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Barcelona is full of bars and restaurants that are full all day long. One of the most charming things about the culture in Spain is the relaxed and nocturnal nature of the place. Unlike England, most restaurants shut around one, bars around three and clubs around six. There is a very slow pace of life so that you never really feel you are running late. All the streets are lined with tables and chairs with people having something to eat or simply a beer and there is a very relaxed feel  about the city.

As a result you have lots of choice when it comes to picking where to eat. You can find about every type of food you could possibly imagine but if food is your passion you need to look into where you are going to eat. The famous Ramblas have restaurants all the way down them which are packed all day long but no local would ever eat there as they have stereotyped menus to cater to the tourists.The best places are hidden away, removed from the centre in other areas of the city. One place which is reknowned for the best croquettes in Barcelona is La Champagneria. It is tucked away in what, by all accounts, looks like a barn near Barceloneta and is aptly named for its famous 90 cents "copas" which are glasses of any type of cava you can imagine. There are very few seats and the place is simply a throng of people, most of whom are local, eating a drinking.

It is places like this that you want to look for when it comes to eating and drinking in Barcelona. There are so many typical bars which is where you should be spending your time as opposed to the numerous Irish Pubs around the city! The lonely planet guide book is a trusty one to go by if you do not have time to explore or cannot consult an expert, but the food in Spain is so good and unique that you should try not to eat anything you can find at home while you are out here.

A quick note on tipping as well as iy can be very embarrassing if you get it wrong when you are visiting another country. It is not very common in Spain to tip- however if you are feeling generous and have received exceptional service the normal amount is between 5% and 10%.

If you are visiting the city find your Barcelona apartments here.