Our selection of terraces

The good weather has returned to our city, and Barcelona’s bars and cafes are once again hitting the streets and setting up their ever-popular “terrazas” (terraces).

Here you can relax in the open air after an enjoyable walk around town. Just around el Hotel Principal you will find a large selection of “bares con terraza”.Just in case you are having trouble deciding we offer our “top 3”:

BAR MENDIZABAL: Right on the corner of Junta de Comerc y Hospital, just a few steps from the hotel, you find this true Barcelona classic.You sometimes find film crews shooting local-color scenes for movies and often find our hotel staff having a coffee at beak time.

This friendly corner cafe offers up a refreshing array of fruit juices as well as sandwiches you will find nowhere else.Why not try serrano ham, goat cheese, mango, and arugula, my personal favorite? Or maybe something a little stronger like serrano ham, anchovies, and avocado?And you will be surrounded by the most typical of Barcelona street life.

PASTELERIA ESCRIBA: On a short pedestrian street just off the Ramblas, you have Barcelona’s best sweet shop made in the

Antoni Escriba, the founder, is known locally as “the Mozart of chocolate” and his concept goes way beyond mere gastronomy. His webpage (which seems right out of Pepperland) sends out a clear invitation:

"Do you want to bathe in chocolate and howl at the moon?” “Have you ever felt the urge to go into astral space on a spongecake rocket and explore the galaxy on a piece of candy?"

But perhaps the real down-to-earth question should be: Do you feel like enjoying an exotic desert while observing the street life of a hallucinatory city?

PATI DE LA SANTA CREU: This agreeable and surprising oasis of quiet and green in the very center of the Raval is a three-minute walk from the Hotel Principal. A stone arch transports you right into medieval Barcelona, a quiet garden surrounded by historic buildings which give shelter to two libraries.

You can of course just sit under the orange trees, but once there it’s almost impossible not to succumb to the temptation of stepping up to the open-air bar which at first seems a little out-of-place in this historic setting.But it seems just fine once you have enjoyed a cold drink, a sandwich or a "tapa"

What to do in Barcelona? (4 of 4 parts)

16. Visit the gay heart of the city

If Barcelona wanted a gay capital, it would most certainly pick the Eixample, nicknamed Gaixample for the sheer number of stores and clubs that cater to this clientele. The Arena includes four clubs: the cavernous Madre attracts a young crowd with a spacious dance floor and darkroom; Classic is the most light-hearted and kitsch venue, drawing in a mixed crowd with its '80s and '90s pop anthems; Dandy plays hardcore house music and VIP's retro music goes down well with everyone.

17. Dance your way to a street party

How long can you party non-stop? A week? Then September is a good time to visit, because the Festes de la Mercè swings into town. It started life as a small religious parade but since then it has snowballed into a week-long party celebrating Catalan culture. Performances, dazzling firework displays along the beaches, a sea-front air show, exhibitions, children's activities and free concerts (playing everything from sea shanties to hip hop) make this a celebration of Barcelona in all its splendour.

18. Sip a cocktail on a terrace

The best place to get a chilled fruit sangria in Barcelona is one of the many outdoor bars and cafés. The Bar Colombo (Escar 4) is a little tapas bar with a sunny terrace overlooking the port, while the Australian-run Bar Kasparo offers outdoor seating beneath shady arcades overlooking an a playground for children. Another option is the Casa Paco, a friendly hole-in-the-wall with a sprawling terrace on which to relax. There are also a number of bustling cafés with terraces along La Rambla.

19. Bag some designer bargains

If you’re a dedicated designer bargain-hunter, make the 30-minute pilgrimage just outside the city to La Roca Village.
More than 50 discount outlets will tempt you with designer apparel from popular brands such as Antonio Miró, Versace, Diesel and Camper.

20. Have a passionate flamenco fling

A trip to Barcelona calls for a fling with flamenco. Of course, many of us are not graced with dancing skills, but that doesn't stop you being a spectator of the traditional Spanish dance form. Head to El Tablao de Carmen, where established stars and new talent display a vibrant spectrum of flamenco singing, dancing and music. Los Tarantos in Plaça Reial has become a popular tourist hangout, but the acts still turn heads.