The Quirkiest Bars To Visit In Barceloneta

If the name evokes some kind of mini-Barcelona holiday village, the Barceloneta is very much a neighbourhood with an important history and strong sense of local community. Bordered by water on both sides, the Barceloneta’s narrow streets are lined with all kinds of bars, old and new, including these rather characterful places.

1. Bar Ké

Bar, Restaurant, Spanish

Located just opposite the central square of the Barceloneta, Bar Ké is open from morning until late at night. The décor is a mix of old furniture, random memorabilia and empty beer crates serving as stools – which altogether contribute to the rather laid-back vibe attracting an eclectic mix of neighbourhood characters and curious travellers.

2. Bar Electricitat

Bar, Spanish, Tapas

Behind the name of this family-run bar is the fact that back in the day, the Bar Electricitat was the first place to get electricity in the neighbourhood. In many ways the bar doesn’t look to have changed much since back then, with its large wooden barrels still full of local wine and old paintings on the walls. Locals gather here at weekends for a glass of vermouth and some classic tapas, including the Barceloneta’s very own bomba de patatas: a breadcrumbed ball of mashed potato stuffed with meat and covered in sauce.

3. Absenta Bar

Bar, Spanish

Named after the drink for which it is famous – absinthe – Absenta Bar is considered one of the best places in the city to come face to face with the green fairy herself. Describing itself as a ‘friendly bohemian neighbourhood bar with dive bar flair’, Absenta just about hits the nail on the head. Don’t be scared off by the sight of glasses roaring with flames on the bar top, this is all just part of the show of preparing absinthe the more ‘bohemian’ way.

5. El Vaso De Oro

Restaurant, Spanish

The ‘Golden Glass’ as it translates, El Vaso de Oro is a small tapas bar which proudly brews its own beers. Far from being a trendy brew pub, the Vaso de Oro is where local market traders come for a late lunch after shutting up shop. Clients take a seat at the bar itself – there are no tables in this tiny locale – and the barmen come to take their order before shouting it out to the concerned parties: usually the guy on the beer tap and the guy next to the stove. But don’t expect some run-down old dive bar, the waiters don crisp white jackets with epaulettes and the bar is so polished you could see yourself in it.

6. Bar Eclipse

Bar, Contemporary

Worlds apart from the old-school tapas bars and seafood restaurants of the Barceloneta, the Bar Eclipse is an exclusive late-night bar and club located on the 26th floor of Barcelona’s luxurious W Hotel. Offering scintillating views of the Mediterranean as well as the Catalan capital at night, the Bar Eclipse is probably also the only place in the Barceloneta that has a dress code – ‘elegant & chic’ – and attracts a mostly international crowd of party people.

7. Makamaka Beach Burger Café

Restaurant, Fast Food, American

Part of a new generation of bars in the Barceloneta, the Makamaka predominantly caters to a younger, more urban crowd of both locals and travellers. Popular with yacht crews, surfers and the general beach crowd, Makamaka has the air of 70s surf shack but with a certain Instagrammable self-awareness. Primarily a burger café, Makamaka is open late and has a selection of house and classic cocktails which makes it all too easy to go straight from the beach to the party.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.