic in its lighting and decor. All of the menus on the tables lit up and explained in detail what each cocktail was, also giving it a strength rating and a flavour profile.
After much deliberation, I decided on El Tornado, which was a floral but subtle cocktail, it was quite the event. The cocktail waiter brought a tray and two vials of liquid, in mixing the two the subtle flavour was created and then the glass was placed on to a podium where, at the push of a button, the liquid was swirled around creating a tornado effect inside my glass. When they said this place was award winning they weren’t joking!!
I would definitely recommend checking this out if you are interested in mixology like me! :))
Acai & Me - Acai bowls
The following morning we sadly only had a few hours left in Barcelona :((. We decided that the nest way to make the most of our morning was to get up and out to get a healthy, nutritional breakfast. I had been craving Acai Bowls for a while, and this little gem overlooking the beach was the perfect place!
Situated in a beach hut shack with two bars, one for drinks and one for Acai Bowls, this beach bar was both simple and effective.
Each bowl is named comedically according to its ingredients, among many there were, Hold My Banana, Tickle my Berries and Butter my Coconuts. Personally I went for The Naughty One, with Organic Açai, Nutella, Biscuit, Banana, Rice Puffs, Cinnamon, Chocolate and Homemade Granola. Each bowl came to €9.90, which seems a bit pricey but the bowls were absolutely packed so it's definitely worth it.
El Mercado Boquería
For lunch, still so full from the Acai that we had in the morning, we decided to pay a visit to the famous food market of Barcelona for a light lunch, el Mercado Boquería.
I love a food market, and this one definitely did not disappoint! There was so much there, from fresh fruit, vegetables, juices, fish, meat and cooked Spanish delicacies, we were spoiled for choice.
I ended up choosing a Pollo Picante Burrito and some Pimientos de Padrón, both of which were cooked fresh that day! We also got a punnet of fresh mixed olives to share between the four of us for only €3!!
El Bosc de Les Fades
A highly recommended place that we were constantly told to go to was a bar hidden away next to the wax museum close to Las Ramblas.
El Bosc de Les Fades translated means The Fairy Forest and it is easily the most interesting bar I have ever entered. In one room it looks like a 1950s bar with realistic wax figures propped about occupying some of the tables, in the next there are hundreds of origami cranes hanging from the window, another, and the room we settled on, was reminiscent of an enchanted forest, with lanterns, trees and even a fountain with a wax fairy figure bathing in it. Whilst we were there there was also fake thunder and lightning as if we were caught in the middle of a storm in the forest, it was insane!!
We only got coffee as it was almost time to head to the airport but I would definitely recommend going for drinks before a night out if you fancy somewhere a bit more obscure than your average bar!
In conclusion, the food and drink scene in Barcelona, unsurprisingly, did not disappoint! Along with the sights, culture and friendly people, it made it a truly unforgettable trip! :)
I only hope that I will be lucky enough to visit Barcelona again to be able to explore and indulge myself even more!!
:)) xxx
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