arts-culture
Picasso Cyprus
An exhibition exploring how ancient Cypriot art influenced Picasso’s art
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, Sep 23
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
Catalan book week 2026
The city celebrates Catalan literature across one whole week
arts-culture
Elisava
A sun-soaked photography project capturing the Poblenou coastline.
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
Declaration of Love to Lenin, Juana Dolores Romero Casanova
This incredible artist’s first exhibition held at La Virreina.
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.
food-drink
Barcelona Hotel Bar Week 2026
Explore Barcelona’s grandest hotel bars and taste some signature cocktails
arts-culture
La Mercè 2026
One of the biggest cultural events on the calendar, La Mercè 2026 arrives
arts-culture
Summer Nights at Casa Amatller 2026
Discover Casa Amatller at night with an audio guide and glass of cava.
food-drink
San Miguel Biergarten
This annual beer festival descends upon Poble Espanyol’s Plaza Mayor
film
Festival u22 2026
Festival U22 returns as Barcelona’s young cinema festival
music
BAM festival 2026
BAM is the part of La Mercè that offers us a free programme of music across Barcelona
arts-culture
La Mercè Opening Ceremony 2026
La Mercè kicks off with an opening ceremony with traditions and folklore
film
Transhumant Film Festival 2026
The socially committed film and photojournalism festival returns
Thursday, Sep 24
arts-culture
Sagrada Família Free Entry La Mercè
As part of La Mercè festivities, the Sagrada Familia opens its doors for free
film
What's Up, Doc?
Peter Bogdanovich’s classic screwball comedy
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
Places
food-drink
La Europea
This bodega doubles as a café with familiar favorites with a twist, or from further afield.
nightlife
Hemingway
Naturally, you can sip all of Hemingway’s favorite tipples, from the simple scotch & soda to gimlets and martini.
food-drink
Garage Bar
The creators of the Vella Terra food and wine fair founded this wine bar to celebrate excellent natural wines and natural, artisanal foods.
nightlife
Otto Zutz
Hip hop in a venue with an industrial, NYC feel.
food-drink
Boa-Bao
Boa-Bao takes diners on a culinary journey through flavors of Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and beyond.
food-drink
Buenos Aires
An Argentinean steakhouse importing Black Angus, Nebraska beef and New Zealand lamb.
food-drink
Can Recasens
Five generations have been providing the neighborhood with traditional fare.
nightlife
Dr. Stravinsky
A cocktail bar done up as a mad alchemist’s lab – test tubes, fermenting jars.
nightlife
Kælderkold
One of Barcelona’s most exciting craft beer utopias.
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.”
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
Raó
Locally sourced and seasonal products are favored to create modern delights that are based on a selection of Mediterranean and traditional local dishes.
nightlife
Marula Café
Electronic beats are eschewed in favor of funk, disco, soul and Afrobeat rhythms.
food-drink
Chi Nanit
Head to Chi Nanit for Shanghai-style Chinese food from the same people that owned the popular Nanit on Balmes.
food-drink
Bar Cañete
Step inside it feels like traveling through time to Spain’s glory days.
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
Nica
Casa Bonay’s space has been designed with the assistance of audiophiles Amit and Aneesh Patel, owners of London bar Brilliant Corners.
lgbt
Sauna Casanova
This is a labyrinth of gay sexiness.
food-drink
Koh-i-noor
This family-run restaurant has set itself up as a jewel in the Barcelona curry scene.
food-drink
Bar Brutal
A Born natural-wine institution – Can Cisa’s Bar Brutal pours biodynamic, sulphite-free bottles alongside sharing plates to a clued-in crowd.
lgbt
Madame Jasmine
A Raval gay bar that embodies the neighborhood’s charms, queerness and eccentricities.
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.
food-drink
El Nacional
A sprawling food hall in a converted garage just off Passeig de Gràcia.
lgbt
La Federica
In addition to drinks, wines and cocktails, the bar offers excellent tapas.
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
Copasetic
Vintage comfort food in the Eixample – Barcelona’s deepest gluten-free brunch.
food-drink
Maná 75
A Barceloneta paella specialist – a dozen varieties, 19 open cooking stations.
nightlife
Bloody Mary Cocktail Lounge
They serve no less than 10 versions of the much-loved drink.
food-drink
La Terraza del Claris
The rooftop of an Egyptologist’s hotel – discreet, art-filled, no day-club treatment.
nightlife
Moog
The order of the night is techno.