Softguide Barcelona : Blog

Although Barcelona is not close to many Northern European cities in terms of urban bicycle use, it’s becoming increasingly easy to tour some parts of town by bike. Summer migth be too hot, but still this is a city where one can enjoy a ride in front of the beach at times. There is a rental service for local residents “Bicing” which is used by some 50.000 citizens of Barcelona, but it’s thought for rides under 30 mins.

At the Cityhall’s website (www.bcn.es), you can have a look at bicycle rental spots in town.

Tamarit 104
T. 93 424 52 31
19h – 23h
Sundays, only open before lunch

Utopia is the kind of place where you can’t get tired of eating tapas. And by that I mean the real sense of tapas, not the sophisticated kind of “platillos” one can get in the most trendy tapas bars these days. They are simple and well done tapas based on great produce and the right amount of love for food. It wouldn’t be fair to ignore that the place is run by the brother of the most famous Catalan cooks. Set that aside and try to simply enjoy the fact of chatting with a fresh “caña” (beer) in your hand and some nice fish or ham or the delicious “croquetas”. Each tapa runs between 2 and 8 euro. Be aware of the opening hours. In order to get seated you ideally have to be there before 9.00pm. Yes, it’s usually packed and the place is not in any particularly touristy area, although if you’re coming back from Plaza de España towards the center you might come by it.

This place has something in common with Cal Pep although they follow different styles.

Passeig Juan de Borbó, 74 (corner, Plaça del Mar No. 1)
Area: Barceloneta
Tel: 93.221.90.82
*Only with reservation

Finding nice affordable restaurants facing the sea is not a particularly easy job. You can always book at the exclusive Arola Arts, but then again that is not for just any occasion but surely for That occasion in which you don’t mind throwing 100 bucks per head on the table for some kind of minimalist food with a nice wine. No that’s not what I’m usually up to.

My favorite restaurant in the area of Barceloneta beach is —at present— Kaiku. Just as you reach the end of the buildings when coming from the Passeig Joan de Borbó towards the beach, you turn left and you’ll find yourself at an open square with palm trees facing the beach. Kaiku sits right there. They have some of the most special paellas and food you will find in an area known for tourist fast-food, namely pre-cooked paellas and the like.

Kaiku has some 8 tables inside and as many in the “terraza” in front of the place. It is usually full so try to book at least a couple days in advance. Actually they only provide tables with reservation, so it would be real luck if you simply pop in there and get seated. Sit facing the seaside and taste a nice meal (around 30€ per person), unsophisticated but full of flavor.

Reliable well written, perhaps a little too predictable: 36 hours in Barcelona

So we’re back at the Raval quarter today, the multi-culti neighbourhood in central Barcelona. Just on the side of the Rambla del Raval street. There you will find a nice place for a beer, wine or some tapas at Riera Baixa, on number 22. Its name is “Resolis”, a confortable and trendy bar with some tables where to stop for a that tiny something you’ve been looking for. A couple of cañas, a red wine and some fries (natural) with some green sauce will set you back some 8€. Worth it.

Decent recommendations, well written and nice pictures: “Five Catalan Stars, With Small Plates and Long Menus”