80 Best Bars in Barcelona, Spain

Among the glitziest of Barcelona's waterfront clubs and restaurants, the CDLC embraces all the clichés of Ibizan over-the-top decor (in this case, Oriental-theme). The music is electronic and cocktails are exotic—and pricey.

Rustic and charming with an arched brick wall, barrel tables, and rows of multicolor sifón fizzy-water bottles, this homey venue---mainly frequented by locals---serves wine by the glass or liter (for takeaway), artisanal beers, and vermouth paired with homemade tapas. 

This tavern-esque basement spot hosts everything from open mike nights and comedy shows to jam sessions and monologues, and has dozens of handcrafted beer on offer, as well as a small food menu. There's a small outdoor terrace if you need a breath of air.

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.

El Raval has its gritty side, but there’s bits of glamor, too, and El Jardí gets a good dose of it. In the gardens of the former Hospital de la Santa Creu, during the summer months, El Jardí is the perfect reprieve from the heat and heavy foot traffic, serving a selection of classic cocktails and vermouth, as well as a hot and cold tapas. The place closes shortly before midnight, so consider squeezing in a visit around sunset or for a round of post-dinner drinks. 

You won't find a more welcoming or upbeat cocktail lounge in Barcelona and, better still, the drinks are excellent. The best seat in the house is at the bar for great chats with the friendly staff and views of their artistry at work. Make sure you order a Calypso with your face printed on it (you'll understand when you see it). 

Despite its name, this casino is actually situated in the downmarket tourist town of Lloret (67 km, or 42 miles, north of Barcelona), a far cry from the posh resorts of the Costa Brava. Yet it does satisfy all your gaming needs, and hosts the usual restaurants, bars, and entertainment, all a quick drive from the beach.

Located on a narrow tree-lined street with twinkling lights, this pocket-size club attracts patrons of all ages for live jazz, swing, rockabilly, and blues alongside creative cocktails in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Most concerts start around 10 or 11 pm.

This contemporary cervecería resembles many of the cool offerings routinely sprouting up in Gràcia, one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods. Patrons can top off drinks with self-service pours from local brewer Estrella Damm. Local craft favorites such as Brew Dog Punk IPA and classic cocktails are also on offer. Enjoy a drink with nachos, burgers, and tapas while listening to local tunes around the tiny, natural-wood bar.

This legendary nightspot has hosted some of the world’s most influential jazz musicians since its opening in 1960. Decades later, the club continues to offer two nightly shows and remains a notable haven for new generations of jazz and blues aficionados. After the last performance, the spot transforms into a late-night dance club playing soul, hip-hop, and R&B.

Run by the Barcelona contemporary music school next door, this workshop and, during the day, café is a forum for musicians, teachers, and fans to listen to and debate their art. Most weeks, the schedule offers jazz on Monday and Wednesday; pop, blues, and rock jam sessions on Tuesday; Cuban salsa on Thursday; flamenco on Friday; and rock and pop on weekends. The small cover charge (€8–€15, depending on which night you visit) includes a drink. Gigs start between 7 and 9 pm.

A must for craft-beer lovers, this modern, high-ceilinged bar and shop is filled to the brim with more than 200 international craft brands, quirky alcohol-free varieties, and around 15 rotating artisanal beers on tap.

This busy LGBTQ+ bar, decked out in quasi-religious memorabilia, attracts locals and visitors of all persuasions, tastes, and age ranges.

One of the city’s liveliest gay bars features a funky retro-style interior. It's a colorful backdrop for drag shows, including the venue's Queer Flamenco events.

This unpretentious natural wine bar has a wonderful team of sommeliers who are keen to share their knowledge. There's no formal wine list; just describe what you like and they’ll bring you a glass—or you can browse the bottles from small Mediterranean producers that line the redbrick walls. The best seats are out on the back patio: a plant-filled oasis in the heart of this bustling barrio.

With a rotating selection of 15 craft beers on tap—including local Catalan brews, international varieties, and its own brand of IPA—as well as a wide selection by the bottle, this lively spot is a beer-lover’s dream.

In the heart of Barcelona’s former Jewish Quarter, this rustic charmer serves a wide variety of hearty national wines paired with regional cheeses, meats, and tapas. The antique carved-wood furnishings and candlelit setting makes for an atmospheric respite from the area’s chaotic pace.

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.

Ambitiously named "The Lord's Vineyard," this romantic wine bar directly across from the entrance to the Santa Maria del Mar has an extensive wine list featuring more than 350 wines by the bottle, and a rotating selection of 20 by the glass. Watch your step on the rickety ladder leading to the pint-size mezzanine.

Come to this smart corner bar for its ever-changing menu of seasonal craft cocktails made with fresh, and often inventive, ingredients.

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).

Everything about this stylish bar is a happy contradiction: the chandeliered space has large gilded mirrors and polished chocolate-brown stools that curiously complement the rickety antiques and quirky touches (check out the bathtub-turned-sofa in the back room). Cocktails run the full gamut from classic to creative.

There's no doubt about what the name of this laid-back Raval hangout pays tribute to: that of the early '80s Manchester scene, with the Joy Division and Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses. The sheer number of people (both locals and foreigners) crowding around the wood tables and dancing in the spaces in between suggest that a tribute is welcome.

Inaugurated in 1820, this historic venue, a favored haunt for artistic notables such as Gaudí, Picasso, and Hemingway, has remained remarkably unchanged since its celebrated heyday. The chipped paint on the walls and ceiling, cracked marble tables, and elaborate spiderwebs on chandeliers and bottles all add to the charm, but the main reason patrons linger is one special shot: Marsella is one of few establishments serving homemade absinthe (absenta in Spanish), a potent aniseed-flavored spirit meant to be savored and rumored to enhance productivity.

After a decade in the business, Marula Café has remained steadfast in its ambitious quest to keep Barcelona grooving with funk and all its sister sounds. No electronic music will enter this slick, red-curtained venue with back-lighted glass walls: once past the bouncer, it’s just funk, disco, and Latin spiced up with Afro-funk licks. The crowd is a mix of funk-loving locals who come to dance and foreigners who’ve stumbled in from the tourist circuit off Plaça Reial. There is also a regular lineup of DJ sessions and concerts. Check out the regularly updated website. 

The brainchild of two Catalan sommeliers, Més de Vi is a chic wine bar with a purpose: to educate visitors on the art of Spanish wines, with a particular focus on regional vintages. There are plenty of seating options: a tasting table for serious aficionados, romantic tête-à-tête tables, and a bar area for socializing.

Resembling a prim parlor lounge with touches of kitsch, this cozy bar bistro with plush sofas, gilded mirrors, handmade knickknacks, and tastefully worn tapestry wallpaper has been a favorite hangout for young expats for more than a decade. Best known for its legendary brunch, night time here tends to be less crowded and more intimate. Try the Michelada, a dramatic alternative Bloody Mary reserved for the strongest constitutions: Corona beer mixed with hot sauce, Worcestershire, and tomato juice.

This cocktail bar, pared down to mostly black decor and a shiny varnished bar, is for no-nonsense sophisticates of all ages. What sets Negroni apart and keeps it popular year-in, year-out is the talented barmen’s dedication to the art of cocktail creation; no menus, just reveal your favorite spirit and have a little trust.

Sweeping Mediterranean views from the 26th floor of the seaside W Barcelona hotel are no doubt Noxe’s biggest appeal. But toss in a slick, sexy interior—redesigned in 2023—fancy cocktails, good sushi, and international DJs spinning house and techno, and it’s no wonder this is one of the city’s most see-and-be-seen-in nightspots.