Where to Drink in Barcelona
Ramblas in Barcelona
Barcelona is a city built for indulgence. Idyllic beaches edge the Mediterranean Sea. Labyrinthian alleys wind through the medieval Gothic Quarter, leading to the Museo Picasso. Catalan modernist Antoni Gaudí’s famous architectural masterpiece, the Basilicata of La Sagrada Familia, towers high above the streets. The electric atmosphere of FC Barcelona soccer matches thrill fans. There is no shortage of cultural delights in Catalonia’s capital city.
At the top of the list is the cuisine. With more than 25,000 restaurants, tapas bars, vermuterias and breweries, it feels like every nook and cranny is filled with opportunity. From the tiniest tapas bar serving small plates of seafood and paper-thin slices of Spain’s famous jamón Serrano to an epic culinary adventure in one of the city’s 30 Michelin-starred restaurants, this is a city who knows how to eat…and drink.
Barcelona is home to two of the top five bars in the world for 2023, including number one. For craft beer lovers, they have a top-5 brewery. The city’s gin and tonic culture is one of the best in the world. Sippable vermouth is everywhere, especially during the midday hora del vermut, a time dedicated to quaffing the sweet beverage as a break from the workday.
With so many options to choose from, it may seem daunting to know where to start. Here are five great places to drink in Barcelona.
SIPS credit Difford's Guide
1. SIPS - Carrer de Muntaner, 108, L'Eixample, 08036
Two of the most creative minds in the cocktail world, Marc Alvarez and Simone Caporale, came together in 2021 to open SIPS, a bar located in the L’Eixample neighborhood that already had quite the lineup of revered cocktail spots including Tandem, Solange, and Dry Martini. Even in such lauded company, SIPS stood out. Just two years after opening, they were voted the #1 bar in the world for 2023. The secret to their success? Focusing on the entirety of the cocktail experience, considering everything involved, from the ingredients used to the glassware for serving and even the environment itself.
The results are extraordinary. Try the Blanc - a blend of brandy, pine nuts, raisins, and freeze-dried spinach. The striking Primordial cocktail, made of Macallan 12 scotch, ruby port and Asian pear, is served in a metal cast of two cupped hands. Whatever you order, be sure to pay attention to every last detail. They’re intentional, and they matter.
RUBI Gin Bar photo credit Adam Centamore
Barcelona, like most of Spain, has a passionate love affair with the gin and tonic. So much so that an argument could be made that it is the national drink, known simply as gin tonic. Part of the reason for this may date back to the end of Francisco Franco’s reign as military dictator when he died in 1975. The sudden increased demand for alcoholic beverages was a boon for gin distillers, who could create a beverage that required no aging and therefore could hit the market quickly.
Rubi Gin Bar takes the concept of the gin & tonic and runs with it, creating spectacular variations on the theme featuring dozens of different gins from around the world. A small but thoughtful tapas menu lets you snack on traditional small plates while you sip. There’s one detail to know before you visit, however, and it’s right in the name. As “rubi” suggests, the entire bar is red. The walls, tapestries, lighting…all red. It’s an intense environment that grows on you as the gin tonics flow.
Bodega del Born photo credit Adam Centamore
An absolute gem of a bar, Bodega del Born is a superb representation of how enjoyable tapas life can be. Tucked down a quiet alley of a busy, cobblestoned walking street in El Born, Bodega del Born is tiny, even by local vermuteria standards. There are a few stools at the bar and along the walls, and a couple of wine barrel tables to sit around, but otherwise stand wherever you can squeeze in. Once you sample some of the house vermouth stored in giant barrels over the bar and dig into a plate of boquerones or chorizo in cider, you won’t care if you’re sitting or not.
The bar is run by two ladies who are welcoming and friendly, making suggestions and whipping up orders in no time. Take a moment to look around the small space and notice all the small, colorful tags hanging pretty much everywhere, inside and out. Those are the wishes and dreams of patrons - if lucky, you’ll be asked to contribute your own. Each June, they collect and burn them in the fires celebrating the Feast of Saint Joan to make sure they come true.
4. BierCaB
BierCaB photo credit BierCab
While exploring the amazing wine and spirits scene, it would be a mistake to overlook Barcelona’s amazing beer culture. Over the past decade the number of brewpubs and microbreweries has exploded, providing beer lovers tons of great options. At the top of that list is BierCaB, voted #4 beer destination in the world by RateBeer. With more than 30 rotating selections of Spanish and international craft beers on tap and an extensive selection of bottles and cans, BierCab always has something new to offer. A thoughtful menu of tapas and other dishes provide tasty pairings to enjoy. The real star of the show here is the staff. Professional, friendly and extremely knowledgeable, they are more than happy to get as nerdy about beer as you like.
Bar Dr. Stravinsky photo credit Adam Centamore
Voted one of the best bars in the world in 2020, 2019, and 2017, the mixologists of Dr. Stravinsky consider themselves to be more lab than bar. Located in the El Born neighborhood, this steampunk-themed bar uses a combination of centuries-old techniques and cutting-edge tools to craft unique cocktails. Guests select recipes based on their primary characteristics. For those who like sour tones, the Fatty Paloma combines tequila and mezcal with cheddar cheese (yes, cheese), cajun syrup and citrus. Seeking something with a little more kick? The New Fashioned combines vodka with roasted barley, unrefined cane sugar, housemade cocoa tincture and orange bitters. Arrive early to snag a table on the small second level to see the whole bar in action.