arts-culture
Pere Portabella
A programme of screenings drawn from this Catalan filmmaker’s repertoire
miniguide
The best things to do in Barcelona, curated by locals. Events, restaurants, nightlife and the spots worth knowing – updated weekly.
Barcelona
miniguide
The best things to do in Barcelona, curated by locals. Events, restaurants, nightlife and the spots worth knowing – updated weekly.
Events
Sunday, Aug 16
arts-culture
Light Filtered Through the Cracks
MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention
arts-culture
Gracia Festa Major 2026
Every August, Gràcia celebrates its week-long Festa Major
arts-culture
Echoes: Videos from the Han Nefkens Foundatio4n Donation
An exhibition on a donation of 18 video artworks by Han Nefkens Foundation
arts-culture
Chez Matisse
CaixaForum's deep dive into Henri Matisse
arts-culture
Declaration of Love to Lenin, Juana Dolores Romero Casanova
This incredible artist’s first exhibition held at La Virreina
arts-culture
Patrim’25: Look in Silence. That Blues Look
A snapshot of emerging artistic talent from the Universitat de Barcelona’s Faculty of Fine Art
arts-culture
Minor White
An exhibition on one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American photography
arts-culture
Opening of the Baluard Garden
Soak up some of the city’s history at the Jardí del Baluard
arts-culture
“Small, Middle and Big” Family Space
A family space for children to play, rest, read, draw and imagine together
arts-culture
Elisava
A sun-soaked photography project capturing the Poblenou coastline
arts-culture
Joaquín Tusquets de Cabirol. Eloquent Form
An exhibition on the work of the Catalan photographer whose images capture postwar life
nightlife
Prostir Fest
Celebrating Ukrainian culture with three days of music and community
music
Festigabal 2026
Heliogàbal's yearly free festival as part of Festa Major de Gràcia
film
Clueless
Teenage life Beverly Hills-style in this razor-sharp Nineties classic
music
Blue Moon
Richard Linklater's melancholy portrait of a brilliant songwriter
Monday, Aug 17
arts-culture
Women Will Come 2026
An exhibition retelling the city’s history through women and their fight for change
arts-culture
Summer Nights at Casa Amatller 2026
Discover Casa Amatller at night with an audio guide and glass of cava
film
Cineclub 113
A film to get you in the mood, then a DJ set to carry the feeling into the night
Wednesday, Aug 19
music
Resilience Samba Jazz & Collective
Trumpeter and composer Estefane Santos brings Brazilian swing to the stage
fitness-wellness
The Beautery Rooftop
Beauty, music and socialising form this glamorous midweek rooftop escape
music
Fiesta Caribe at Poble Espanyol
Fiesta Caribe is back to bring a little tropical heat into our summer
Thursday, Aug 20
style-design
Hidden Boutiques of Barcelona: A Curated Shopping Tour
Discover the city through its independent boutique scene
Friday, Aug 21
film
Mecal Air Barcelona 2026
Mecal Air turns summer nights into relaxed open-air short-film cinema sessions
Saturday, Aug 22
fitness-wellness
Outdoor Fitness Workout
An energising group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront
Ongoing
arts-culture
Like a Dance of Starlings
Reflecting on MACBA’s 30-year journey through a metaphor of starling murmuration
arts-culture
Out of Focus, another Vision of Art
CaixaForum’s latest exhibition exploring blur and visual imprecision
arts-culture
Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme
An exhibition led by two Palestinian artists featuring songs, poetry, installations and more
arts-culture
The Cult of Beauty
The CCCB’s latest exhibition delves into one of the most loaded ideas in culture
film
Open-Air Cinema at the Palace 2026
El Palace’s Rooftop Garden transforms into the city’s best open-air screen
Places
food-drink
Xiringuito Escribà
The Escribà family’s Bogatell-beach paella house, cooking over wood fires since 1992.
lgbt
La Chapelle
One of the thinnest gay bars you’ll ever visit, but also one with the most charm.
lgbt
Skybar
The Axel Hotel’s rooftop – city views, strong cocktails, a crowd that dresses up.
food-drink
Elsa y Fred
The weekend brunch is a local fixture, offering staples like pancakes and Eggs Benedict.
nightlife
Diobar
You’ll find one of Barcelona’s best music venues in the basement of a Greek restaurant.
food-drink
Pikio Taco
This indie taqueria offers up straight-up Mexican fare.
nightlife
Terrassa Pulitzer
A central rooftop that books real DJs instead of a house playlist, May to October.
arts-culture
Espai Casa Montjuic
Hiroshima revitalizes Poble Sec with a trifecta of spaces intersecting dance, theater, music and more.
nightlife
Sub Rosa
Among the flurry of one of La Rambla’s many Gòtic tributaries, Sub Rosa would be everyone’s regular watering hole, if only there was enough space.
nightlife
Marsella
This charmingly grimy Raval bar is famous for its absinthe, and said to be Barcelona’s oldest.
fitness-wellness
Aire de Barcelona
The underground sanctuary at Aire Ancient Baths in the Born is one of the city’s most relaxing spaces.
food-drink
Maná 75
A Barceloneta paella specialist – a dozen varieties, 19 open cooking stations.
nightlife
Paradiso
Paradiso serves up unusual and creative cocktails.
romance
Forest Days Glamping
Leave your tent at home and book comfortable digs at Forest Days Glamping.
romance
Oops!
The city’s best-known swingers club – discreet, stylish and not remotely seedy.
music
JazzSí
A tiny Raval live-music room run with the Taller de Músics school next door.
food-drink
Sésamo
Hofmann-trained chef Alfredo has made this vegetarian restaurant his culinary playground.
food-drink
Ceviche 103
Bridging the gap between homely Peruvian eateries and upscale locales.
nightlife
Big Bang Bar
Big Bang Bar has long been a mecca for local musicians and traveling tunesmiths looking to share music on an intimate stage.
innovation
ImaginCafé
This place is a café (by Rodilla), coworking and creative space, event venue and exhibition space all in one building.
food-drink
Pachuco
Wash down generous portions of Mexican fare with peso-priced micheladas.
nightlife
Two Schmucks
This “five-star dive bar” is the result of Moe and AJ’s dedication and love for cocktail shaking.
nightlife
Kælderkold
One of Barcelona’s most exciting craft beer utopias.
food-drink
Hula Poke
Hula Poke serves a range of the Native Hawaiian poke bowls with fresh fish and a selection of toppings.
food-drink
Els Sortidors del Parlament
A mechanic’s workshop has been transformed into a very modern bodega.
food-drink
Betlem
A gastrobar based out of a locale with a history going to back to 1892.
food-drink
Casa Amàlia
Individual paellas from Mercat de la Concepció produce at this 1950 Eixample classic.
food-drink
Abissínia
Take a journey to Ethiopia without leaving Barcelona.
food-drink
Azimuth
Perched atop the glitzy Almanac – a five-star rooftop built for Manhattans by the pool and sunsets that flatter everyone in them.
food-drink
Jaqueline
Mediterranean restaurant, jazz club, Japanese bar and clandestine cocktail bar in one.