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Bohemia meets the Moulin Rouge at this intimate, below-street-level bordello-inspired bar with turn-of-the-20th-century memorabilia like fringed lampshades, faded period portraits, and comfy wicker sofas cushioned with lush red velvet. There's usually jazz playing in this laid-back spot where guests linger over reasonably priced cocktails (whiskey sours are popular).
València 286, 08007, Spain
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Eixample
Conceptualized to celebrate wine culture at its finest, this spectacular space, aptly called "Wineworld" in Catalan, features a ritzy wine bar complete with tablet wine lists, a cavernous culinary space, a reference library, a vertical garden, and the pièce de résistance: a vast cellar housing a mind-blowing 3,500 vintages from around the world. Small plates of regional jamón and inventive riffs on classical Catalan cuisine complement the vino. Wine tastings, both traditional and creative, are held regularly for groups or individuals looking to become oenophiles.
Diputació 249, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08007, Spain
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Tues.–Sat. 1 pm–11 pm
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Opened by a trio of vermouth aficionados, Morro Fi (loosely translates as “refined palate”) began as a food blog that morphed into a bar determined to educate people about enjoying vermouth (they even produce their own brand) with select tapas. The result? Locals and the odd expat routinely spilling out into the streets, drink in hand, while indie music blares.
Consell de Cent 171, 08015, Spain
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When it comes to wine, the team at Pepa really know their grapes, and they excel with natural wines, though there's also vermouth and artisanal beer if you're in the mood for that. The food is excellent, too, and it's all served in an old converted library.
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Perhaps more akin to a laboratory than a cocktail bar, SIPS draws from a menu influenced by seasonal ingredients and uses state-of-the-art techniques to mix a range of classic recipes and signature concoctions. Those in the know head to the back room, which seats just 14 people, for a truly immersive cocktail experience.
Muntaner 108, 08036, Spain
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Eixample Esquerra
You'll find this exuberant Caribbean spot sizzling with salsa, son cubano, and merengue from the moment you step in the door. From 10 to 11 on Wednesday, enthusiastic dance instructors teach bachata for free. After that, the dancing begins and the dancers rarely stop to draw breath. This self-proclaimed "Caribbean cultural center" cranks out every variation of salsa ever invented. There are regular live concerts, and on Friday and Saturday, the mike gives way to animated Latin DJs.
Aragó 141, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08015, Spain
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Eixample Esquerra
This sleek megaclub, which was reborn as part of the L’Illa shopping center, boasts the best sound system in Barcelona. A smaller space puts on concerts of emerging and cult artists—the Nigerian singer-songwriter Asa, local soulsters The Pepper Pots, and Gil Scott-Heron (in one of his final performances) among them. When gigs finish around midnight, the walls roll back, and the space ingeniously turns into a sweaty nightclub.
Diagonal 547, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08029, Spain
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Sant Antoni
The only thing bitter about this place is the name. Excellent cocktails and friendly service are what keep guests coming back to this cute neighborhood joint in trendy Sant Antoni.
Viladomat, 17, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08015, Spain
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Eixample
This gay hub combines a wide range of resources, from films and darkrooms to Internet connections, and a lounge.
Calàbria 96, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08015, Spain
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Weekdays 11 am–midnight, weekends 3 pm–midnight
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Eixample Dreta
Nightly parties starring electro house music and guest DJs from neighboring clubs guarantee dancing till you drop at this raging mid-city favorite, set in a gorgeously revamped turn-of-the-20th-century theater.
Rambla Catalunya 2–4, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08007, Spain
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An homage to the traditional English martini bar of decades past, this stately spot by local mixology maestro Javier de las Muelas is paradise for cocktail aficionados seeking expertly mixed drinks.
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Eixample Esquerra
This busy LGBTQ bar, decked out in quasi-religious memorabilia, attracts locals and visitors of all persuasions, tastes, and age ranges.
Muntaner 67, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08011, Spain
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Eixample
In a space ideally located on Barcelona’s exclusive shopping avenue, Passeig de Gràcia, the acclaimed Torres wine dynasty offers an ample selection of their international wines and spirits to accompany delectable Mediterranean fish or meat dishes such as the signature oxtail in Sangre de Toro red wine sauce. The dark, modern space is adorned with walls of stacked wine bottles, and strategic lighting illuminates the natural wood tables.
Passeig de Gràcia 78, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08008, Spain
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Eixample Esquerra
Luz de Gas, an ornate 19th-century theater, offers everything from live performances (mostly world music and Latin) to wild late-night dancing (expect soul and standards).
Muntaner 246, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08021, Spain
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For more than a decade, this “secret” basement bar, in an area otherwise dominated by student pubs and tourist traps, has had a rotating lineup of international acts including blues, soul, jazz, flamenco, swing, and pop. The space resembles a 1940s cabaret, with a brass bar, spot-lit photos of previous acts, and red banquette-style seating.
Ronda Universitat 35, 08007, Spain
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Eixample
Just off Vía Augusta above Diagonal, this nightclub and disco (dating from 1985) is a perennial Barcelona favorite that keeps attracting a glitzy mix of Barcelona movers and shakers, models, ex-models, wannabe models, and the hoping-to-get-lucky mob that predictably follows this sort of pulchritude. Hip-hop, house, and Latin make up the standard soundtrack on the dance floor, with more mellow notes upstairs and in the coveted Altos Club Privé (or "VIP section," to the rest of us).
Lincoln 15, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08006, Spain
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Wed.–Sun. midnight–6 am
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Eixample Esquerra
This friendly LGBTQ+ bar in the heart of the "Gaixample" neighborhood opens in the morning and stays busy until late. Expect strong drinks and a fun, eclectic crowd of locals, visitors, and fabulous drag queens.
Consell de Cent, 273, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08011, Spain
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Eixample
A musical LGBTQ bar with billiards tables, this mid-Eixample hub is a clearinghouse for all persuasions and tastes, with women often outnumbering the men, pool tables or not.
Carrer Muntaner 63–65, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08011, Spain
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Eixample
Music described as "humana" (suggesting no teeth-rattling techno) keeps Sala B filled with the mid-twenties and thirtysomething set until 5 in the morning on Friday and Saturday. Just above the Diagonal near Luz de Gas, this veteran nightspot is an offshoot of the parent club as evidenced by the shared website. Concerts and DJ music for dancing alternate at this comfortable club designed for semicivilized nightlife.
Muntaner 244, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08021, Spain
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Fri.–Sun. 11:30 pm–5:30 am
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This snazzy, high-ceilinged vermuteria has guests lining up to sample a generous selection of more than 40 vermuts served with traditional tapas. From bitter to earthy or aged in a barrel, the classic aperitif is the star attraction though other offerings include wine, beer, and juices.
Carrer de Provença 85, 08029, Spain
