G Manifesto had some good intel on his data sheet but I wanted to put together something a little more comprehensive (I lived in the city from January-July 2012). I've put quite a bit of time and thought into this data sheet so hopefully you guys enjoy it and get some use out of it, feel free to ask any more specific questions!
Barcelona: Ciutat Comtal
![[Image: 148px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Barcelona.svg.png]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Coat_of_Arms_of_Barcelona.svg/148px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Barcelona.svg.png)
Prologue:
Barcelona is one of the most flocked to cities in Europe tourist wise, and I agree that the overflow of tourists is somewhat of an Achilles Heel. Many members on this forum (including Roosh) have cited this as one of the main problems with Barcelona. This data sheet, comprised of 6 sections (Bars/Clubs, Restaurants, Daygame, Where to/where not to stay, Transportation, and a brief overview of Catalan girls. This data sheet includes some well known spots, but many more 'hidden gems' scattered throughout this truly awesome city. Every location will be given a rating (1-10) which indicates how vital knowing at least conversational spanish is. I have also taken the liberty to write the nearest metro stop and line to each area. So without further ado, lets get going.
Bars/Clubs
The party truly never stops in Barcelona, one could stay out and drink from 11am-9am if you had the superhuman stamina this would require! Let's get started with the more well known venues. (locations in brackets)
(Port Olímpic) Metro L4: Ciutadella
Important note: going to these clubs is almost certainly going to require getting on the 'list' as the covers are ridiculous (€20+) and the lines are long. I discovered this gem by accident and its a website where you can get on the lists of a lot of BCN clubs for free. http://www.listagolden.net/
So register and use at will (Saved me countless euros during my time there)
Opium Mar (3/10)
This club will be one of the first mentioned when it comes to Barcelona nightlife. During the day it is a restaurant that has a kind of asian-fusion menu. It is quite posh and the bouncers are notoriously known for not allowing people in who don't look their best. So all you Americans out there who think you can roll in with light shoes, a t-shirt, and dark jeans, forget it. That said, if you can get in, its not a bad night out. The club is massive when they open up the second half and there are ALWAYS sexy girls around, many of them foreign (Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Russian) so english is not really required. I had a pretty good record here and managed to get a Swedish and Belarusian flag![[Image: wink.gif]](https://rooshvforum.network/images/smilies/wink.gif)
There is a mixed crowd varying from young university students to old ballers buying bottles and chilling in the VIP. Drinks are quite expensive €12 euros for a 'copa' (mixed drink) If you can weasel your way into the ERASMUS circle, they do a free sushi dinner with 2 glasses of champagne on mondays! My wing and I often used this as a way get a free awesome sushi dinner, do some warm up approaches, and move on before 11.
Shôko (3/10)
Basically the same story as Opium as they are owned by the same people. However this place serves as more of a pre-party before Opium as it closes significantly earlier (around 2am very early for Barcelona nightlife time) That being said, it is more intimate than Opium Mar and the smoking area overlooking the beach is an invaluable opener venue. Given the smoking culture in Spain and especially Catalunya, this is a pretty useful tip at any venue with a smoking area. (Lighters anyone??)
CDLC (Carpe Diem Lounge Club) (3/10)
This place is along the same strip of beach as Shôko and Opium but has a slightly different vibe, there was a much older crowd in here and the vibe was way more chilled out. Nice smoking area with large beds for chatting and maybe more if the bouncer isn't looking hahaha. Still on the pricey side but this is known as the strip of posh clubs in Barcelona. My housemate (Swedish) killed here and it became one of his go-to spots. He banged this 30 something year old Brazilian who was so hot and she bought us all a round of drinks!
Catwalk (2/10)
This is the club that I would say most resembles an american set-up. They play a lot of hip-hop and the place is full of girls looking for black guys, so if thats your scene you will probably get on just fine. Since it resembles an American club so much Spanish is not needed as much as other places, drinks are fairly expensive but the music was good!
'Clubbers Row' (6/10)
This is a long strip of bars and clubs just down the hill from these other more posh venues. This is where most of the local Catalans go in Port Olimpic, and I've got to say it is quite a cool setup. Probably 10-15 bars playing all kinds of different music. On a friday/saturday this place is buzzing but watch your wallet! (pickpockets) Drinks are significantly cheaper here (€5-7) This place is great for approaches because if you get burned or aren't feeling the vibe, there will be a totally different venue next door, and all these places have no cover charge as far as I'm aware. This is a good spot to meet the less posh crowd and as long as your game is tight you should do well.
(Poble Sec/El Raval)
Sala Apolo/Cosmo (5/10) Metro L3: Paral-lel
This is without a doubt one of the most popular venues in Barcelona, and on nights you wouldn't expect. 'Nasty Monday' and 'Crappy Tuesday' as they are locally known, are more rockish, alternative nights. Its a nice mixed crowd with more locals and 'in-the-know' tourists. If you are going to make a trip here (especially solo) I would recommend stopping by Cosmo which is about 300m away as there are cheap drinks and if you're feeling brave they have a pretty nice selection of cocktails with Absinth in them. There is a cover for Sala Apolo (€12) but this is 'amb un consumació' (with a drink) as is the case in many clubs in Barcelona.
Sala Apolo is in my eyes one of the must visit places in the city clubbing wise and since their big nights are Monday and Tuesday you can go here and still hit the other main spots at the weekend.
Moog (7/10) Metro L3: Liceu
This small gritty club is in a pretty seedy area very close to La Rambla which is possibly my least favourite place in the city. My friend had his wallet stolen leaving this place. The club itself is quite cool, it has a dingy underground vibe and cheaper drinks than normal. I have a soft spot for this club as I managed to bring home a Finnish girl with amazing fake titties! It has a main room which plays electronic music and another room which plays oldies.
(Gràcia) Metro L6: Gràcia
Sutton the Club (8/10)
This is in my opinion the most posh, upscale place in all of Barcelona. You've gotta come correct if you want to get in here, its quite a big club but on a saturday or friday it is absolutely rammed. This is where you will see the who's who of Barcelona. I only went a handful of times because its quite harsh on the wallet but on the same night I was there Akon, Shakira, and several FCB players were in the VIP. People here are snobby so if you are approaching girls be prepared to get shot down a few times, spanish is HEAVILY suggested here but not 100% necessary. Also beware of the semi-pro escort girls looking for company for the night. The music is deafening inside so if you wanna talk to girls and not just dance with them your best bet is the smoking area outside.
Otto Zutz (3/10)
Another ERASMUS and foreigner hotspot, this place has a pretty good hip-hop night if that's your scene. I only went once but had a decent time, its on the lista golden website so you won't have to pay any cover. Its a pretty young crowd here so be prepared for that as well, but I think its a decent spot.
Espit Chupitos (6/10) Metro Lines 4,2,3: Passeig de Gràcia
This place isn't a club its a shot bar and it is one of my favourite pre-game spots. Basically all the shots are €1 and they have a huge menu with some crazy combinations (try the mad dog with tabasco sauce its actually really good!) The vibe more resembles a karaoke lounge with sofas and chairs in the back. This is an awesome place to chat up some catalanas provided its not rammed. They also do normal drinks here as well. I would put this on my 'must visit' list in the city.
(Miscellaneous Locations)
Malalts de Festa (10/10) Metro Line 1: Avinguda Carrilet
This is a place you won't find in any guidebook, wont see on any lonely planet or travel show, this is a true and authentic diamond in the rough. A bit outside the center near Hospitalet d'Llobregat this is an out-and-out local place. A catalan mate of mine at my university told me this was a poosy palace and my god was he right. Speaking spanish is nearly required as all the girls are local and overall the level of english in Spain is poor. One tip for this club I can give you is learn a few phrases in Catalan, the girls go crazy that you would know even a little of such a small language and it kind of validates you as more than just a sex-hungry tourist. I went to malalts probably 15 times and banged 10 times, that tells you that a.) the girls are easy and b.) you need to go here. The bartenders wear skimpy bikinis and dance on the bar and they are so fucking hot its unreal. Nacho Vidal has been known to frequent this place and if you go on their website you can see photos of him from a PA he did there. Malalts de festa in Catalan means "Crazy for Party" and it sums up the vibe perfectly!
Razzmatazz/La Ovella Negra (7/10) Metro Line 4: Bogatell
These are two pretty popular venues that have a lot to offer. La Ovella Negra (the black sheep) is a cool bar, solid place to pre-game and meet girls from all over. There is another location on La Rambla but that location should be called 'La Puta Negra' because of all the black probably human trafficking victim black prostitutes outside. Its not too pricey but if your watching your wallet you might just be better off buying a couple of botellóns and pre-drinking on the street or at home. Razzmatazz is a huge club which often serves as a concert venue. They have a large stage which usually has a lot of dancers on it during the nights when it's a club. It's more alternative but still plays some electronic music. Its not too pricy to get in (15€ with a drink) and there is some decent talent. A crazy catalan girl basically ripped my shirt off in the middle of the dance floor so thats what I'll always remember about this club haha.
The W hotel (5/10)
On sundays, there is a cocktail bar on the one of the top floors which is seriously an awesome view. Its very upscale, I felt like I was really posh drinking and talking in there, the complimentary shot they gave us took about 15 minutes to prepare and the bartender was flipping bottles and blending shit, the whole 9 yards! I met and later banged a sexy Italian girl I met at one of these Sunday Soirees and Its something you should check out at least once. Check lista golden to see if the guest list is still on there!
Where to eat
Besides being a beachside paradise, Barcelona has some sick restaurants that can be enjoyed without breaking the bank. Eating out for lunch in Spain is far cheaper than dinner and you can get a 3 course 'Menú del día' for dirt cheap. I didn't eat out too much (at least not in restaurants ) but of the good number I did go to here are my recommendations.
(7 portes) Metro Line 4: Barceloneta
According to the barman in the cervecería my flatmates and I basically lived in, this restaurant was where everyone who was anyone ate back in the old days. Recently refurbished it is a really great place to get a Paella or other spanish cuisine. Its a bit expensive but its one of those places you've gotta go. Don't cheat yourself and get some shitty street Paella from one of the tourist traps, get the real thing and go here, I promise you won't be disappointed.
(Pim Pam Burguer) Metro Line 4: Jaume I
I know what you might be thinking, why would I go to Barcelona and get a hamburger? This place has honestly the best burgers I've ever had and I've been all over the States (I think its better than In'N'Out) decent price and located in the pleasant area of El Born near the Picasso museum, I can heavily recommend.
(El Señorio) Metro Lines 5 and 2: Sagrada Familia
I am a HUGE fan of Peruvian food, and this is about as close to Lima quality as you can get according to my ex-girlfriend who was half spanish half peruvian. The menú del día is under 10 euros and for dinner the menu is amazing. The ceviche and lomo saltado there is incredible. Try the Anticuchos as well they are absolutely amazing.
Daygame
Catalanas are stereotypically quite cold, but if you catch them in a neutral area as long as they are not busy (cafes, universities between classes, supermarkets, shopping malls) you can have success. My university (Universitat Ramon Llull) is notoriously posh, and these girls you really have to work from every angle to get numbers and dates out of them. Some good spots for day game are as follows:
Plaça Espanya: An old bullfighting ring converted into a shopping mall, its teeming with spanish girls and foreign girls alike and is worth a visit.
The Beaches: My flatmates and I played beach volleyball almost daily and we bought our own net and brought it down to the beach and the girls came to us, wanting to watch or play. I honestly (and perhaps sadly) got more numbers from that net than anything else I said/did in Barcelona. Of the major ones I think Bogatell and Barceloneta are the best, and you can always see some topless honeys!
Monuments: Places like Parc Güell, Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, can be used for what I call Gaudi Game™ meeting groups of tourist girls who are in the city for a few days, act like you know the city well and you are in with these girls because they want info about clubs/bars/beaches, etc. and will likely be down to meet up later.
Where to stay/Where not to stay
I have selected the 'where to stay' places based on accessibility to transport, proximity to good nightlife, cost, and safety.
Where to stay:
Poble-Sec: I lived here and I can honestly say its a great neighbourhood. There is a large immigrant population but it is 20 mins walk from the beach, right by the metro lines 3 and 2 which can link you up basically anywhere, and has Sala Apolo right in its heart. It is relatively central nightlife wise and taxi's shouldn't be too expensive. It is very cheap as well. Look out at night for pickpockets but they are relatively easy to spot/avoid. My swedish housemate who resembles Ivan Drago from Rocky IV actually 'broke' one pickpocket who didn't heed his warning to stop (one of my favourite barcelona stories)
Barceloneta: If its the summer, why not stay by the beach? A bit more pricy but still accessible to the metro and its quite near the main strip of clubs at Vila Olimpica. If you are in a large group chilling on the beach after the club is awesome, even better if you have a girl to take a late night dip in the Mediterranean with you! Watch out for pickpockets on the beach and try to stay in a group if you hit the beach late night as there are a ton of pickpockets posing as beer salesmen. I heard a story of one guy fucking a girl on the beach and someone was trying to pickpocket him MID BANG!
Sarrià: If you are looking for somewhere a bit more quiet to operate out of, Sarrià is the spot! Right on the base of the mountain, it's a very spanish area and there is no trouble of any kind. I stayed here for a couple weeks while my roomates and I were searching for flats and I can recommend it, it's quiet nightlife wise but it's quite easy to get the metro/taxi wherever you want to go. Price wise you can probably find a great deal as well since its not a tourist area.
Where not to stay:
LA FUCKING RAMBLA: This area gives the city such a bad rap it's unreal...pickpockets, illegal immigrant sunglass salesmen, and gawking tourists getting robbed blind by day. Aggressive african prostitutes and drug pushers robbing tourists blind by night. Yes it's the centre of the city, and yes its well known, but in my honest opinion its one big shitty tourist trap and a blemish on the beautiful face of Barcelona.
El Raval: If you are a seasoned Barcelona visitor, you could enjoy El Raval because it is quite edgy and exciting, but this is another pretty dangerous area. There are a shitload of small streets that I would not want to navigate while drunk, let alone with a girl on my arm. During the day its a cool place with nice cafe's and alternative clothing shops, but at night it is dodgy as fuck.
L'Eixample: Expensive, noisy, and it is nicknamed gay xample. Need I say more??
Transportation
I think transportation is one aspect where Barcelona has Madrid licked well and truly. The city is not as big as its Capital, blood rival cousin, and thus far more accessible and affordable taxi wise. Also the metro in Barcelona is very easy to navigate and the prices are very reasonable. A 10 journey ticket should set you back around €9 euros which is cheap by european standards (London Underground anyone?) The great thing about the 10 journey ticket is if you combine a metro ride and a bus ride within an hour it only counts as 1 journey!
The metro closes at 12 on weekdays, opens at 5am and on weekends it is open all night long. If you are out in Barcelona and you want to get home between the hours of 12-4 go to another city because you obviously can't handle the party.
Catalan girls: 5 things to know
1.) They are interested in foreigners - I have been to Madrid many times, and I always felt like no matter what I did I could never get that inside track, I'm not Spanish enough. In Barcelona it is so multicultural that they are genuinely open to everyone, which is great! If you speak spanish and are decent looking, you could do very well.
2.) Most of them smoke - If you detest girls who smoke, this may greatly limit your options, as I found that a large number of girls smoke like chimneys and the rest will have a few when they drink. Use this to your advantage and carry a lighter at all times. I even started taking out my roommates half empty packets of cigarettes with me as an ice breaker. (Paying him for them of course haha)
3.) ONS/SNL - While it does happen quite a bit, Spain is a very social circle revolving society and the more wholesome girls will want to look good in front of their friends. Numbers and dates are easy but the ONS is rarer than other places I've been.
4.) They are very proud of BCN - Barcelona has a very separatist bordering on anarchistic mentality. Don't talk about Franco or how much you love Real Madrid or you could be looking at a drink spilled over you. Avoid spanish politics in general if you don't side with the catalan view of things.
5.) Persistence is KEY - For catalan girls, a kiss means almost nothing on the dancefloor. If a girl has kissed you several times, make sure you hold on to her because if you don't she is going to bounce around the room and some other guy will recover your fumble rest assured. If you have honed in on your chica for the night and you need to go to the toilet, leave her with your wing or find another way to keep her linked to you in some way. A great tip is holding on to a girl's cigarettes so she doesn't have to carry them around all night, that makes sure she HAS to see you again!
I hope you guys enjoyed this mini-novel hahaha I worked quite hard on this and scanned my brain for a lot of stuff but any other questions I will be happy to answer! Many people on this forum dislike BCN for one reason or another but hopefully this data sheet will inspire you to give the city another chance!
Bona Sort Meus Amics!!!!!!!!!
Barcelona: Ciutat Comtal
Prologue:
Barcelona is one of the most flocked to cities in Europe tourist wise, and I agree that the overflow of tourists is somewhat of an Achilles Heel. Many members on this forum (including Roosh) have cited this as one of the main problems with Barcelona. This data sheet, comprised of 6 sections (Bars/Clubs, Restaurants, Daygame, Where to/where not to stay, Transportation, and a brief overview of Catalan girls. This data sheet includes some well known spots, but many more 'hidden gems' scattered throughout this truly awesome city. Every location will be given a rating (1-10) which indicates how vital knowing at least conversational spanish is. I have also taken the liberty to write the nearest metro stop and line to each area. So without further ado, lets get going.
Bars/Clubs
The party truly never stops in Barcelona, one could stay out and drink from 11am-9am if you had the superhuman stamina this would require! Let's get started with the more well known venues. (locations in brackets)
(Port Olímpic) Metro L4: Ciutadella
Important note: going to these clubs is almost certainly going to require getting on the 'list' as the covers are ridiculous (€20+) and the lines are long. I discovered this gem by accident and its a website where you can get on the lists of a lot of BCN clubs for free. http://www.listagolden.net/
So register and use at will (Saved me countless euros during my time there)
Opium Mar (3/10)
This club will be one of the first mentioned when it comes to Barcelona nightlife. During the day it is a restaurant that has a kind of asian-fusion menu. It is quite posh and the bouncers are notoriously known for not allowing people in who don't look their best. So all you Americans out there who think you can roll in with light shoes, a t-shirt, and dark jeans, forget it. That said, if you can get in, its not a bad night out. The club is massive when they open up the second half and there are ALWAYS sexy girls around, many of them foreign (Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Russian) so english is not really required. I had a pretty good record here and managed to get a Swedish and Belarusian flag
There is a mixed crowd varying from young university students to old ballers buying bottles and chilling in the VIP. Drinks are quite expensive €12 euros for a 'copa' (mixed drink) If you can weasel your way into the ERASMUS circle, they do a free sushi dinner with 2 glasses of champagne on mondays! My wing and I often used this as a way get a free awesome sushi dinner, do some warm up approaches, and move on before 11. Shôko (3/10)
Basically the same story as Opium as they are owned by the same people. However this place serves as more of a pre-party before Opium as it closes significantly earlier (around 2am very early for Barcelona nightlife time) That being said, it is more intimate than Opium Mar and the smoking area overlooking the beach is an invaluable opener venue. Given the smoking culture in Spain and especially Catalunya, this is a pretty useful tip at any venue with a smoking area. (Lighters anyone??)
CDLC (Carpe Diem Lounge Club) (3/10)
This place is along the same strip of beach as Shôko and Opium but has a slightly different vibe, there was a much older crowd in here and the vibe was way more chilled out. Nice smoking area with large beds for chatting and maybe more if the bouncer isn't looking hahaha. Still on the pricey side but this is known as the strip of posh clubs in Barcelona. My housemate (Swedish) killed here and it became one of his go-to spots. He banged this 30 something year old Brazilian who was so hot and she bought us all a round of drinks!
Catwalk (2/10)
This is the club that I would say most resembles an american set-up. They play a lot of hip-hop and the place is full of girls looking for black guys, so if thats your scene you will probably get on just fine. Since it resembles an American club so much Spanish is not needed as much as other places, drinks are fairly expensive but the music was good!
'Clubbers Row' (6/10)
This is a long strip of bars and clubs just down the hill from these other more posh venues. This is where most of the local Catalans go in Port Olimpic, and I've got to say it is quite a cool setup. Probably 10-15 bars playing all kinds of different music. On a friday/saturday this place is buzzing but watch your wallet! (pickpockets) Drinks are significantly cheaper here (€5-7) This place is great for approaches because if you get burned or aren't feeling the vibe, there will be a totally different venue next door, and all these places have no cover charge as far as I'm aware. This is a good spot to meet the less posh crowd and as long as your game is tight you should do well.
(Poble Sec/El Raval)
Sala Apolo/Cosmo (5/10) Metro L3: Paral-lel
This is without a doubt one of the most popular venues in Barcelona, and on nights you wouldn't expect. 'Nasty Monday' and 'Crappy Tuesday' as they are locally known, are more rockish, alternative nights. Its a nice mixed crowd with more locals and 'in-the-know' tourists. If you are going to make a trip here (especially solo) I would recommend stopping by Cosmo which is about 300m away as there are cheap drinks and if you're feeling brave they have a pretty nice selection of cocktails with Absinth in them. There is a cover for Sala Apolo (€12) but this is 'amb un consumació' (with a drink) as is the case in many clubs in Barcelona.
Sala Apolo is in my eyes one of the must visit places in the city clubbing wise and since their big nights are Monday and Tuesday you can go here and still hit the other main spots at the weekend.
Moog (7/10) Metro L3: Liceu
This small gritty club is in a pretty seedy area very close to La Rambla which is possibly my least favourite place in the city. My friend had his wallet stolen leaving this place. The club itself is quite cool, it has a dingy underground vibe and cheaper drinks than normal. I have a soft spot for this club as I managed to bring home a Finnish girl with amazing fake titties! It has a main room which plays electronic music and another room which plays oldies.
(Gràcia) Metro L6: Gràcia
Sutton the Club (8/10)
This is in my opinion the most posh, upscale place in all of Barcelona. You've gotta come correct if you want to get in here, its quite a big club but on a saturday or friday it is absolutely rammed. This is where you will see the who's who of Barcelona. I only went a handful of times because its quite harsh on the wallet but on the same night I was there Akon, Shakira, and several FCB players were in the VIP. People here are snobby so if you are approaching girls be prepared to get shot down a few times, spanish is HEAVILY suggested here but not 100% necessary. Also beware of the semi-pro escort girls looking for company for the night. The music is deafening inside so if you wanna talk to girls and not just dance with them your best bet is the smoking area outside.
Otto Zutz (3/10)
Another ERASMUS and foreigner hotspot, this place has a pretty good hip-hop night if that's your scene. I only went once but had a decent time, its on the lista golden website so you won't have to pay any cover. Its a pretty young crowd here so be prepared for that as well, but I think its a decent spot.
Espit Chupitos (6/10) Metro Lines 4,2,3: Passeig de Gràcia
This place isn't a club its a shot bar and it is one of my favourite pre-game spots. Basically all the shots are €1 and they have a huge menu with some crazy combinations (try the mad dog with tabasco sauce its actually really good!) The vibe more resembles a karaoke lounge with sofas and chairs in the back. This is an awesome place to chat up some catalanas provided its not rammed. They also do normal drinks here as well. I would put this on my 'must visit' list in the city.
(Miscellaneous Locations)
Malalts de Festa (10/10) Metro Line 1: Avinguda Carrilet
This is a place you won't find in any guidebook, wont see on any lonely planet or travel show, this is a true and authentic diamond in the rough. A bit outside the center near Hospitalet d'Llobregat this is an out-and-out local place. A catalan mate of mine at my university told me this was a poosy palace and my god was he right. Speaking spanish is nearly required as all the girls are local and overall the level of english in Spain is poor. One tip for this club I can give you is learn a few phrases in Catalan, the girls go crazy that you would know even a little of such a small language and it kind of validates you as more than just a sex-hungry tourist. I went to malalts probably 15 times and banged 10 times, that tells you that a.) the girls are easy and b.) you need to go here. The bartenders wear skimpy bikinis and dance on the bar and they are so fucking hot its unreal. Nacho Vidal has been known to frequent this place and if you go on their website you can see photos of him from a PA he did there. Malalts de festa in Catalan means "Crazy for Party" and it sums up the vibe perfectly!
Razzmatazz/La Ovella Negra (7/10) Metro Line 4: Bogatell
These are two pretty popular venues that have a lot to offer. La Ovella Negra (the black sheep) is a cool bar, solid place to pre-game and meet girls from all over. There is another location on La Rambla but that location should be called 'La Puta Negra' because of all the black probably human trafficking victim black prostitutes outside. Its not too pricey but if your watching your wallet you might just be better off buying a couple of botellóns and pre-drinking on the street or at home. Razzmatazz is a huge club which often serves as a concert venue. They have a large stage which usually has a lot of dancers on it during the nights when it's a club. It's more alternative but still plays some electronic music. Its not too pricy to get in (15€ with a drink) and there is some decent talent. A crazy catalan girl basically ripped my shirt off in the middle of the dance floor so thats what I'll always remember about this club haha.
The W hotel (5/10)
On sundays, there is a cocktail bar on the one of the top floors which is seriously an awesome view. Its very upscale, I felt like I was really posh drinking and talking in there, the complimentary shot they gave us took about 15 minutes to prepare and the bartender was flipping bottles and blending shit, the whole 9 yards! I met and later banged a sexy Italian girl I met at one of these Sunday Soirees and Its something you should check out at least once. Check lista golden to see if the guest list is still on there!
Where to eat
Besides being a beachside paradise, Barcelona has some sick restaurants that can be enjoyed without breaking the bank. Eating out for lunch in Spain is far cheaper than dinner and you can get a 3 course 'Menú del día' for dirt cheap. I didn't eat out too much (at least not in restaurants
) but of the good number I did go to here are my recommendations.(7 portes) Metro Line 4: Barceloneta
According to the barman in the cervecería my flatmates and I basically lived in, this restaurant was where everyone who was anyone ate back in the old days. Recently refurbished it is a really great place to get a Paella or other spanish cuisine. Its a bit expensive but its one of those places you've gotta go. Don't cheat yourself and get some shitty street Paella from one of the tourist traps, get the real thing and go here, I promise you won't be disappointed.
(Pim Pam Burguer) Metro Line 4: Jaume I
I know what you might be thinking, why would I go to Barcelona and get a hamburger? This place has honestly the best burgers I've ever had and I've been all over the States (I think its better than In'N'Out) decent price and located in the pleasant area of El Born near the Picasso museum, I can heavily recommend.
(El Señorio) Metro Lines 5 and 2: Sagrada Familia
I am a HUGE fan of Peruvian food, and this is about as close to Lima quality as you can get according to my ex-girlfriend who was half spanish half peruvian. The menú del día is under 10 euros and for dinner the menu is amazing. The ceviche and lomo saltado there is incredible. Try the Anticuchos as well they are absolutely amazing.
Daygame
Catalanas are stereotypically quite cold, but if you catch them in a neutral area as long as they are not busy (cafes, universities between classes, supermarkets, shopping malls) you can have success. My university (Universitat Ramon Llull) is notoriously posh, and these girls you really have to work from every angle to get numbers and dates out of them. Some good spots for day game are as follows:
Plaça Espanya: An old bullfighting ring converted into a shopping mall, its teeming with spanish girls and foreign girls alike and is worth a visit.
The Beaches: My flatmates and I played beach volleyball almost daily and we bought our own net and brought it down to the beach and the girls came to us, wanting to watch or play. I honestly (and perhaps sadly) got more numbers from that net than anything else I said/did in Barcelona. Of the major ones I think Bogatell and Barceloneta are the best, and you can always see some topless honeys!
Monuments: Places like Parc Güell, Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, can be used for what I call Gaudi Game™ meeting groups of tourist girls who are in the city for a few days, act like you know the city well and you are in with these girls because they want info about clubs/bars/beaches, etc. and will likely be down to meet up later.
Where to stay/Where not to stay
I have selected the 'where to stay' places based on accessibility to transport, proximity to good nightlife, cost, and safety.
Where to stay:
Poble-Sec: I lived here and I can honestly say its a great neighbourhood. There is a large immigrant population but it is 20 mins walk from the beach, right by the metro lines 3 and 2 which can link you up basically anywhere, and has Sala Apolo right in its heart. It is relatively central nightlife wise and taxi's shouldn't be too expensive. It is very cheap as well. Look out at night for pickpockets but they are relatively easy to spot/avoid. My swedish housemate who resembles Ivan Drago from Rocky IV actually 'broke' one pickpocket who didn't heed his warning to stop (one of my favourite barcelona stories)
Barceloneta: If its the summer, why not stay by the beach? A bit more pricy but still accessible to the metro and its quite near the main strip of clubs at Vila Olimpica. If you are in a large group chilling on the beach after the club is awesome, even better if you have a girl to take a late night dip in the Mediterranean with you! Watch out for pickpockets on the beach and try to stay in a group if you hit the beach late night as there are a ton of pickpockets posing as beer salesmen. I heard a story of one guy fucking a girl on the beach and someone was trying to pickpocket him MID BANG!
Sarrià: If you are looking for somewhere a bit more quiet to operate out of, Sarrià is the spot! Right on the base of the mountain, it's a very spanish area and there is no trouble of any kind. I stayed here for a couple weeks while my roomates and I were searching for flats and I can recommend it, it's quiet nightlife wise but it's quite easy to get the metro/taxi wherever you want to go. Price wise you can probably find a great deal as well since its not a tourist area.
Where not to stay:
LA FUCKING RAMBLA: This area gives the city such a bad rap it's unreal...pickpockets, illegal immigrant sunglass salesmen, and gawking tourists getting robbed blind by day. Aggressive african prostitutes and drug pushers robbing tourists blind by night. Yes it's the centre of the city, and yes its well known, but in my honest opinion its one big shitty tourist trap and a blemish on the beautiful face of Barcelona.
El Raval: If you are a seasoned Barcelona visitor, you could enjoy El Raval because it is quite edgy and exciting, but this is another pretty dangerous area. There are a shitload of small streets that I would not want to navigate while drunk, let alone with a girl on my arm. During the day its a cool place with nice cafe's and alternative clothing shops, but at night it is dodgy as fuck.
L'Eixample: Expensive, noisy, and it is nicknamed gay xample. Need I say more??
Transportation
I think transportation is one aspect where Barcelona has Madrid licked well and truly. The city is not as big as its Capital, blood rival cousin, and thus far more accessible and affordable taxi wise. Also the metro in Barcelona is very easy to navigate and the prices are very reasonable. A 10 journey ticket should set you back around €9 euros which is cheap by european standards (London Underground anyone?) The great thing about the 10 journey ticket is if you combine a metro ride and a bus ride within an hour it only counts as 1 journey!
The metro closes at 12 on weekdays, opens at 5am and on weekends it is open all night long. If you are out in Barcelona and you want to get home between the hours of 12-4 go to another city because you obviously can't handle the party
.Catalan girls: 5 things to know
1.) They are interested in foreigners - I have been to Madrid many times, and I always felt like no matter what I did I could never get that inside track, I'm not Spanish enough. In Barcelona it is so multicultural that they are genuinely open to everyone, which is great! If you speak spanish and are decent looking, you could do very well.
2.) Most of them smoke - If you detest girls who smoke, this may greatly limit your options, as I found that a large number of girls smoke like chimneys and the rest will have a few when they drink. Use this to your advantage and carry a lighter at all times. I even started taking out my roommates half empty packets of cigarettes with me as an ice breaker. (Paying him for them of course haha)
3.) ONS/SNL - While it does happen quite a bit, Spain is a very social circle revolving society and the more wholesome girls will want to look good in front of their friends. Numbers and dates are easy but the ONS is rarer than other places I've been.
4.) They are very proud of BCN - Barcelona has a very separatist bordering on anarchistic mentality. Don't talk about Franco or how much you love Real Madrid or you could be looking at a drink spilled over you. Avoid spanish politics in general if you don't side with the catalan view of things.
5.) Persistence is KEY - For catalan girls, a kiss means almost nothing on the dancefloor. If a girl has kissed you several times, make sure you hold on to her because if you don't she is going to bounce around the room and some other guy will recover your fumble rest assured. If you have honed in on your chica for the night and you need to go to the toilet, leave her with your wing or find another way to keep her linked to you in some way. A great tip is holding on to a girl's cigarettes so she doesn't have to carry them around all night, that makes sure she HAS to see you again!
I hope you guys enjoyed this mini-novel hahaha I worked quite hard on this and scanned my brain for a lot of stuff but any other questions I will be happy to answer! Many people on this forum dislike BCN for one reason or another but hopefully this data sheet will inspire you to give the city another chance!
Bona Sort Meus Amics!!!!!!!!!