drinkBarcelona : The best independent bar guide for Barcelona

What's New!

Published on 2015-04-16 20:03:00

Over the next few months we're going to be adding more bars & pubs to the Bar Map, so even if we haven't got round to reviewing them yet, you can still see them on the map!We now have a very cool search facility that gives instant results - check out the "Search drinkBarcelona" gadget in the right hand side column! ...and we also now have embedded commenting - much nicer!Check out our list of bars in the Center of town and also the Born, Gotico and Raval areas. Ex-pats and tourists alike will

drinkBarcelona Bar Map

Published on 2015-01-01 07:23:00

View Map + Full Bar List

Bar Avesta

Published on 2010-07-24 12:36:00

C/ Marquet 2 : Jaume I : Barceloneta http://www.avesta.es : Tel. 93 310 7374 : It's probably fair to say that Zoroastrian themed bars are few and far between, but one can be found in the streets of El Gotico in Barcelona. Bar Avesta is a snug little place with a wine cellar like ambience. The bar is small but super cool, with a rustic atmosphere and good, quiet vibes. This is a great place for couples, but best avoided by large groups or anyone over 6' tall. The beamed ceilings are very lo

Scobies

Published on 2010-03-09 12:36:00

Ronda de la Universitat, 8 : Universitat : Catalunya : Passeig de Gracia www.scobiesirishpub.com : Tel. 93 601 1908 : Your intrepid drinkBarcelona reviewer recently found himself sheltering in Scobies from a torrential downpour. Any port in a storm, as they say, but what a port Scobies is! A better place to sit out thunder and lightning must be hard to find in the center of town. Scobies is a simple, open and spacious pub with plenty of seating, both around the bar itself and further b

The Shamrock

Published on 2010-01-24 06:43:00

C/ Tallers 72 : Universitat : Catalunya Hours: Mon/Wed 6pm-2.30am, Tue/Thu 9.30am-2.30am, Fri 9.30am-3am, Sat/Sun 11.30am-3amTel. 93 412 4636 : There are many Irish pubs in Barcelona - most seem to have settled on C/Ferran - but like all popular holiday destinations, the best places are usually to be found tucked away and slightly hidden from the casual tourist's view. So it is with The Shamrock - not as large as The George Payne, nor as central as The Temple Bar, but friendly and they serv

Las Cuevas del Sorte

Published on 2010-01-18 07:52:00

C/Gignas 2 : Barceloneta : Drassanes Facebook Group : The cute wooden door leads to... a beautiful den of soft lights, great cocktails and of course, a cave! Started and run by Jack, a very friendly American, and his wife - they wanted a great place with great cocktails and the right atmosphere - and they did it. Mostly redone by Jack himself, it boasts a small upstairs bar and a larger bar downstairs in the main cave. This could be Gaudi's basement, with blue glass tile all along one wall an

The Pink Elephant

Published on 2010-01-16 15:57:00

C/ Villarroel 82 : Urgell www.pinkelephantlounge.com : Tel. 935 024 825 : Zero Zero and I stumbled across this superior establishment whilst seeking new inspiration in and around the Eixample Izquierda barrio, to the west of Plaça Catalunya. Whilst 7Sins and Belchica are both good picks for this area, we decided to see what else was around. The Pink Elephant is really a high quality restaurant, but it also has a lounge area with a full wine and cocktail menu. Owned by a New Yorker and Catal

Obama

Published on 2009-10-28 12:33:00

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 603 : Passeig De Gràcia www.obamabcn.com : Tel. 93 301 6524 : Obama-mania has reached Barcelona at last! If you needed to do a double-check on this pub's name, then join the club. I couldn't decide whether to be impressed with the pure chutzpah of whoever named and themed this pub, or to be appalled at the cringingly obvious connection between the first black American president and British colonial rule in Africa. Talk about walking a tightrope of white, m

Kimera

Published on 2009-04-06 22:33:00

C/Mozart,16 : Diagonal : Fontana Tel. 627 526 404 : Kimera is the classic cheap, scruffy, hole-in-the-wall bar that is favoured by locals and youngsters on a budget. Small, dark and smokey, this bar is tucked away in the bowels of Gracia and quite hard to find. This is certainly one for hardy ex-pats as opposed to fresh-faced tourists, as a smattering of Catalan is recommended in order to communicate with the bar staff. Still, all the patrons are friendly enough and the beer and food serve

Xix

Published on 2009-03-16 07:34:00

C/Rocafort 19 : Poble Sec : www.xixbar.com : Cool bars in this neighbourhood? Surely nobody comes to this area for a good imbibing? Well you'd be wrong if you checked out this rather wonderful find! Situated nice and close to the metro this place is stylish, beautifully kitted out and provides a fab range of cocktails. A bar for local peeps and the more curious ex-pat (include myself in that category) that oozes nice decor, good music and actually feels like if you picked it up, popped it in yo

Treinta y siete grados

Published on 2009-03-16 04:53:00

Avinguda de Roma 114 : Hospital Clinic Tel. +34 653 088 948 : It's not every day in Barcelona that you find a bar which is stylish, spacious and soundproofed. Well, the day we discovered Treinta y siete grados was clearly no ordinary day. Compared to its local rivals, it's not as cheap as Mama's (pronounced "Mama! Ooo-oo-oooh!" to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody), nor as lady-friendly (oh yeah, you know what I'm trying to say) as Mini USA, nor as easy to pull in as the nearby brothel. Treinta

El Racó de Sants

Published on 2009-03-16 04:03:00

Guadiana, 6 : Plaça de Sants Tel. +34 93 421 6422 : An Irish pub? In Sants??? Yes, fear not, the hitherto Irish pub shaped gap in the Sants boozing market has been well and truly plugged with this dark, expensive, "atmospheric" (whatever the hell that means) drinking hole. Perhaps due to its location on the outskirts of central Barcelona, this pub is not the most authentic Irish pub you will ever come across, although it's certainly a step up from Taladro's which could be described as a bo

Tribal cafe

Published on 2009-03-07 09:03:00

C/Blai 29 : Poble Sec : Yet again the infamous ZeroZero has been out and about in Poble Sec working his little socks off - seeking out more dens of iniquity in order to pass away the somewhat more mysterious hours of darkness, after a day of soaking up the life affirming Barcelona sun. And here we have a place that'll serve that purpose. If a chilled, semi-lit ambience, hand crafted cocktails and puppets hanging from the ceilings are on your 'to do' list anytime soon then I've found the space

Maumau underground

Published on 2009-03-01 06:27:00

C/ Fontrodona 33 : Poble Sec www.maumaubarcelona.com : Tel. 934418015 : The idea of taking an old Victorian style warehouse (not whorehouse!) and turning it into a bar can't be beaten. The results are simply wonderful due to the flexibility of space and the fun that can be had with the ambience. In this case we have a HUGE bar (something that BCN regularly has problems with!) filled with sofas and projectors semi-illuminating the lovely old original brickwork of the building. Tucked away into a

Mudanzas

Published on 2009-02-25 03:54:00

C/ Vidrieria 15 : Jaume I : Barceloneta Tel. 93 319 1137 : Mudanzas (Movings) is an unpretentious local bar/café which has been preserved for almost two decades. The traditional wooden structure and simple decoration provide its characteristic essence and appeal. The design and décor is of the classic euro-café: a main bar with stools and space for round marble top tables and chairs - perfect for small groups. Larger throngs should head upstairs, but don't expect sofa's or anything fancy

7Sins

Published on 2009-02-13 02:37:00

C/ Muntaner, 7 : Universitat www.7sinsbar.com : Tel. 93 453 6445 : This centrallly located bar seems to have a bit of a split personality, but that ends up making the place all the more interesting. At street level there is an open, uncluttered space with simple dining tables for couples and a central U-shaped bar, over which hangs a huge chandelier. The lighting is bright, but not severe and there is a flat screen TV for sports. Music was classic pop, funk and soul at an unobstrusive level

La Luna

Published on 2009-02-01 09:04:00

C/Abaixadors,10 : Jaume I www.lalunabcn.com : Tel. 932955513 : La Luna is definitely a place for those who like a bit more on an night out than just 'any old' bar. This rather wonderfully cavernous style bar/restauarnt combo is a joy to imbibe in. Featuring a huge bar with a large selection of wines and spirits, comfy seating, beautiful brickwork arches and wonderful lighting there's not much to find fault with here. For lovers of ambience, the light and shadows here can't fail to impress along

Maria Mulata [Part Deux]

Published on 2009-01-22 05:51:00

C/ de la Merce 27 : Barceloneta : Drassanes www.mariamulata.com : Tel. 932955584 : [This review is an alternative/addendum to Paul's review of Maria Mulata.]One of my fave bars of the moment, Maria Mulata is a relatively small but friendly bar sporting sexy red walls, a low lit ambience and fab cocktails. Despite being a Latin American bar you'll find plenty of tourists and ex-pats and usually a jovial crowd to interact with. The speciality here, like many up-and-coming bars in this area is ou

Yakuta

Published on 2009-01-21 16:17:00

C/Merce 36, : Jaume I : Barceloneta Tel. 935123365 : Well as you can see from the scan, this bar is firmly committed to lighting, shadows, cushions, low tables and bumpy old renovated walls! As seems to be the trend in this gentrifying part of the old gothic neighbourhood, this is a place to go to sample one of many unique establishments in Barcelona. In this particular bar you'll find an original retrotastic jukebox, high def TVs and (depending on whether you're in the opening room or venture

Italian Job

Published on 2009-01-21 14:56:00

C/ d'Enric Granados, 38 : Diagonal Tel. 934514875 : A bar with slightly upmarket pretentions that keeps itself gently nested in really what I can only describe as 'the middle of everywhere'! If you're after somewhere to park yourself down, chat, eat a little, drink a bit and escape into a classier than usual ambiance, this could well be your kind of place. Think high stools, clean tables, excellent upbeat (but not in your face) music and you'll be on the right lines. Couple to all of this an ou

Cafe Suec

Published on 2008-12-12 18:03:00

Carrer de les Tres Senyores 1 : Fontana : Joanic : A slighty 'out of the way', yet chilled out Swedish abode - hidden behind the popular Pl. Virreina. This is a low-lit, pretty and mellow bar that you'll find intoxicated with local art work. If you're looking for something a little different, they also specialise in mulled wine. Music is nicely inconspicuous yet it's enough to fool the sub-conscious that you're spending your leisure time more than wisely. The bar staff are English speaking an

Raim

Published on 2008-11-10 12:53:00

Carrer del Progrés, 48 : Fontana : I can't guarantee that you'll love this particularly old, dark Cuban haunt but in my case it's the perfect place to go if you're tired of the glut of trendy, projector filled bars that dominate this part of Gracia. Think dank, dusty and other adjectives in this vein and you'll be on the right track to picturing this rather wonderfully down-to-earth and lively bar, located just off the slightly more intrusive and seductive Torrent d'Lolla. Although it's not r

Andu Bar

Published on 2008-11-10 07:20:00

C/ de Correu Vell 3 : Jaume Tel. 646553930 & 637746411 : A lovely, cosy, wine orientated bar tucked away in the barely lit streets of the Gothic neighbourhood. This is definitely a place to come, kick back and drink some quality beverages without completely annihilating the entire contents of your wallet. Low lit yet sizeable rooms, plenty of quaint tables and chairs and a jolly, busy atmosphere make this is a place to bring your annoying relatives or drunken excitable pals for a debauched yet

Liadisimo

Published on 2008-10-07 18:25:00

C/Guillermo Tell 23-25 : Fontana : Fascinating Fact: in Spanish, the word "bar" can mean both "pub" and also "coffee shop", and it's under the cover of this dubious linguistical ambiguity that I'm going to attempt to squeeze unnoticed into our bar guide a place which is quite flagrantly a coffee shop, not a venue for late night drunken debauchery at all. I'm going to justify this off-topic choice on two grounds: first of all, it's right by my flat, and anybody who thinks this isn't a good rea

Continental

Published on 2008-10-06 05:37:00

C/Providencia 50 : Fontana : The major selling point of this trashfest was always the sexy barmaid clad in a Tron style outfit. Sadly those halcyon days are over and there's not much left to recommend Continental. It's one of the worst places to play pool, although not quite as bad as the Bristol Blue, where the craters in the wall testify to the frustrations of playing pool in a shoebox. The decor is reminiscent of Nos Vemos and Distrito Cinco and not, as they say, in a good way. At weeke