june-2011

[ feature ]
BARCELONA
TELEFERICO EN MONTJUIC OFFERS
BREATHTAKING VIEWS ACROSS THE CITY
(known as ‘El Born’), for quirky
fashion shops and, later on,
some of the city’s best nightlife.
(East)
BARCELONETA:
WHERE THE CITY
HITS THE BEACH
Stroll along the old port towards
the huge silver crescent of the
W hotel (where, incidentally,
you should stop for drinks and
impressive views at Eclipse,
the bar on the 26th floor) and
take a left into the ramshackle
streets of Barceloneta. This
district still feels like the
fishing village it once was –
cheery, boisterous, working class
36 WIZZ MAGAZINE // JUNE/JULY 2011
SAGRADA FAMILIA
and boasting the best seafood
in town. After the obligatory
stroll on the beach, visit the
city’s cheapest bar, the bustling
Can Paixano (www.canpaixano.
com) on C/ de
Reina Cristina, and enjoy a glass
of pink cava for 95 cents – but
arrive early. Can Paixano is a
favourite with young Catalans,
and by nine o’clock it’s full to
overflowing. Afterwards, head
for one of the district’s superb
tapas bars, such as El Vaso
de Oro on C/ de Balboa, or
go for something even more
special at El Lluçanès (www.
restaurantllucanes.com), a very
modern, chic metal warehouse-
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART,
MACBA, MODEL WEARS: SHIRT
DRESS AND WHITE JACKET,
ASOS. GREY LEATHER BELT AND
PLATFORMS BY HUGO BOSS BLACK
style venue above the market
in Barceloneta’s main square,
Place de la Font. Here, the
seasonal menu is just about
affordable at €32, but the
Michelin-starred cooking
means it’s actually decent
value for money.
Go further: another few
stops on the metro (or a
good walk along the beach)
will bring you to Poblenou, a
former industrial area that
is increasingly drawing a
young, arty crowd. Eating and
drinking is cheaper here, and
the Rambla del Poblenou, the
district’s airy promenade, is
one of the city’s nicest streets.
(South)
EL RAVAL: WHERE
THE COOL KIDS GO
On the west side of La Rambla
from the Barrio Gótico you’ll
find El Raval, which has a
reputation for being the
wrong side of the tracks. Like
all places that have a bit of
a name for themselves, it
also has some of the best
bars – Míro, Picasso and
Hemingway all came here to
find inspiration in venues such
as Bar Marsella, Barcelona’s
famously run-down absinthe
den on C/ Sant Pau. Today, C/
Joaquin Costa offers the best
drinking for trendy bars.