Things to Do in Barcelona – Miniguide

miniguide

The best things to do in Barcelona, curated by locals. Events, restaurants, nightlife and the spots worth knowing – updated weekly.

Events

Saturday, Aug 1

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

Light Filtered Through the Cracks

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

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

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

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

Yamato

apanese drumming group Yamato takes percussion to new levels

arts-culture

Grec Festival de Barcelona 2026

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

music

Bresh @ Poble Espanyol

BRESH returns to Poble Espanyol for another open-air party like no other

arts-culture

Shakespeare in the Park

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

fitness-wellness

Sunset Walk & Picnic

A walk along the beachfront with a picnic on the sand at Mar Bella to finish

music

Gonçalo Feijão

Portuguese double bassist and composer Gonçalo Feijão comes to Jamboree

film

Sala Montjuic 2026

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

film

Cinema Lliure a la Platja 2026

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

lgbt

Circuit Festival 2026

One of the world’s biggest LGBTQIA+ party gatherings returns

Sunday, Aug 2

arts-culture

Opening of the Baluard Garden

Soak up some of the city’s history at the Jardí del Baluard

food-drink

Barcelona Vegan Fair 2026

A celebration of plant-based living, bringing together food, culture, activism and more

music

Gee Tee

Much-loved Sydney egg-punkers arrive on tour

film

Homenaje a Sam Neill: In the Mouth of Madness

The late, great Sam Neill stars in John Carpenter's underrated horror from 1995

Monday, Aug 3

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

music

Sonido Gallo Negro

Mexico City ensemble bring magical psychedelic cumbia

Tuesday, Aug 4

music

Black Label Society

Southern rock band Black Label Society comes to Razzmatazz

food-drink

Mango Chapter 2

Dinner unfolds across nine Mediterranean-inspired courses

Wednesday, Aug 5

innovation

People Planet Pint

Barcelona’s regular sustainability meetup

fitness-wellness

The Beautery Rooftop

Beauty, music and socialising form this glamorous midweek rooftop escape

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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

Koh-i-noor

This family-run restaurant has set itself up as a jewel in the Barcelona curry scene.

lgbt

La Monroe

La Monroe isn’t your obvious queer bar. Serving as more of a low-key space that is welcoming and friendly to all, La Monroe takes the artsy vibe of Raval and creates a bright, busy bar that LGBTQIA+ folk will feel totally at ease within.

food-drink

Buenos Aires

A highly ranked Argentinean steakhouse…

food-drink

Morro Fi

A foodie blog turned successful vermouth spot.

food-drink

La Gilda

A small tapas & wine bar with honest cooking.

lgbt

Bar Rufián

This gay dive bar throws a VermuParty one Sunday a month.

romance

La Paloma

A perfect short-term Raval retreat with that special someone.

food-drink

Boa-Bao

Boa-Bao takes diners on a culinary journey through flavors of Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and beyond…

food-drink

La Plata

This institution, which opened its doors in the 1920s, offers up just three tapas.

food-drink

Rooftops at Yurbban

A pair of stylish open-air spots to choose from each with a laid-back Yurbban feel

food-drink

Cala del Vermut

Fernando Puerta founded the original spot to rescue vermouth from the dustbin of history.

nightlife

33|45

Electro music, great cocktails and a fun vibe combine at this bar-slash-gallery.

food-drink

Ajoblanco

The upscale bar and restaurant was designed by Lázaro Rosa Violán.

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.

nightlife

BrewDog Barcelona

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

food-drink

Koku Kitchen

A purposefully unflashy little ramen place hidden down a tatty side street…

nightlife

14 de la Rosa

This hidden cocktail bar in Gràcia offers coffee in the morning, vermouth in the afternoon and a killer cocktail by night.

food-drink

CruiX

Chef Miquel Pardo’s Bib Gourmand tasting menu runs through creative tapas and lands on a shared paella with socarrat in every serving.

food-drink

Holly's Ice Cream

The team at Holly’s craft the gnarliest ice cream sandwiches this side of the Atlantic.

arts-culture

Tablao de Carmen

Tablao de Carmen blends traditional Spanish food, drinks and tapas with an intimate flamenco show.

food-drink

Cyclic Beer Farm

A factory and bar specialising in beer fermentation and natural wine making.

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.