Just inside the entrance, on the right-hand side, of the Boqueria, is this essential market bar, run by Juanito, one of the city's best-loved figures. In the early morning the...

This cylindrical building now dominates the Rambla del Raval and promises to become something of an icon of the barrio. A hip cocktail lounge designed by Jordi Gali and the...

A tranquil, elegant space with beige minimalist decor, and a display of cookbooks. From Bocuse to Bourdain, they are all for sale, and their various influences collide in the...

A doggedly wholesome place, all red gingham and pine and chewy spinach tart. The speciality is tasty focaccia with various toppings, along with the usual high-fibre, low-fun...

Another to fall victim to the council's crackdown on late-night music, Dos Trece had to ditch its DJs and jam sessions, and instead has turned its cosy basement space into...

The courtyard of the Gothic Antic Hospital is a tranquil, tree-lined spot a million miles from the hustle of C/Hospital. Terrace café El Jardí actually has two separate bars -...

The chocolate milk drink Cacaolat was invented in this old granja in 1931, and it is still on offer, along with strawberry and banana milkshakes, orxata (tiger nut milk) and...

This is the second 'Gat' to open, and it has a similar cheap and chic vibe to the Gat Raval; a bright breakfast room complete with apple-green polka-dot walls, a patio and a...

More hostal-like than the sister branch (Ciutat de Barcelona, C/Princesa 33-35, 932 697 475) across town, this is a fun and funky option when the budget's tight. Rooms and...

Curious is an unusual new addition to the Raval with a more art-based approach to design. The rather funky mauve-hued lobby is in total contrast to more monotone bedrooms,...

The lower floors at this Modernista landmark were designed by Domènech i Montaner in 1902. The main restaurant is decorated with floral tiling and elaborate woodwork, while the...

If you want a change from modern design, check into this chocolate-box hotel, which opened in 1952. Before then, it belonged to an aristocratic Catalan family. The communal...

A bright little tapas restaurant with only three tables, so it pays to reserve. All the usual tapas, from anchovies to cured meats, are rigorously sourced, and complemented by...

The people who brought us the wildly successful Quinze Nits chain of restaurants have gone on to apply their low-budget, high-design approach to this hotel. The monochrome...