arts-culture
Light Filtered Through the Cracks
MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention
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
Saturday, Jul 25
arts-culture
Echoes: Videos from the Han Nefkens Foundatio4n Donation
An exhibition on a donation of 18 video artworks by Han Nefkens Foundation
fitness-wellness
Outdoor Fitness Workout
An energising group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront
arts-culture
Joaquín Tusquets de Cabirol. Eloquent Form
An exhibition on the work of the Catalan photographer whose images capture postwar life
arts-culture
“Small, Middle and Big” Family Space
A family space for children to play, rest, read, draw and imagine together
arts-culture
Minor White
An exhibition on one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American photography
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
music
Share Festival 2026
A festival with a music and a message of solidarity and positive action
arts-culture
Grec Festival de Barcelona 2026
Grec Festival returns as Barcelona’s great summer celebration of performing arts
arts-culture
Festa Major del Poble Sec 2026
Poble Sec’s streets and squares coming to life with 10 days of music, food and more
arts-culture
Shakespeare in the Park
Parking Shakespeare returns to the Parc de l'Estació del Nord
music
In Palau
Local band INPALAU take things up a level with a live show at The Hangar
film
El Mensaje 2026
Iván Fund’s lyrical road movie about faith, family and connection
music
BARTS Festival
Bringing the spirit of one of Barcelona’s biggest venues into a new festival format
food-drink
Second Sunday at The Hoxton
An easy and sociable way to round off the weekend centred around food
film
Sala Montjuic 2026
Open-air cinema, live music and picnics under the starry night sky
film
By the Stream
Hong Sang-soo’s likeable drama from 2024
film
Cinema Lliure a la Platja 2026
This cinema cycle brings free open-air screenings to the beach
film
Omaha 2026
Cole Webley's restrained road-trip drama
music
SALAD
SALAD brings music, drag and DJs to La Nau
Monday, Jul 27
film
Cineclub 113
A film to get you in the mood, then a DJ set to carry the feeling into the night
Tuesday, Jul 28
film
The Neon Demon
Opening Gandules at the CCCB is Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon
Wednesday, Jul 29
fitness-wellness
Seaside Stretching at the beach
Swap your usual workout for a stretch session by the sea
music
John Butler
Australian musician John Butler comes to Sala Apolo with his Betterman Tour
fitness-wellness
The Beautery Rooftop
Beauty, music and socialising form this glamorous midweek rooftop escape
Thursday, Jul 30
film
Barcelona 2026
Whit Stillman's witty comedy explores friendship, politics and culture in early-80s Barcelona
film
Open-Air Cinema at L’illa Diagonal 2026
Open-air cinema at L’Illa Diagonal brings an easy feel to our summer calendar
Friday, Jul 31
music
Talents Jazz a La Pedrera
Talents Jazz returns to La Pedrera every Friday with new musicians
film
Mecal Air Barcelona 2026
Mecal Air turns summer nights into relaxed open-air short-film cinema sessions
Places
food-drink
Cal Trapella
Opened by three friends, Cal Trapella offers a cosy refuge in which to devour the homemade tapas on offer.
food-drink
Xiringuito Escribà
The Escribà family’s beachfront paella house on Bogatell, cooking rice over wood fires since 1992 – the pastry dynasty’s savory venture.
food-drink
Bar But
Market-fresh Mediterranean food is their game, but Asian influences assert themselves too.
nightlife
Gimlet
Founded by Javier de las Muelas, Gimlet was the first of what is now a global empire of cocktail bars.
food-drink
Les Dues Sicílies
Try an arancini, fried rice balls stuffed with beef, mushrooms, Iberian ham or prawns.
nightlife
Razzmatazz
Arguably Barcelona’s most popular club, with an international reputation to match…
food-drink
La Xarxa
On the corner of Plaça Molina you’ll find the traditional Catalan restaurant, La Xarxa.
lgbt
La Federica
In addition to drinks, wines and cocktails, this gay bar offers excellent tapas such as embutidos from Garrotxa, award-winning shepherd cheeses and Argentinean empanadas.
food-drink
Bistrot Levante
This stylish little bistro is a place to escape the commotion of the center, while winding down with a glass of wine accompanied by a choice of meze-style food.
nightlife
Bloody Mary Cocktail Lounge
They serve no less than 10 versions of the much-loved drink.
food-drink
Can Solé
Serving up paella and seafood dishes for over a hundred years.
food-drink
La Gilda
A small tapas & wine bar with honest cooking.
food-drink
La Europea
This bodega doubles as a café with familiar favorites with a twist, or from further afield…
food-drink
Raó
Locally sourced and seasonal products are favored to create modern delights that are based on a selection of Mediterranean and traditional local dishes.
food-drink
La Sureña Maremagnum
A little oasis of southern Spanish tapas and cheap beer.
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
Input
Friday nights feature forward-thinking electronic music…
food-drink
Batea
A modern seafood bistro that reimagines the traditional marisquería concept
food-drink
Takeaway & Delivery Picks
Good news in having some restaurants jumping back into action with takeaway and home delivery services.
food-drink
Les Truites
This small bar serves 180 varieties of outstanding tortillas.
nightlife
Paradiso
Paradiso serves up unusual and creative cocktails. Cocktails that smoke, cocktails that fly and the emblematic Mediterranean Treasure, which won mixologist Giacomo Giannotti a World Class award.
lgbt
El Cangrejo Eixample
This is a popular spot among locals, so expect to see plenty of handsome, beardy Catalans in this centrally-located dance bar. The walls are famously covered with gold crabs, which goes well with the general sailor/nautical theme.
food-drink
Bar Treze
This tapas bar sits among Sarrià’s burgeoning scene along its main street, Major de Sarrià.
food-drink
La Balabusta
On the corner of Rosselló and Enric Granados you’ll find the Israeli restaurant La Balabusta.
nightlife
Marula Café
Electronic beats are eschewed in favor of funk, disco, soul and Afrobeat rhythms.
food-drink
Gatamala
One of few Barcelona tapas bars that preserves the tradition of a free tapa with every drink.
food-drink
Luzuria
Luzuria is about simple food made with passion.
food-drink
Món Vínic
A singular reference for any wine lover who comes to Barcelona.
food-drink
El Sueno at Serras
El Sueño comes with views that remind us why we fell in love with Barcelona
food-drink
Maná 75
A Barceloneta paella specialist: over a dozen varieties fired off on what the house calls the longest paella line in Europe.