Barcelona

Belly is on the left hand side of Eixample and does not adhere to the stereotype of a Sanish bar. It is neither a bar nor a lounge n a restaurant; it is all three combined. Belly offers different nights almost every night of the week, with Thursdays being sushi night, Wednesdays offering Mojitos and Caipirinhas for only 4,50€ but happy hour every night from 6pm to 9pm. The decor is interesting, with modern paintings on the walls, the room is crowded with tables and yet spacious and the staff are great, really friendly and fun. They play great music and  This is a perfect place to go for a relaxing cocktail or even begin your night of bar crawling and clubbing!

This bar is reknown for playing some of the best live music in the city. Admittedly the average customer is 30 plus and middle class but do not let this deter you from going to hear some fantastic jazz. Sometimes they play salsa but this bar has the right idea about music, they never play it too loud that it interrupts your conversation, you are perfectly able to socialise whilst listening and yet in no way does the music take a back seat.

Cafe Schilling is in the heart of the action on calle Ferrans just of Las Ramblas. It is primarily a cafe but at night becomes a great place to have a drink. It has big windows looking out onto one of the busiest streets in the city so you can sit and watch the world pass you by. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and are then open till 2 am to continue the party. Food stops being served at midnight but before then you can get baguettes, salads and even little snacks like olives or hummus.

The London Bar is as close you as you will find to a pub in Barcelona yet it is more charming because it has local history. Don't let the name fool you that it is going to be another British/Irish pub serving Guinness, with no tapas. This bar has seen the like of Picasso, Dali and Hemingway enjoy a drink within its walls and the interior decoration has been kept exactly how it was when it was first opened in 1910. At night it also offers live music, with a mix of classic pop/ rock guitar songs, anything that can be plated with an acoustic, a bass, a drum kit and a piano.

La Champagneria is one of the most authentic Spanish bars in Barcelona. As a first timer you might think you had walked into a barn; meat hanging from the ceiling, rubbish on the floor and no chairs, but you could not be more wrong.

As you might guess by the name, this bar serves only one drink…cava. However it has a huge range thereof, and you can buy it in any quantity, from una copa (a small glass) for only 90 cence to a bottle of varying prices.

The bar is packed every night which is probably why they don’t have chairs, to maximise capacity, but it is not only the cava which draws in the locals.

Sugar is a small bar tucked away in Barrio Gotico, just off the busy street of Ferran. Admittedly it looks rather like a brothel from the outside, with its red light emanating down the dark alley-way, but get closer and you will find a unique and lively bar open till 2 in the morning.

Often there is someone handing out flyers on the corner offering you a free chupito with your first drink, not that you will need it as during the middle of the week beers are only 1.50 euros, mixers 2.50 euros, and cocktails 3.50 euros.

The bar itself oozes a calm and relaxing atmosphere as there are very few normal seats. Instead there are mountains of cushions to sit on and little alcoves to get comfy in.