A Stylish Stroll Through Barcelona

A Destination For Discovery

Barcelona is a city that warms the soul. A centuries-old creative impulse softened by loose-limbed coastal ease; fantastical architecture with something to marvel at on every street corner, and a typically Spanish outdoor culture of late dinners and lively nights. Whether you’ve been once or a hundred times, there’s always something new to discover. This year marks a significant moment for Barcelona and a particularly meaningful time to visit for lovers of architecture and design.

After 144 years in the making, the world’s most famous unfinished building, La Sagrada Família, nears completion. The final cross has been placed atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, crowning it the tallest church in the world, and while artistic details, sculptures and the Glory Façade stairway remain works in progress, Gaudí’s vision for the city’s skyline can at last be seen in full – aptly timed as Barcelona celebrates its extraordinary cultural and creative legacy.

Where to stay

El Palace Barcelona

As the city’s first five-star hotel, El Palace Barcelona is an elegant option, with some of Barcelona’s most whimsical buildings (including La Pedrera and Casa Batlló) just a short walk away. With 120 rooms, it is gorgeously neoclassical in style, embracing a more-is-more approach to decoration. There are seven Art Suites, inspired by iconic former guests from the worlds of painting, dance, architecture, literature, sculpture and music, among them Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Josephine Baker. The rooftop garden offers one of the most beautiful views towards La Sagrada Família, so make yours a martini at golden hour and take it all in. During the summer months, the hotel hosts an open-air rooftop cinema, vinyl-only DJ sets, yoga sessions and art-and-drink workshops.

Casagrand Luxury Apartments Barcelona

Ideal for families and groups, these bright and airy apartments are beautifully designed with original details and allow you to experience life as a local in Barcelona’s Eixample district. Surprisingly spacious for such a central location, the fully-serviced abodes have one, four or five-bedrooms and all include kitchens and generous living spaces for quality family time.

Margot House

For something a little more quaint, this nine-room boutique hotel is ideal for couples and solo travellers. There’s a library from which you can borrow books, a home-style breakfast served in a shared kitchen, and Brompton bicycles available to whizz along the city’s tree-lined boulevards. Margot House doesn’t skimp on the finer details, either. Bathrooms feature double rainfall showers, with some rooms including freestanding tubs, and while service is discreet, the attentive staff are always on hand to whip up a gazpacho or club sandwich on demand.

Where to eat and drink

Breakfast

Nothing beats baked goods first thing, especially when you’ve got a city to explore and want something convenient, so head to Hofmann Pasteleria for impeccably laminated croissants and jewel-like pastries. For coffee, El Magnífico is the spot, with several locations dotted across the city. If you’d prefer some local delicacies, wander through Mercat de la Boqueria, Barcelona’s most famous food market and enjoy everything from fresh fruit to cured meats.

Lunch

Order croquetas de jamón wherever you see them done well. They should be golden brown and crispy on the outside, and both creamy and molten within. Bar Bodega Gol serves the real deal in a small and casual bodega setting where the customers tend to be older locals. They also offer modestly priced, classic Catalan tapas including smoked sardines and esqueixada de baccalà (marinated cod with black olives, tomatoes and lemon oil).

Dinner and drinks

Natural and artisanal wine lovers will enjoy Bar Brutal. This hugely popular El Born spot pours an ever-changing roster of low-intervention bottles, alongside creative small plates, like razor clams, anchovies and seasonal vegetables. Seating is spread across three distinct dining spaces, each with its own mood (but all pretty lively). To watch the chefs in action, opt for the kitchen counter, and if you’d prefer to rub shoulders with locals, take a seat at the central communal table. For something calmer, try Nuara. Sitting along the Olympic Port, the waterfront space is understated and chic, focusing on high-quality seafood and clean, precise cooking with an ambitiously honest menu. Paella is the only way to go here, but don’t miss out on ordering plenty of seafood starters and sides, too – especially the caviar-topped oysters

What to do

Visit Gaudí’s Masterpieces

Casa Batlló, Gaudí's Art Nouveau house, is a Surrealist dream, with bone-like balconies and a shimmering tiled façade. On the second floor, a contemporary art gallery has recently opened to coincide with the centenary, offering a dialogue between Gaudí’s vision and modern creative voices. Another of the architect’s residential projects, Casa Vicens, can’t be missed, with its tomato-red and checkerboard façade. And don’t forget La Pedrera, featuring an otherworldly rooftop with undulating chimneys. Then there is Park Güell, where mosaic benches curve through greenery above the city. And finally, La Sagrada Família. With the central Tower of Jesus Christ now completed, it feels like a particularly special moment to visit. Commemorative masses will be held alongside a series of formal events, but simply stepping inside to watch coloured light filter through the stained glass is memorable enough.

Discover Great Design

Lovers of considered lighting should pay a visit to Santa & Cole. Their sculptural lamps and chandeliers are minimal in spirit but high-impact. For more great interiors, visit Curated By, a gallery-like boutique run by an interior design studio. Expect a thoughtful edit of ceramics, small-batch homewares and collectible objects.

Shop Local Fashion & Lifestyle Buys

Paloma Wool and Gimaguas are two effortlessly sexy brands based here, both with boutiques in the city that are worth visiting for the cool interiors and curation alone. Stock up on velvet Mary-Janes at Flabelus, and for a distinctly local gift, visit Barcelona’s oldest candle shop, Cereria Subirà, in the Barrio Gòtico. Entering this store feels like stepping back in time: Baroque-style staircases, grand columns and sculptural details create a dramatic backdrop for colourful hand-painted ceramic candlesticks, perfectly spherical ombré designs, traditional liturgical pieces and more.