Smeagol

I recommended cinq sentis to my friend who went late last year and said it was fabulous. We also went to Hisops and had their tasting menu and it was too was fabulous.

Round the corner from tickets is a wonderful little gin bar ( be aware their drinks are HUGE! ) nice place for a pre dinner drink? I'll see if I can dig out the name/ details!

I LOVE Barcelona, you'll have a great time I'm sure!

jamikins

Great report RM67! Have written down some notes!

Sounds like hat gin bar has our name all over it Smeagol!

Keep the ideas coming!

jamikins

Ok have booked

Casa Mila for Sunday at 18:00

Parc Guell for 8:00 Tues morning - hoping for less crowds for photography

Palau Musica for 18:00 Tues evening

I am trying to book Sagrada Familia but I want to book entrance, guided tour AND the towers...is it just me or is this not an option?????

Casa Batlli looks like there is no set time but a ticket you use to jump the queue anytime within the next year...?

Thanks again for all your help!!!

adrienne

Palau Musica - not sure how much light there will be at 18:00. Bring a tripod - the interior is amazing and you'll want to get lots of shots. There is time during the tour for photos as you go to the mezzanine level and can wander around for a bit. I wish I had a tripod. Also get shots of those wonderful columns on the front of the building.

https://modigliani.shutterfly.com/barcelona/42

It doesn't look like you can do Sagrada Familia, guided tour, and towers. There is no option for that. I did the church and guided tour but not the towers so can't help you. Hopefully someone else will know. Here's their email and phone number.

[email protected]
93 513 20 60

One weird thing about buying tickets is that you get a ticket for each person in your party rather than 1 ticket for everyone. Make sure you have 2 tickets with you.

Casa Batllo - no timed tickets - just bypass the line and show your ticket.

jamikins

Great thoughts Adrienne! Wouldn't have thought to bring a tripod but will stop back at the hotel and pick it up for sure now!

I was a bit worried about the light at 18:00 but hopefully we get a sunny day and the tripod will help!

Thanks for the rest!

suec1

I did not quite absorb all the plans you have decided on but I did want to suggest spending Sunday down by the beach at the Barcelonetta. Hopefully it will be warm eough to sit outside for a long lunch and watch the activities on the beach. You could also rent bikes and ride along the path that goes along there.

And I'm thinking you are a food and wine fan? have you tried a dish with squid ink? we have had paella with squid ink several times in Barcelona and it was quite unique and very good. Enjoy your trip!

popov

1. Wine bars? Monvinic is ok.

2. Runnerbean tours are great. Don't miss.

3. Park Guell is also a a don't miss. It is far far better than La Pedrera and Casa Batllo.

4. Don't bother going into Casa Batllo. It's all about the facade. There's no reason whatever to go inside. Likewise, there is nothing of interest inside La Pedrera. The view from the roof is not worth the cost. Just do a general walking tour. Time is much better spent at the Federic Mares museum, which doesn't get near enough attention.

5. Avoid La Rambla. It's a honky tonk tourist trap of the worst kind.

Rubicund

If you like a more traditional but still very good restaurants, there are several that we go to regularly when in Barcelona:

EL GRAN CAFÉ—GREAT FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE. IT’S IN THE CALLE AVINYO—GOTHIC QUARTER-- TELEPHONE 93 318 7986. http://www.restaurantelgrancafe.com/index.asp?lang=3

CAN CULLERETES—CALLE QUINTANA, 5 (BETWEEN CALLE FERRAN & BOQUERIA) 08002 BARCELONA—TELEPHONE 93 317 30 22 - 93 317 64 85 THE OLDEST RESTAURANT IN THE CITY AND STILL GOOD. http://www.culleretes.com/en/home

LOS CARACOLES RESTAURANT IN THE BARRI GOTIC. ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS ANYWHERE. ESCUDELLERS, 14 PHONE: +34 933 023 185
www.loscaracoles.es

QUO VADIS RESTAURANT. JUST OFF THE RAMBLA, ON THE RIGHT GOING DOWN TOWARDS THE SEA, IN THE CARRER DEL CARME, A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE PLACA DE CATALUNYA. TURN RIGHT AT THE END OF THE WALL WITH THE RECTANGULAR DESIGN. THE RESTAURANT IS ON THE LEFT. http://www.restaurantquovadis.com/

4 CATS RESTAURANT ON THE CARRER MONTSIO OFF THE PORTAL DE L’ ANGEL OFF THE PLACA DE CATALUNYA. MONTSIO IS A VERY NARROW STREET SO DON’T MISS IT, OPPOSITE SIDE TO EL CORTE INGLES. THIS IS NOT TO BE MISSED. THE BAR AND RESTAURANT WERE THE HAUNTS OF PICASSO AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES IN THE LATE 19TH. AND EARLY 20TH. CENTURIES. THE INTERIOR IS LITTLE CHANGED AND THE FOOD IS GOOD. BOOKING ESSENTIAL. TEL: 933 024 140 www.4gats.com

Rubicund

Sorry about the capital letters..not shouting, just copied and pasted from my travel notebook.

jamikins

Thanks suec1 and popov

We aren't into art museums but definitely want to photograph the roofs of Casa batllo and Casa Mila so don't mind paying to get in. The details are just too interesting not to . It is crazy expensive though!!!!

jamikins

Fabulous rubicund! Thanks!

JulieVikmanis

I do not think you will be wasting your money to see interiors of Battlo and Pedrara. We loved them.

I don't think you've said where you will be staying. If it's in Eixample area I would highly recommend Gresca for a dinner. Terrific food with very reasonable prices. Real care in the kitchen. More casual than Cinq Centis but in similar vein.

If you are interested in a wonderful sort of "grown up" dinner in a lovely setting, Windsor is great. The highly regarded Mirabel who wrote so much about Sapin and BCN on this forum for a while, enjoyed it as did we.

Tapac 24 just off Passeig de Gracia is a great tapas place. Don't know if anyone has yet recommended Cervaseria Catalana but it's darmed good especially if you get a nice day and can dine outside. I could go on and on. Sometimes it seems like it would be hard to find bad food in BCN. Enjoy.

adrienne

<< I do not think you will be wasting your money to see interiors of Battlo and Pedrara. We loved them. >>

Totally agree - see the houses! At La Pedrera you are first taken to the roof by elevator and you then walk down. I was there when it first opened and had some time with only a couple of people on the roof.

Elizabeth_S

Just realized you might not be aware of Maribel's guides to Barcelona (she was a long time poster here - not sure if she still posts). Here are two links - Barcelona/general and Barcelona/Dining

http://maribelsguides.com/mg_barcelona_sightseeing.pdf

http://maribelsguides.com/mg_barcelonadining.pdf

danon

Agee with PP...both buildings are fantastic inside and out.
Cerveseria Catalana is a great value...always crowded.
no reservations, but worth a wait for the table or even a seat at the bar.

jamikins

Awesome thanks guys!!!

I emailed Sagrada familia and they said a full combo ticket wasn't available online, but all I had to do was buy the entrance and the tower tickets and I could still skip the line and then buy the guided tour tickets when I presented my online ticket to get in!

So many great places to eat...so little time! I can tell we will need to plan a trip back already!!!

Treesa

I second the recommendation for runnerbeantours. You'll be extra lucky if your guide is a great Irish gal, Catherine. Looking forward to your photos and Biker's commentary.

AGM_Cape_Cod

I am watching this thread and anticipating a trip report. We will be in Barcelona the first week in May and also managed to get reservations for Tickets. Have a fabulous time!!

Smeagol

I'll try and find the name/ street of that Gin bar it is literally 2 minutes from tickets and has HUNDREDS of gins ( I'm not a big gin drinker but their drinks were fab) I'll have to do at the weekend as off to Belfast in a bit.

Smeagol

http://www.xixbar.com/en/. I think this is the gin bar website.