23 Best Bars in Barcelona, Spain

An illuminated red globe marks this speakeasy-style cocktail bar, tucked away on a narrow side street. With its cool jazz soundtrack and tiny tables topped with flickering candles, the space oozes sophistication but the vibe is relaxed thanks to the friendly staff.

Sporting the original sign and glass shelving of the pharmacy (droguería) that once stood here, Balius Bar has retro-chic decor, great music (check out the live jazz sessions on Sunday evening), and top-notch cocktails.

Barcelona's cocktail game is so strong these days that it can be hard to stand out from the crowd, yet Dr Stravinsky does so with aplomb. You'd easily miss this tiny bar hidden down one of the prettiest alleyways in El Born---or at least you might have done, had it not been for the line of thirsty punters outside. Once inside, take a seat at the bar and prepare to be wowed by a signature cocktail list that offers none of the classics but plenty of pizzazz.

Diminutive in size but huge in personality and warmth, Elephanta is that rare neighborhood spot that offers a little something for everyone. Patrons enjoy an extensive menu of quality gins and seasonal fruity cocktails in a dimly lighted retro space peppered with comfy mismatched furnishings. Music varies though the ambience is always chill.

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).

Reminiscent of a '50s-style gin joint—black and white with red quilted booths and framed prints—this small-but-swanky bar regularly draws in the crowds due in large part to entertaining master mixologists (nattily dressed in suspenders and ties) and their out-of-this-world experimental takes on cocktail classics.  

There's a reason SIPS is considered one of the best bars in the world, drawing from a menu influenced by seasonal ingredients and using 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.

Checkerboard floors, mismatched antique furniture, and a profusion of vintage lamps and quirky paintings set the appropriately esoteric scene at this grungy absinthe-theme bar, with multiple varieties of the potent spirit on offer. Beer, wine, and cocktails are also available. It’s a favorite late-night Barceloneta haunt, staying open until 3 am on Friday and Saturday.

Named after the modernist elevator car that serves as the bar's entrance, Ascensor is a go-to for classic cocktails like Dry Martinis, Gimlets, and Whiskey Sours. 

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. 

Barcelona’s oldest cocktail bar opened its doors in 1933 and retains the look and feel of an old-fashioned private club, despite the fact that it was recently bought by the owners of the city's hip SIPS. Sadly, the old-school barmen are gone, but you can still enjoy a classic cocktail mixed the way tradition dictates.

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.

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). 

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

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.

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.

Hidden behind the fridge door in an unassuming-looking pastrami shop, this speakeasy is one of the city's worst-kept secrets. Cocktail maestro Giacomo Giannotti’s creations are works of art, bursting with fire, smoke, and dry ice. People used to stand in line for hours after Paradiso snagged the top spot on The World's 50 Best Bars list 2022 but, these days, the bar has a more convenient (but equally slow-moving) digital waiting list.

The whimsical apothecary-like spirits cabinet, exposed-stone wall, and dramatic red lighting will be the first things to catch your eye, but the relaxed atmosphere and inventive selection of cocktails bring locals and expats back again and again. Check out the choice of home-brewed flavored gins tantalizingly displayed on the bar shelves in hand-labeled bottles.

Founded by Daniel Arévalo and Jota the Magician, Somnia is a signature cocktail bar hosting magic shows every hour on the hour. Boasting 20th-century circus-theme decor, Somnia fills up fast.

This grown-up cocktail lounge in the midst of busy Eixample is the ideal spot to take refuge from the chaos outside, cozy up in a big leather armchair, and order an expertly prepared classic drink from one of the waistcoated, bow-tied servers. 

A hidden gem among the bustling bars on La Rambla, cocktails are inspired and named after famous Barcelona landmarks, complete with a mini history lesson. Snag one of their terrace tables to view the passerby below. 

The interior of this Alice in Wonderland–like venue of checkered half-walls, a marble bar, and contemporary objets d’art rarely seen on ceilings is the first clue that you’ve landed somewhere special. Beyond that, with 50-plus flavors of gins and infusions, and a lounge-friendly 3 am last call on weekends, Xix turns conventional cocktail drinkers into card-carrying gin lovers.