
arts-culture
European Balloon Festival
The European Balloon Festival turns Igualada into a sky full of colour
The best things to do in Barcelona, curated by locals. Events, restaurants, nightlife and the spots worth knowing – updated weekly.

The European Balloon Festival turns Igualada into a sky full of colour

MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention

Pride is back, and the city is ready to turn the volume, colour and fun all the way up

An exhibition on a donation of 18 video artworks by Han Nefkens Foundation

An exhibition on the photography of Catalan photographer, Joaquim Gomis

A snapshot of emerging artistic talent from the Universitat de Barcelona’s Faculty of Fine Art

An exhibition on the work of the Catalan photographer whose images capture postwar life

A family space for children to play, rest, read, draw and imagine together

An exhibition on one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American photography

Barcelona’s big neighbourhood celebration of craft-beer

Grec Festival returns as Barcelona’s great summer celebration of performing arts

The silent, mask-based theatre piece is a bittersweet comedy about loneliness

Turning the gardens of the Palau de Pedralbes into the most elegant summer stage

Parking Shakespeare returns to the Parc de l'Estació del Nord

Bringing the spirit of one of Barcelona’s biggest venues into a new festival format

Fritz Lang's searing first American film

Rob Reiner's timeless romantic comedy

This cinema cycle brings free open-air screenings to the beach

A film to get you in the mood, then a DJ set to carry the feeling into the night

Bringing Johann Sebastian Bach into dialogue with performances across the city

Open-air cinema, live music and picnics under the starry night sky

A rooftop workout with leg warmers energy and some high-intensity cardio.

MACBA welcomes a new exhibition on the work of Anna Moreno

The neighbourhood becomes a summer meeting point for flamenco lovers

Open-air cinema at L’Illa Diagonal brings an easy feel to our summer calendar

Baiuca and Júlia Colom share the stage for the first time at Parallel 62

An energising group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront

Reflecting on MACBA’s 30-year journey through a metaphor of starling murmuration

CaixaForum's deep dive into Henri Matisse

An immersive exhibition turning ancient history into an incredible spectacle

The Escribà family’s beachfront paella house on Bogatell, cooking rice over wood fires since 1992 – the pastry dynasty’s savory venture.

Fellow Italophiles rejoice – we can now enjoy authentic sourdough pizzas right here in Barcelona.

A gastrobar based out of a locale with a history going to back to 1892.

Charming couple Deryck and Oliver organize pre-parties before queer events at Apolo and Plataforma, located right down the very same street.

Founded in 1943, this is one of the city’s premier live music venues and nightclubs.

Homemade food, great music, local beers and what they bill as “the best terrace of the @22 district.”

They have gained a following for their “slow” street food and craft beer.

A sleek and modern love hotel in Sant Gervasi.

Traditional Spanish fare with creative touches.

This cool restaurant serves up some of the classics from Latin American street cuisine (burritos, arepas, tacos…) all made with high-quality ingredients and many containing – you guessed it – avocado.

Long one of Gràcia’s stalwarts, this “old man” bar has been brought up-to-date by the founders’ grandkids…

This tiny cocktail bar was inspired by the American tradition of Kentucky bourbon and rye whiskey.

A mechanic’s workshop has been transformed into a very modern bodega.

The young Scottish brewery is making waves with its American-style craft beer.

Luzuria is about simple food made with passion.

This charmingly grimy Raval bar is famous for its absinthe, and said to be Barcelona’s oldest.

This sleek hotel lounge serves up tapas and fusion cuisine.

Take a journey to Ethiopia without leaving Barcelona.

This gastrobar offering Catalan dishes with a genuine Lebanese touch.

Perched on one of Montjuïc’s cactus-clad cliffs, this is one of the finest tapas bars in town.

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.

Perched atop the glitzy Almanac (5* grand luxury), this is one of the sexiest hotel rooftops in Barcelona.

Mediterranean restaurant, jazz club, Japanese bar and clandestine cocktail bar in one

A dive bar with cheap drinks and a mixed crowd of locals.

The 1836 institution where paella was invented for a dandy who wouldn't peel shrimp.

After opening their first location in Madrid, elBulli alumni Nino Redruello and Patxi Zumárraga decided to open their second location in Barcelona.

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.

A modern seafood bistro that reimagines the traditional marisquería concept

The offering is billed as Punjabi street food but includes familiar plates like chicken tikka masala and saag paneer alongside more unusual dishes like fried okra.

Casa Jaime is big enough to keep the action at the bar and terrace interesting (no need for gay hookup apps here), but with enough romantic corners you can find a quiet moment with that special one – gay, straight, whatever.