arts-culture
Sagrada Família Free Entry La Mercè
As part of La Mercè festivities, the Sagrada Familia opens its doors for free
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
Thursday, Sep 24
arts-culture
Pere Portabella
A program of screenings drawn from this Catalan filmmaker’s repertoire.
arts-culture
Light Filtered Through the Cracks
MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention.
arts-culture
Catalan book week 2026
The city celebrates Catalan literature across one whole week
arts-culture
Picasso Cyprus
An exhibition exploring how ancient Cypriot art influenced Picasso’s art
arts-culture
Josep Maria de Sucre, Activist and Visionary Artist
A new exhibition on the work of Catalan visionary artist Josep Maria de Sucre
arts-culture
Echoes: Videos from the Han Nefkens Foundation Donation
An exhibition on a donation of 18 video artworks by Han Nefkens Foundation.
arts-culture
La Mercè 2026
One of the biggest cultural events on the calendar, La Mercè 2026 arrives
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
Elisava
A sun-soaked photography project capturing the Poblenou coastline.
arts-culture
Declaration of Love to Lenin, Juana Dolores Romero Casanova
This incredible artist’s first exhibition held at La Virreina.
food-drink
Barcelona Hotel Bar Week 2026
Explore Barcelona’s grandest hotel bars and taste some signature cocktails
food-drink
San Miguel Biergarten
This annual beer festival descends upon Poble Espanyol’s Plaza Mayor
film
What's Up, Doc?
Peter Bogdanovich’s classic screwball comedy
music
BAM festival 2026
BAM is the part of La Mercè that offers us a free programme of music across Barcelona
arts-culture
Summer Nights at Casa Amatller 2026
Discover Casa Amatller at night with an audio guide and glass of cava.
film
Festival u22 2026
Festival U22 returns as Barcelona’s young cinema festival
film
Transhumant Film Festival 2026
The socially committed film and photojournalism festival returns
Friday, Sep 25
food-drink
Sustainable Food Festival 2026
Terra i Gust - the sustainable food festival - returns as part of La Mercè
music
Transvision Vamp
British 1980s rock band Transvision Vamp are back
Saturday, Sep 26
fitness-wellness
Outdoor Fitness Workout
An energizing group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront.
fitness-wellness
Stretch & Connect
A rooftop gathering and networking event for Barcelona’s wellness scene creators
music
Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Brigitte Calls Me Baby bring their dramatic alt-rock to Sala Apolo
arts-culture
La Mercè Fireworks on the Beach 2026
La Mercè’s fire show comes as part of the 27th International Fireworks Festival
Sunday, Sep 27
arts-culture
Out of Focus, another Vision of Art
CaixaForum’s latest exhibition exploring blur and visual imprecision.
arts-culture
Colecta Solidaria
A community-driven event that aims to give back to the local community
arts-culture
Diada Històrica Castellera
Some of the region’s best castellers teams descend on Plaça Sant Jaume
arts-culture
Art & Coffee Oil Painting Workshop
Slow down, get creative and enjoy something a bit off the beaten track
music
Fat Freddy’s Drop
Wellington’s Fat Freddy’s Drop bring their hi-tek soul to Razzmatazz
film
True Romance
Tony Scott's cult pulp-romance from 1993
Places
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.
nightlife
L’Oncle Jack
L’Oncle Jack is dedicated to the joyous, luxurious life of sipping Jack, socializing and listening to good music.
food-drink
La Dentellière
This French-owned restaurant is perfect for romantic meals, group celebrations and those times when you need somewhere “nice but affordable.”
lgbt
La Federica
In addition to drinks, wines and cocktails, the bar offers excellent tapas.
nightlife
Libertine
Casa Bonay’s lobby bar – gothic flowers, Eric Stephenson cocktails, vinyl DJs.
nightlife
The Barcelona Edition
Ian Schrager’s Born hotel, where the leafy rooftop bar draws the sunset crowd.
food-drink
Abissínia
Take a journey to Ethiopia without leaving Barcelona.
food-drink
La Gilda
A small tapas & wine bar with honest cooking.
nightlife
Negroni
A tiny Raval cocktail bar with no menu – tell Javier and Eduard what you like.
food-drink
Cacho
Homemade food, great music, local beers and what they bill as “the best terrace of the @22 district.”
food-drink
7 Portes
The 1836 institution where paella was invented for a dandy who wouldn’t peel shrimp.
romance
Oops!
The city’s best-known swingers club – discreet, stylish and not remotely seedy.
food-drink
El Nacional
A sprawling food hall in a converted garage just off Passeig de Gràcia.
food-drink
The Rooftop at Serras
A chic terrace and plunge pool above the Serras, with serious cocktails and a clean sweep over Port Vell, Barceloneta and the sea.
food-drink
Pepa Bar a Vins
The tapas are prepared raw, marinated, grilled or lightly blow-torched.
food-drink
La Dama
Indulge in French delights at this lavish space.
food-drink
Casa Rafols
Casa Lolea’s sister restaurant, in a converted century-old hardware store.
film
Phenomena
This is one of the biggest, most beautiful-looking and sounding cinemas in Europe.
film
Zumzeig Cinema
The arthouse cinema reopens as Catalunya’s first “cinema co-op.”
food-drink
Copasetic
Vintage comfort food in the Eixample – Barcelona’s deepest gluten-free brunch.
food-drink
Nobu Hotel
Twenty-three floors above Sants – a rooftop pool and terrace open to non-guests, plus Japanese-Peruvian cooking from Nobu Matsuhisa.
nightlife
Garage Beer Co.
This UK-style brewery is one of Barcelona’s most central stops for quality brews.
food-drink
Pizza Circus
This unassuming little pizza takeout is one of those places you get dragged to by “that foodie friend” after tipping back one too many cold ones.
food-drink
Costa Pacífico
Costa Pacífico brings Mexican varieties of ceviche to Barcelona, plus other national favorites that aren’t so well-known here.
nightlife
La Casa de la Pradera
A dive bar with cheap drinks and a mixed crowd of locals.
food-drink
Kibuka
Two Gràcia sushi restaurants trading tradition for inventive fusion rolls.
food-drink
El Chiringuito de Casa Bonay
A plant-filled terrace on the roof of Casa Bonay, trading panoramic drama for a beach-bar mood and Istanbul-inspired sharing plates.
food-drink
Maná 75
A Barceloneta paella specialist – a dozen varieties, 19 open cooking stations.
food-drink
Bodega Armando
The pungent smells of olives and old wood fill your senses as you step through the door.
food-drink
Dr. Beer & Mr. Fried
A champion of craft beer and fried food, the new arrival draws inspiration from US-style cajun and creole cuisine.