Brilliantly Beautiful Bars in Barcelona

Just like when visiting most major cities in Europe, Barcelona will provide you with an interesting dilemma. Do you make the most of some fantastic sight-seeing opportunities and spend every spare second cramming in another popular tourist spot or, do you take it easy and save a bit of energy to experiment with the thriving bar scene.

Why not make the most of both options with a happy compromise. Spend your morning touring the Camp Nou, the famous home of Barcelona FC or gazing at the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia, the unfinished church and arguable Barcelona’s biggest tourist attraction. Grab a late lunch from one of the many great cafes or restaurants within the city before trying our a few of the bars and getting a sense of what the nightlife might have to offer but early enough that you won’t have to deal with the hangover.

We’ve picked out a few of the must see bars below, ranging from quirky to just flat out strange. While it might be best to spread them over a few days, getting between them all is very simple with a great public transport network available. You’ll find buses, trams and metro lines all ready to carry you off in the right direction but if you really want to see more of the city, why not make the most bike rentals in Barcelona?

Photo on Flickr by Jorge Franganillo

Kahala Tiki Bar

If you like a bar that impresses you from the moment you enter then Kahala Tiki Bar is the place for you. A waterfall and ponds of tropical fish are just the start of the entertainment here. The tropical cocktails (yes they are served by waiters in Hawaiian shirts) come in all shapes and sizes, including in the style of a volcano  with smoke and fire effects.

El Bosc de les Fades 

This is a themed bar straight from a fairytale fantasy, it translates to ‘The forest of fairies’ and that’s exactly what it looks like. As you sit amongst the vines and trees in what feels like a grotto, you’ll even experience the thunder and lightening affects that take over the forest as you enjoy your delicious cocktails.

Ice Barcelona

Now, where we are from Spain is considered a warm destination but this bar might have you thinking otherwise. You know it’s cold when the staff are providing you with coats rather than offering to hang them up and that’s exactly what happens at Ice Barcelona. The temperature inside is kept at a chilly -5 degrees celsius, perfect for keeping your drinks cold and also maintaining all the ice sculptures and blocks that decorate the interior.

Marsella

Considered one of, if not the oldest bar in Barcelona, Marsella is famous for it’s house drink, absinthe. However if you’re planning on remembering any of your night then you’ll be glad to know there are plenty more drinks on offer. The bars antique interior provides a great contrast to the other bars on our list and gives a great insight into the Barcelona nightlife of old. For those of you who like your claim to fame, it’s also thought that this was once a popular hangout for none other than Hemingway.