film
Sitges Film Festival 2026
The 59th edition of the fantasy, horror and cult films-focused festival
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
Wednesday, Oct 7
arts-culture
Festa Major of Esquerra de l'Eixample 2026
One of the city’s biggest neighbourhoods celebrates its festa major
arts-culture
Seat: Factory of Transformations
Castell de Montjuïc’s exhibition uses car company SEAT to tell a story about Barcelona
arts-culture
Light Filtered Through the Cracks
MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention.
arts-culture
Pere Portabella
A program of screenings drawn from this Catalan filmmaker’s repertoire.
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.
arts-culture
After The Kiss
Taiwanese artist Attilio Chien comes with a solo exhibition devoted to the kiss
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
Josep Maria de Sucre, Activist and Visionary Artist
A new exhibition on the work of Catalan visionary artist Josep Maria de Sucre
film
IndiFest Film Festival
Barcelona Indigenous Film Festival returns with films dedicated to Indigenous stories
music
DJ Forum @ Apolo
DJs, collectives and musicians come together for an evening of networking
film
Amílcar
Miguel Eek’s poetic portrait of an anti-colonial revolutionary
film
Transhumant Film Festival 2026
The socially committed film and photojournalism festival returns
film
NAZA
A chilling investigation into the systems behind civilian deaths in Gaza
Thursday, Oct 8
film
Hard Eight (Sydney)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s coolly controlled debut feature
film
What's Up, Doc?
Peter Bogdanovich’s classic screwball comedy
music
GRLS
Mexican alt-pop pair arrive on tour
music
BCN Shag Fest 2026
Fast feet and vintage swing take over for the return of Barcelona Shag Festival
Friday, Oct 9
style-design
Nativa Feria
NATIVA brings together contemporary design, artisan ceramics and floral art
music
Christina Vantzou
Much-loved Brussels-based ambient musician arrives on tour
Saturday, Oct 10
fitness-wellness
Outdoor Fitness Workout
An energizing group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront.
Sunday, Oct 11
arts-culture
Art & Coffee Oil Painting Workshop
Slow down, get creative and enjoy something a bit off the beaten track
film
Boogie Nights
Paul Thomas Anderson's tale of the rise and fall of a California porn star
Ongoing
arts-culture
The Cult of Beauty
The CCCB’s latest exhibition delves into one of the most loaded ideas in culture.
Places
food-drink
Isabella’s
If you’re a lover of Italian cuisine, you’re in for a treat at Isabella’s.
food-drink
El Magraner Boig
Authentic Greek dishes and atmosphere at this laid-back yet animated Raval restaurant.
food-drink
Abissínia
Take a journey to Ethiopia without leaving Barcelona.
food-drink
Bocanariz
The newest wine bar in town, head to Bocanariz and indulge in some of the best wines of the region and abroad.
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
Marula Café
Electronic beats are eschewed in favor of funk, disco, soul and Afrobeat rhythms.
romance
Training Pedralbes
Training Pedralbes hosts couples and single women in a private club house.
nightlife
Penny Banger
This expat-owned bar sits in part of a 450-year-old Modernist palace.
food-drink
Mina
An intimate Italian-inspired restaurant serving up small plates and natural wines.
food-drink
Bar Treze
This tapas bar sits among Sarrià’s burgeoning scene along its main street, Major de Sarrià.
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
Martínez
Perched on one of Montjuïc’s cactus-clad cliffs, this is one of the finest tapas bars in town.
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.
food-drink
Casa Dorita
Market-cuisine tapas named for the great-grandmother whose cooking started it.
food-drink
Tacos Tacos
This restaurant pays tribute to fishermens’ favorite tapas.
food-drink
Can Codina
Long one of Gràcia’s stalwarts, this “old man” bar has been brought up-to-date by the founders’ grandkids.
nightlife
Pesca Salada
A cocktail bar with a warm atmosphere, excellent soundtrack and great drinks.
food-drink
La Querida
The menu is full of delights like tapas, burgers, pasta dishes and wok-based treats – all sure to put a smile on the face of the fussiest of eaters.
nightlife
Garage Beer Co.
This UK-style brewery is one of Barcelona’s most central stops for quality brews.
food-drink
La Tere Gastrobar
A Venezuelan-run gastrobar on Carrer Riego, one of the reasons Sants is rising.
food-drink
Takeaway & Delivery Picks
Good news in having some restaurants jumping back into action with takeaway and home delivery services.
food-drink
Contraban
The Wittmore’s Michelin-listed restaurant, with a rooftop terrace above it.
nightlife
La Vinya del Senyor
This diminutive wine bar is revered as one of the city’s very best.
food-drink
DelaCrem Obrador
Natural ice cream on Passeig de Sant Joan – no additives, no stabilizers.
food-drink
Raffaelli
The Raffaelli family’s Tuscan trattoria in Gràcia – handmade pasta, Lucca recipes.
lgbt
Madame Jasmine
A Raval gay bar that embodies the neighborhood’s charms, queerness and eccentricities.
food-drink
Chi Nanit
Head to Chi Nanit for Shanghai-style Chinese food from the same people that owned the popular Nanit on Balmes.
nightlife
Moog
The order of the night is techno.
food-drink
Ajoblanco
The upscale bar and restaurant was designed by Lázaro Rosa Violán.