I HEART BARCELONA.
Hit The Sack In Style
Praktik Ramblas combines everything we could have possibly wanted; comfort, chic design, fabulous location and great architecture, all at a great price.
DING! DING! DING!
From the outside this place just looks like your typically beautiful historic European building, but inside an incredible transformation has taken place. The Praktik Ramblas sparkles inside with a design that is both snug and cool, a trick that is not easily carried out.
Located in one of the most beautiful streets of the city centre of Barcelona, Rambla Cataluña. The hotel was completely refurbished in 2009, but it maintains the flavor of the original Casa Climent Arola, a modernist jewel built at the beginning of the 19th century.
The flooring and ceilings retain their original glory, which made us feel like we were immersed in the true spirit of Barcelona.
Pro Tip: Ask your reception staff for LOMO DIANA MINI camera that you can use during your stay for free!!
I was a big fan of all the fine details: everything from the lighting to the mosaic tiles to the overly-adorned walls…
Not to miss the bathroom that has a view..
And the room with high-ceilings and glass-walls.
Stylin’ chic in the Outdoor terrace!
Praktik Hotels few more properties as well, the Praktik Budget boutique hotel in Barcelona and a brand spanking new one in Madrid.
Our second stay was at Casa Camper -
Casa Camper is one of Barcelona’s leading boutique hotels, and there is no question as to why. Camper offers much more than just comfortable shoes; the hotel is steps away from the La Boqueria market in busy Raval, but once inside you feel miles away as you receive truly countryside hospitality.
For the athletically inclined, take advantage of the hotel’s rental bicycles to explore the city and the interesting Raval area!
Rooms come with hammocks and bathrooms come with a view into the wall garden.
Pro Tip: Tentempié (light snacks based on sandwiches, juices, tea, etc.) is served free of cost in the hotel lounge throughout the day.
Scoot Around
Rent a Scooter to go around the city, makes it much more easier to stop anywhere you want and will let you get familiar with the areas much quicker.
For 20e a day you can cover Montjuic to Park Guell or from El Born to Old Port all in a jiffy.
For The Food Lovers
Tapas24 is the sister restaurant of popular Comerc 24 and is a vibrant venue honoring the much loved tradition of tapas bars. The place is open from 9AM til midnight proving that there is no time too early or too late to enjoy the most amazing tapa with a drink.
Boqueria Market
You would not expect eating in a market hall, would you?
This is something you definitely have to try out, as the market in the heart of the city is actually hosting some of Barcelona’s best restaurants, featuring the freshest fish, most impressive homemade pizzas and incredible tapas that the city has to offer. An array of tempting little bars and restaurants include El Quim, Pintxo or Antonio’s.
We found out that Antony Bourdain was at Bar Pintxo the week after we left, and we’re still wondering why he couldn’t adjust his schedule to suit us!
Is this garden a restaurant or this restaurant a garden? Come check it out for yourself and be the judge. This nomadic kitchen is a celebration to good food and good conversation and the perfect place for a latte with a friend.
Here’s one for all you foodies out there! Komomoto serves up a range of Nikkei style food, which is a type of cuisine developed by Japanese immigrants in Peru throughout the century, promising for interesting dishes that aren’t always for the faint hearted. Sample the range of ceviches to chicharrones with nori seaweed and crispy rice, in a modern tavern with tables for sharing, in the heart of el Born neighborhood.
“Tourists come in and want to know, ‘Is it a jewelry shop?’ ” says Carles Mampel, the 39-year-old award-winning pastry chef behind bubo and bubo bar. His establishment is actually a one-two punch of haute chocolatier and new-wave tapas bar near the Basilica Santa Maria del Mar, deep in Barcelona’s El Born neighborhood, but “people eat with their eyes,” he says. - NYTimes
Bubo is a high end chocolate factory. Not the most conventional combo, Bubo’s pulls it off with flying colors. The petite deserts here are truly works of art that look so spectacular you will almost feel bad for eating them, but only almost, as the mouth watering treats will tempt you into devouring them almost instantly. Voted World’s Best Chocolatier in 2005, Bubo’s is truly deserving of this award.
Shop Til You Drop… And Then Do It All Over Again!
What’s that you’re looking for? A handmade bowl from the Ukraine? Mexican religious artifacts? Bicycle accessories from India? Quirky stuff from I dont-know where? Why not… You can bet you will find them here.
A very Ikea-esque store in the middle of the city, Vincon is a great place to shop for any admirers of modern furniture and homewares.
Pro-Tip: There’s one right next to Casa Pedrero, a must-see Gaudi masterpiece.
Ivo & Co stock stylish furniture and home essentials manufactured or found around France, Belhium and Holland. This is the kind of place that has something for every taste and style, whether you are redecorating your trendy inner city apartment, or that cozy little cottage in the mountains.
Papabubble’s creators are what can only be described as caramel artisans, opening their doors in 2004 with the intention or reviving the beauty of making hand-made candies. They offer the option of personalized candies and make sure their customers are ‘happy with a sugar-high’!
It’s hard for me to imagine a cooler candy store concept than Happy Pills. Just like an old fashioned pharmacists, but with a sweeter taste!
It’s like this… You walk inside and are met by a wall of various, awesome looking gummie candies. You pick what size “prescription” you want and fill the bottle up to your liking. After that, they seal the bottle with a tamper-proof cap and let you choose which label best suits your mood, in either Spanish or English.
Love sickness cure? Check.
Work stress cure? Check.
Clearly these two women need to go in!
This post doesn’t cover even half of all the creative outposts that’s springing up in Barcelona, and I think this maybe one of the cities I wouldn’t mind moving to.. nuf said!!
