CB Cities: Barcelona Travel Guide

Barcelona is undoubtedly one of our favourite cities. Besides the obvious – incredible architecture, restaurants, the beach and the mountains – the virtue of Barcelona is that it is not too much of one thing. There is much in the way of luxury and yet some parts are beautifully rustic. It’s Spanish and yet retains a strong Catalan identity with its dramatic history looming. With all of this wonderful complexity, you can’t be surprised that the city produced Delpozo’s Creative Director Josep Font.

We once read somewhere that some cities have souls while others don’t, and it definitely resonates in a strange way when you think of Barcelona. It’s no wonder Woody Allen had to make a movie there. But we digress. Here are the top places to check-off on your list the next time you visit:

1 Mirablau
Perched atop Tibidabo mountain, this low-key bar has a terrace and hands-down the best views in town. Have the sangria.

Doctor Andreu, 08035

2 Boca Chica
Designed by Spanish interiors maestro Lázaro Rosa-Violán, this darkly opulent cocktail bar atop restaurant Boca Grande has a decadent old-world atmosphere with expertly prepared classic cocktails.

Passage De la Concepció, 12 ,08003

3 Aire de Barcelona Baths
Seriously serene, this spa has beautiful exposed brick interiors, mood lighting and all you could want in the way of water therapy: hot pool, ice pool and everything in between. Tip: go in the late afternoon or early evening – you’ll be so relaxed that a nap is the only sane thing to do after.

Passeig de Picasso, 22, 08003

4 Jean Pierre Bua
This multi-brand luxury fashion store is our go-to for quickly picking up a new outfit. They have the perfect edit for the smart-casual vibe in the region, and you can find everything from Chloé and Alexander McQueen to lesser-known Spanish brands.

Avenida Diagonal, 469, 08036

5 Hotel Arts Barcelona
Yes, this is the one hotel where everyone checks-in to on Instagram, but there’s good reason for that. Everything from the rooms, to the location, interiors, views and rooftop at Hotel Arts (part of the Ritz Carlton group) are simply the best. And Barcelona has many good rooftops, so that’s saying something.

Carrer de la Marina, 19-21, 08005

6 Tibidabo Amusement Park
If like us, you’re a child at heart and love an amusement park, go to Tibidabo. The park opened in 1858 and it just might be one of the most charming places ever (yes, it’s the one from Vicky Cristina Barcelona). The rides are pretty tame, but the views are unbeatable.

Plaza del Tibidabo, 3-4, 08035

Lastly, it’s an obvious one – but we can’t talk about Barcelona without reflecting on the beauty of Gaudi’s Casa Batlló. Carmen’s parents rented it out to celebrate their 50th anniversary and it was just a magical atmosphere, complete with flamenco dancers. If nothing else, Barcelona is distinctly romantic.