How To Spend A Weekend In Barcelona

Beachside cities hold a certain charm, and you’re hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t fallen for Barcelona. While the 300 annual days of sunshine and Mediterranean waters aren’t a difficult sell, the design-led hotels, award-winning food scene, and ever-evolving culture have people coming back for more.

For first-timers in town, some of the popular sites shouldn’t be skipped - notably La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Museu Picasso - but if, like most visitors, you are a return guest, it’s well worth getting out of the Cuitat Vella (the historical center) and exploring some of the city’s other barrios (neighborhoods). Each Barcelona barrio has its distinct feel, and thanks to the city’s compact size, moving between them can be done easily on two feet. With this weekend guide, we spend time in a few of them.

For a weekend break, Eixample is a good area to stay as it is centrally located and within easy reach of other barrios worth spending time in. After checking into your hotel late in the morning (Sir Victor is a great example option), head towards Gracia, a lovely neighborhood with pedestrianized streets and shady squares. For lunch, grab a bar stool or window seat at Tangana, a much-talked-about tapas spot, putting a fun twist on the go-to dishes.

In the afternoon, please visit the nearby Casa Vincens, Gaudí’s first major masterpiece and much less visited than his two casas on Passeig de Gracia. While slightly less bonkers than his other buildings, the colorful tiling and wooden paneling are spectacular.

©Pol Viladoms, David Cardelus.

For a casual dinner, Bodega Marin is an atmospheric spot. The narrow bar, dating back over 100 years, is stacked with wine bottles from floor to ceiling and has a few tables you can book in advance. Come for the extensive wine selection, and stay for the classic tapas (think plates of manchego, anchovies, and Catalan meatballs, finished with Basque-style goat cheese cheesecake). Afterward, switch up the vibe and head to low-lit 14 De La Rosa and find a cozy corner for creative cocktails.

Funky Eatery in Eixample is a great place to start the day whether you want a cinnamon babka and coffee to go or prefer to sit down and enjoy a longer modern Middle-eastern inspired brunch (try the Turkish eggs). After this, head over to Montjuic, the hillside park that hugs the south of the city, where you can visit the Fundació Joan Miró, a stunning and serene space dedicated to the Catalan artist. While you're exploring Montjuic, you could also stop by the architecture pavilion at Fundacio Mies van der Rohe.

If something cold is calling, Salts, the bar perched above the Olympic diving pool, has impressive panoramic views of the city. At the bottom of the Montjuic hill is the neighborhood of Poble Sec, and its main street, the lively Carrer Blai, is home to several good lunch spots - Denassus is excellent for inventive tapas.

Next up, make your way back into the city center for a spot of shopping in El Born, where some of the city’s best independent stores are (check out Chandal, Roüa & Friends, and Colmado).

If you’re after a drink, head to Plaza De la Torre Romana, a small but perfectly formed plaza where fun wine and cocktail spot Carlos and Matilda has a few outdoor tables.

For dinner, Fismuler, masterminded by ex-El Bulli chefs, has a fun atmosphere and a daily changing menu of seasonal Mediterranean small plates. If it’s award-winning cocktails you’re after, Paradiso and Dr. Stravinsky are very close by (both topped the world’s 50 best bars list), but for a more laid-back vibe, the friendly Pet Nat is a great natural wine and craft beer bar.

Start your Sunday with brunch in Poblenou. This former industrial area is now a creative hub and, with its wide, quiet streets, feels very different from the rest of the city. It’s also home to some of Barcelona's best eating and drinking options, like light-filled corner cafe Little Fern - get the sweetcorn fritters or kimchi pancakes.

Spend the morning at Barcelona’s design museum, Disseny Hub, or the huge historic flea market at Encants.

Sunday paella by the beach is a tradition loved by locals and visitors alike. In Poblenou, Xiringuito Escribà by Platja Bogatell serves up one of the best in town. It’s well-positioned to enjoy a beachside stroll or swim after. When you’ve worked up a little appetite, you could swing by Henry’s Bar, a fun dive bar serving cocktails and light bites, before finishing up your weekend at Balius, a cozy speakeasy spot that has live jazz every Sunday.

84 Rooms recommends: The Best Restaurants In Barcelona, and Where To Stay On The Costa Brava.