Barcelona is easily one of my favorite European cities! I came to Barcelona for the same reasons most tourists and travelers come to Barcelona: to see the beautiful architecture (Gaudi), to eat the Spanish and Catalan food, to learn a bit of Spanish (though I realized once here that mostly Catalan is spoken) and to achieve a sense of cultural awareness and diversity. I am only two and a half months through my semester abroad, and I feel that I’ve accomplished most of my goals but still have so much more to learn and experience.Â
So let me start with the food… my favorite topic! When I first arrived to Barcelona I knew I absolutely had to eat two things, tapas and paella. With a list of recommended restaurants in hand from friends, fellow travelers and a few locals, I spent the first two weeks splurging on some of the best food I have had while abroad. These two weeks were easily the most expensive throughout my time here. I found just what I was looking for at a few tapas places and one expensive yet totally worth it restaurant by the beach for paella. For tapas, my favorite restaurant hands down was Cañete! They had such an amazing menu that I had to check photos on Trip Advisor for pictures of what other people had ordered! Best. Idea. Ever. My sister was visiting me at the time and we had two friends with us so we decided to do what the Spaniards do, order a little of everything and share! We had filet mignon topped with foie gras that was so tender it melted in your mouth along with a few other unbelievable dishes.
For paella, my roommate Lauren had heard incredible things about the paella at La Fonda del Port Olimic so we went there one afternoon and ordered paella for two. It was huge! Out came a sizzling skillet the size of a medium-sized pizza filled with fresh seafood, vegetables, and rice. “There’s no way we can finish this,” we said. We did. #NOREGRETS. Other favorite places of mine include Cera 23 for dinner and Brunch & Cake, Milk Bar, Federal Café and Granja Petitbo for brunch! If you are ever in Barcelona and wake up completely hung-over or are just searching for a fabulous breakfast in a cool area, Brunch & Cake and Milk are the places to go! The food and atmosphere is very much like Sally Loo’s and Sidecar in SLO but there are more options and you get more food for your money.
One of my favorite parts about Barcelona is the location. It is so easy to get to other countries like France, Italy and Germany, and the train system makes it so easy to explore all of the beach towns around. If you are in Barcelona and are looking to spend a day at the beach, Barceloneta is NOT the way to go. It is packed with people during the warm season, which lasts for most of the year. Instead, jump on the train and head south for 20 to 30 minutes to one of the amazing beaches like Sitges or Castedelfes. Sitges is an adorable town with lots of bars, restaurants, shops, a beautiful old church and stunning beaches. Perfect for a relaxing day trip away from the busy city. Castedelfes is a bit closer and has massive beaches with plenty of room for quiet reading or a game of football. The water is much cleaner in these beaches too!
The nightlife in Barcelona is world-renowned for its awesome bar scene and the most epic clubs up and running all night every night. The best way to start your night is at one of the many exciting and action-filled bars in Barcelona. Some of my favorites include Sugar Bar, famous for their killer daiquiris and mojitos, Fairy Bar, where you’ll feel like you just walked out of the big city and into an enchanted forest and the chain Espit Chupitos, where for two euros, you can pick any one of their over 400 types of shots—many of which require setting something on fire. After the bars, it’s time to hit the clubs! The beach clubs, including Opium, Pacha and Shoko, are literally right on the sand and host some of the best DJs around. Every weekend there is another killer DJ to see, from Laidback Luke and Porter Robinson to Steve Aoki.
So whether or not you decide to study in Barcelona or another incredible European city, make it a priority to get yourself for a least a weekend to Barcelona to experience the breathtaking beauty, the mouthwatering brilliant Spanish food and an outrageous night on the town!