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
Saturday, Sep 26
fitness-wellness
Outdoor Fitness Workout
An energizing group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront.
arts-culture
Picasso Cyprus
An exhibition exploring how ancient Cypriot art influenced Picasso’s art
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
Catalan book week 2026
The city celebrates Catalan literature across one whole week
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
Josep Maria de Sucre, Activist and Visionary Artist
A new exhibition on the work of Catalan visionary artist Josep Maria de Sucre
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
La Mercè 2026
One of the biggest cultural events on the calendar, La Mercè 2026 arrives
arts-culture
Elisava
A sun-soaked photography project capturing the Poblenou coastline.
food-drink
Barcelona Hotel Bar Week 2026
Explore Barcelona’s grandest hotel bars and taste some signature cocktails
food-drink
Sustainable Food Festival 2026
Terra i Gust - the sustainable food festival - returns as part of La Mercè
food-drink
San Miguel Biergarten
This annual beer festival descends upon Poble Espanyol’s Plaza Mayor
music
BAM festival 2026
BAM is the part of La Mercè that offers us a free programme of music across Barcelona
fitness-wellness
Stretch & Connect
A rooftop gathering and networking event for Barcelona’s wellness scene creators
film
Festival u22 2026
Festival U22 returns as Barcelona’s young cinema festival
music
Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Brigitte Calls Me Baby bring their dramatic alt-rock to Sala Apolo
film
Transhumant Film Festival 2026
The socially committed film and photojournalism festival returns
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
film
Hard Eight (Sydney)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s coolly controlled debut feature
music
Fat Freddy’s Drop
Wellington’s Fat Freddy’s Drop bring their hi-tek soul to Razzmatazz
film
What's Up, Doc?
Peter Bogdanovich’s classic screwball comedy
film
True Romance
Tony Scott's cult pulp-romance from 1993
Monday, Sep 28
arts-culture
Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme
An exhibition led by two Palestinian artists featuring songs, poetry, installations and more.
Places
food-drink
Koh-i-noor
This family-run restaurant has set itself up as a jewel in the Barcelona curry scene.
lgbt
La Monroe
Delicate combinations of flavor mixed with exquisite presentation and an upbeat, welcoming vibe.
food-drink
Buenos Aires
An Argentinean steakhouse importing Black Angus, Nebraska beef and New Zealand lamb.
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.
food-drink
Boa-Bao
Boa-Bao takes diners on a culinary journey through flavors of Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and beyond.
food-drink
UMA House Trafalgar
UMA House Trafalgar’s seventh-floor pool terrace, with a 360-degree read on the city’s rooftops, spires and the ridge behind them.
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
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
Cyclic Beer Farm
A factory and bar specializing in beer fermentation and natural wine making.
nightlife
Paradiso
Paradiso serves up unusual and creative cocktails.
nightlife
La Llibreria
This self-dubbed “cocktail bar and book collection” is the latest gem to appear in Les Corts.
food-drink
Gallo Santo
Spain’s first fully plant-based Mexican eatery.
food-drink
Vegetalia Born
The manufacturer of organic vegetarian products also has several restaurants.
food-drink
Viet Kitchen
Welcome to Barcelona’s first restaurant specializing in bánh mì sandwiches, a classic Vietnamese street food feast.
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.
food-drink
Casa Dorita
Market-cuisine tapas named for the great-grandmother whose cooking started it.
food-drink
Santa Gula
Catalan bistró serving up innovative, exquisite small dishes.
food-drink
Casa Rafols
Casa Lolea’s sister restaurant, in a converted century-old hardware store.
nightlife
Moog
The order of the night is techno.
arts-culture
Free Time
Going against the grain of digitalization, this book store is keeping print alive for Barcelona’s die-hard paperback fans.
food-drink
Desoriente
This vegan restaurant mixes world cuisines to leave diners disoriented.
food-drink
Bivio
At steakhouse in Bivio, Argentine Black Angus arrives on a hot stone for you to finish at the table.
nightlife
Hemingway
Naturally, you can sip all of Hemingway’s favorite tipples, from the simple scotch & soda to gimlets and martini.
nightlife
Nica
Casa Bonay’s space has been designed with the assistance of audiophiles Amit and Aneesh Patel, owners of London bar Brilliant Corners.
nightlife
Foxy
Good music, strong cocktails and lots of locals at this Raval dive bar.
food-drink
Parking Pizza
Neapolitan pizza meets Mediterranean cuisine.
food-drink
El Tío Ché
This centenarian horchatería is loved for its artisanal icy treats.