Gotico Area

This area is difficult to summarise because it has so many features. Parts of it are enchanting, whilst others are down right 'dodgy'! Bar wise however, I have to be forgiven for comparing it to its 'sister' neighbourhood the Raval. The Gothic quarter is charming if you like old Roman and Medieval buildings and of course many of the bars are located in parts of these. Similarly to the Born neighbourhood, there are fair few bars with terraces and many to be found by snaking the thin yet often incredibly tall streets. Unfortunately this can make parts very seem dark, dank and feel a little chilly but nevertheless this area will provide all your drinking and eating needs and a little extra for dessert!

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Raval Area

The Raval has a reputation for being not the most salubrious part of the city. It is however a fantastic area to go drinking and it has a plethora of bars, many of them very unique. Sporting a very large immigrant community and a veritable maze of nooks and crannies, it's a neighbourhood that oozes charm and character. Unfortunately (especially for tourists) it's charm lies in it's suitablility for pickpockets, street crimes and prostitution. That said however, the crimes here are generally not violent and are normally just simple 'opportunity grabs' and as long as you are not alone after dark, you're pretty much as safe as anywhere else in the city. All of this shouldn't put you off checking out the bars and trendy eateries here and ingesting the darker side of the Barcelona force!

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El Born Area

El Born is another of Barcelona's older zones but nevertheless it's also one of the trendiest and happening places to drink, shop and eat. The most logical place to start your night is the main street (Passeig del Born) as here you'll find a plethora of everything from large pubs to more outlandish and trendy cocktail bars. This area also has plenty of places to eat from quick stop pizza joints to more upmarket restaurants and plenty of cafes and bars that also serve up food.

Prices in this area, are of course quite high by local standards but if you are travelling from Britain for example, you'll still find drinking and eating here very reasonable. A definite bonus about this area is that there are plenty of terraces outside, although you might have to wait for a few minutes or so and stand up to the locals who don't quite have the same decorum as us Northern Europeans when it comes to queueing up. Also you should notice that it's a stone throw from the beach area (Barceloneta) if you happen to be still dolled up in your beachwear.

All in all then this is the kind of neighbourhood that you'll go to spend the entire evening, pampering yourself to good food, a lively street atmosphere and many, many cocktails - I'm sure!

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Placa Espanya Area

Placa Espanya is an important part of the city - historically speaking, being the square for public hangings until 1715, although the closest you'll see to anti-social behavior now is a few revellers staggering home on a Saturday night! Bar wise, it's not exactly the epicentre of all that is happening in Barcelona but it does have a few interesting locales and many bars that are more than adequate for your needs. Really, this is a place to visit in the day and check out the important and impressive structures and parks in this area. However if you do fancy a beer or two there are places you can go. For a really unique time here, you really need to come here for New Year's eve or during the important local festivals, such as La Merce when you'll see illuminated fountains and a virtual ants nest of people letting their hair down!

Fortunately (if you are Catalan) or unfortunately (if you are a lover of all that is pure Spanish), they are currently dismantling the Bull Ring here in order to build a shopping centre. This should mean that a few new local bars surface in the area. DrinkBarcelona of course will be on the scene when they do, sampling their delights and donning our critics hats purely for the benefit of your humble selves!

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Barceloneta Area

Barceloneta is one of the most popular areas to visit to chow down and imbibe a few drinks. Supporting numerous bars and restaurants its charm lies in its winding streets, old buildings and local places to make your pit stops. It is also one of the best places to start off in order to get yourself accustomed to the long and snaking beach area which is littered with a number of 'chiringuitos' or beach bars as we call them in our native tongue!

Built in the 18th century and even mentioned in the famous epic 'Don Quijote' it oozes history as well as sun, sea, sand and everything else associated with having a good time. If you're on your hols here you must check out this neighbourly area and although many of the bars may look old and rickety, I can guarantee you'll find nothing but charm seeping gracefully from every nook and cranny - at least until your beer goggles become too hazy!

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Eixample Area

Eixample, which translates as "extension" in recognition of its status as the newer part of the city, is a large area north of Placa Catalunya spreading left and right of Passeig de Gracia. The area benefits greatly from its ingenious urban planning at the hands of Catalan engineer Cerdes in the 1850's. Cerdes had a fondness for straight lines and the whole area is set out in a grid.

The extension of the city into the Eixample district coincided with the development of modernisme. The Eixample is famous for being home to the majority of Barcelona's art nouveau masterpieces. Passeig de Gracia is the heart of Eixample and the line that cuts the area into two from "Eixample left" and "Eixample right". Here you will find La Pedrera and Casa Batllo, two of Gaudi's characteristically dreamlike buildings.

The Eixample is characterised by many small bars, restaurants and cafes with street seating that intersperse the countless shops and boutiques. It is a more family oriented area and is generally considered to be the safest barrio in Barcelona, although the busy thoroughfares still attract pickpockets wherever there are an abundance of tourists. The area is a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the center of town, and enjoy the street cafe culture that europe is famous for.

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