My girlfriends and I are going to Barcelona for 4 days for a hen party / bachelorette, and we want each meal and each night out to be amazing, in a place full of spanish character, cool design, beautiful people, and really amazing cocktails. Any recommendations? I am going to order some guidebooks too, but just wondering if anyone's been to a restauarant or bar that they thought was just AMAZING and we HAVE to go! thanks ~~

Check out Boadas for coctails.
http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/b...-barcelona.htm

I also recommend to try to get a table in the small restaurant in the back of extremely popular Cal Pep. Above all a tapas place, but it was ranked nr. 66 restaurant in the world in the prestigious San Pellegrino guide a couple of years ago (think it was 2006/2007). Most people queue up in line 15 mins before opening to get a place at the bar. But I would perhaps recommend to get a table in the back and just sit down and splurge. First and foremost fabulous seafood.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

The gay ones, of course, but I suppose you'll get by...enjoy Barcelona

Kimhe: I was wondering about that back room at Cal Pep. Do they take reservations for the tables in that part of the restaurant?

ekscrunchy,

They take reservations for the back room at Cal Pep. You normally have to be at least four and you should be out early.

Perhaps have a night at 7 Portes from 1836? One of the city's most emblematic restaurants. Traditional Catalan food in a very much alive old world place. The finest flamenco dancer of all times, the Barcelona born Carmen Amaya (1913-1963) used to dance here at a very young age to the guitar of her father "El Chino".
http://www.7portes.com/

Carmen Amaya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQlk5AYsZtk

7 Portes is lovely but touristy and rather formal.
I went once two years ago and would not go back. Their menu must be in 20 languages.
The food was not that great either.

as for Cal Pep... the food was very good , but the place was full of American tourists. Hardly cool design or Spanish feel.

My favorite restaurant in barcelona is Tibet. If you go you will be the only tourists there. Very small restaurant built into a mountain near Parc Guell...they have the best Catalan food ever!!

I agree with the poster about 7 Portes...very touristy with only so-so food.

On the Ramblas try Caracoles...it's a bit touristy but has amazing food and mariachi bands called la tuna that walk in and out of the restaurant

While printed guides cannot keep up with the most recent trends, the TimeOut Shortlist guides have good advice for "in places".

If you want to be hip try this club/bar on the waterfront near the Olympic Harbor:
http://www.cdlcbarcelona.com/

The bars/restaurants in the Poble Espanyol are open at night (on weekends, at least) and it's so touristy that it *can* be fun.

For something different on a warm spring or summer night, you can also check out the Pl. Sol in the district of Gracia. Hardly any tourists, more younger "alternative" people. But not ritzy or glamorous.

If you go in summer, the beach parties in nearby Sitges are quite something.

Off the beaten path and relatively unknown, Druida, www.restaurantdruida.com is a real find. The chef-owner Anthony Infante shares his enthusiasm as well as his skill in this charming, small restaurant just at the western edge of El Raval. The 42 euro tasting menu is worth every penny and if you share Anthony's passion you'll likely get a bonus after dinner's done.

This is not the hippest place and I can't vouch for the cocktails, but if it's great food and a unique experience you're after it's worth the trip.

Cerveceria Catalana

Thank you!! This is a great start.
@Cowboy1968 - thanks! I also ordered Time Out Short List , DK Eyewitness Top 10, and Fodors so they should all be coming in the mail soon... yay!
@Alan_CT: Yes, we want great food and a unique experience, thank you!!