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From inventive cocktail bars to beloved neighborhood vermuterias and historic watering holes—where it’s said Picasso used to drink(!)—here are some of the best bars in Barcelona, perfect for finishing off a day of exploring.
Barcelona is a “social-foodie” city, gatherings happen around tables packed with plates of tapas, over glasses of flavorful vermut, or golden cañas on a sunny terrace with friends.
And it doesn’t even have to be the weekend. The number of incredible and cheap places to eat in Barcelona makes eating out and having a drink a normal, any-day-of-the-week event for Barcelonians—and I love it!
While living in Barcelona for almost three months, I took fitting into the local culture very seriously. So I, too, went out for a drink every now and then on any given day… all in the name of research.
While I mostly drink vermut while in Barcelona—I’m obsessed—I still wanted to explore other bar options. This is why this list compiles a little bit of everything: creative, award-winning cocktail bars, a rooftop bar for a sunset drink, and some of my favorite vermuterias around the city.
So, let’s get started!
Best Bars in Barcelona: Cocktails, Vermut and Historic Gems
Las Vermudas: A life-changing vermouth bar
While doing my research before leaving for Barcelona, I kept reading about Vermouth, a herbal liquor made out of wine and a variety of spices, with a lot of emphasis on it being herbal.
I wasn’t so sure I would like it.
And for this reason, I am so happy that my first vermouth experience was at Las Vermudas, a vermuteria, or vermouth bar, in the popular Gracia neighborhood.
This lively bar is tucked away in a quiet corner of Gracia, with outdoor tables overlooking a small church, and some indoor seating space on high tables by the big windows.
Las Vermudas has its own vermouth recipe, and after trying a few of their drinks, Vermouth del Sur was by far my favorite. The El Norte one is also very tasty, but El Sur just seemed more flavorful, not sweeter, just flavorful.
Both vermouths are delicious in their own way, so try them both and let me know what you think—at 2.50€ each, you can create your own vermouth-tasting experience!
- Address: Carrer del Robí, 32, 08024 Barcelona, España
- Opening hours: It says temporarily closed at the time of writing, I think it’s closed for the summer holidays.
Elephanta Gin Bar: One of the best bars in Barcelona for gin lovers
Elephanta Gin Bar is a small, cozy spot in the Gracia neighborhood, with just over 5 tables inside.
The space is dimly lit and intimate, perfect for spending a quality night with a small group of friends, enjoying some of the tastiest gin & tonics you will have in your life.
This snug bar has amazing service and a super cute menu where the drinks are named after those who have worked at the bar at one point, or are founders.
The gin & tonic I ordered was coincidentally named after the girl who was taking our order that night (Sara), and she was super happy that I chose hers.
The drinks are delicious and also massive. The staff is incredibly welcoming and friendly, and the place is just too cute.
Definitely one of the best bars in Barcelona, especially for gin lovers!
- Address: Carrer del Torrent d’En Vidalet, 37, 08012 Barcelona, España
- Opening hours: It’s different almost every day, so you can check it here.
Vermuteria Santa Caterina: The perfect aperitivo bar
Vermuteria Santa Caterina is a lively little neighborhood bar located close to the popular El Born area, just a few blocks away from the Barcelona Cathedral.
This locally beloved spot is the perfect place to enjoy a vermouth and some tapas before heading out to dinner, or to over-order tapas and call it a dinner.
There’s no wrong answer here.
The menu consists of little tapas that go great with the house specialty drink, such as anchovies, garlic prawns, croquetas, and more.
My favorite dish by far was the “El vermutillo”, a bowl of salted chips topped with anchovies, mussels, olives, and salsa espinaler. Just trust me on this one—it’s so good!
With its very central location, this vermuteria is the perfect spot to take a break after a long day of exploring and regrouping over some tasty vermouth.
- Address: Carrer de Colomines, 2, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona
- Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday from 4 pm – midnight, weekend from noon to midnight, Monday and Tuesday closed.
Can Paixano: One of the best bars in Barcelona for cava lovers
If, like me, you love cava, then one of the best bars in Barcelona to visit is the busy Can Paixano.
Can Paixano is a traditional bar serving a variety of tasty tapas, hot sandwiches, all accompanied by their delicious AND incredibly affordable cava—at less than 2 euros a glass!🤯
It’s worth mentioning that this beloved spot is a standing bar with no seating options—so if you’re coming here after walking all day and just want to sit down and have a drink, you’ve been warned.
However, I don’t find this off-putting at all; it’s just part of the vibe.
So join the crowds at the bar, with plates of jamón iberico and cheese while sipping on endless cava coupes!
This is the perfect bar to stop for a little pre-dinner drink and small tapas to open up the appetite, or, like me, just make a ✨girl dinner✨ out of it.
- Address: Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 7, 08003 Barcelona, España
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 10 pm, Sunday and Monday closed.
Bar Marsella: Historic 200-year-old bar in El Raval
One of the best bars in Barcelona to visit for history lovers—and general appreciators of really old buildings—it’s Bar Marsella.
Bar Marsella is a historic establishment that’s said to be the oldest bar in Barcelona, dating back to 1820(!), and it’s still running up to this day, with what seems to be zero remodelations being done.
Walking through its door, you feel transported to another era, and you can almost picture its prestigious customers, such as Picasso and Hemingway, sitting in a corner sipping on absinthe—a drink the bar is known for.
I just love places like this, that look exactly how they did 200 years ago. Where you can sit and have a drink and look around at almost the same thing Picasso looked at. It’s just so cool!
And contrary to similar popular spots around the world, like Café de Fiore in Paris, the prices here aren’t ridiculously inflated—which is always nice!
- Address: Carrer de Sant Pau, 65, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
- Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 5 pm – midnight, Friday and Saturday from 5 pm – 1:30 am.
Bodega Marin: Snug and historic wine cellar in Gracia
Another historic bar in Barcelona that you shouldn’t miss is the Gracia staple, Bodega Marin, a 130-year-old wine cellar in the heart of the residential neighborhood.
Bodega Marin is a snug and cozy tapas bar, emphasis on the bar, as there are no tables… just a bar. With shelves packed with all types of liquors, vermouths, and wines, and guests’ Polaroids pinned to the shelves.
The vibe is somewhere between cozy and chaotic—and I love it!
While having an extensive tapas menu, the setting is more of a bar than a restaurant. So it’s the perfect place to stop for a drink and a small bite while admiring its eye-catching bottle collection, before moving on to your next spot.
- Address: Carrer de Milà i Fontanals, 72, Gràcia, 08012 Barcelona, Spain
- Opening hours: Varies throughout the week, check here.
83.3 Terrace Bar: Centrally located rooftop bar in Barcelona
What better way to finish off a day of exploring beautiful Barcelona than with a rooftop drink overlooking the city at sunset? And 83.3 Terrace Bar is the place to go!
83.3 Terrace Bar is a trendy rooftop bar located right on the vibrant Passeig de Gracia, making it a very convenient final stop of the day.
We stopped here while having friends in town, and the place was a hit with everyone!
The views are beautiful, you can see Sagrada Familia in the distance, and the ocean on the other side. The vibe is very loungey with chill music, great drinks, and snacks.
If visiting during high season, it might be a good idea to make a reservation to secure a coveted sunset spot.
- Address: Pg. de Gràcia, 84, L’Eixample, 08008 Barcelona, Spain
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 5 pm to midnight, Saturday and Sunday from noon to midnight.
Paradiso: One of the best bars in Barcelona for cocktail lovers
One of the best bars to visit in Barcelona for serious cocktail lovers is Paradiso, a highly awarded cocktail bar.
This is also one of the best speakeasys in Barcelona, hidden behind the facade of a pastrami shop.
To arrive at the bar, you make your way through a fridge door and open it up to a modern and beautifully designed room that extends far and goes from elegant to a full jungle theme at the back.
The menu consists of very creative concoctions, and what’s even more creative is the way they are presented.
I cannot remember for the life of me, but we ordered all different drinks to try, and they were all tasty and super interesting.
Definitely one of the most memorable bars to have drinks with friends during your trip to Barcelona!
- Address: Carrer de Rera Palau, 4, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday from 5 pm – 2 am, Thursday to Sunday from 4:30 pm – 2:30 am.
Rec Comtal 21: Casual spot for a drink with a view of Arc de Triomf
On a completely different category is Rec Comtal 21, an unassuming neighborhood tapas bar.
This little corner tapas bar is the perfect location to enjoy a cold glass of vermouth on a sunny day while looking at the nearby Arc de Triomf.
A drink with a view without the rooftop price tag—love it!
The vermouth is delicious, the food is also really good, and the views are unmatched.
An overall great spot to stop for a midafternoon drink before continuing with your exploration around Barcelona.
- Address: Carrer del Rec Comtal, 21, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Opening hours: Varies throughout the week, check here.
Final thoughts on the best bars in Barcelona
With so many bars to discover in Barcelona, from wine bars, vermuterias, unique cocktail bars, and local neighborhood spots, it’s hard to know where to begin.
So, I hope this list of some of the best bars in Barcelona helps you find the perfect bar for you and your taste.
These are not all the bars I visited during my three-month stay, but these are the ones I believe are worth mentioning, either for their uniqueness, affordability, or locations.
There is truly a little bit for everyone on this list, and I hope you find one or a few that you like.
What kind of drinker are you? Do you prefer a vermut bar, a cocktail one, a wine bar, or just a good old beer? Let us know in the comments!
Save this Barcelona bar guide for later!
Your future self will thank you.