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18th April 2017
05:36pm BST
Barcelona is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest cities, but it gets even better once you've unearthed a few of its precious secrets.
Sandwiched between green mountains and sandy coast lies a wondrous labyrinth of a city. Exquisite food and drink, world-renowned architecture, and rich history are just waiting to be discovered in every picturesque alley.
You just need to know where to look...
Pronounced 'Bo Day Bay', you'll find this tiny sandwich shop close to Barcelona's beach. It's easy to spot because of the near-constant queue snaking out of its front door.
With the freshest ingredients, mouthwatering sauces, and super friendly staff, you'll always walk away from Bo De B with a smile on your face.
You're on holiday, so leave your inhibitions at the door and sing for a room full of strangers.
With their flashy lighting effects and props, Touch Music is where you go if you want to experience a memorable BCN night out.
Sounds good to us!
It may be a bustling city but you can still find little oases of calm.
Once the property of the wealthy Craywinckel family, the Jardines de la Tamarita were opened to the public in 1993. It's a kind of secret garden, boasting a landscaped hedges, flower beds, fountains, statues and crawling ivy.
The kind of place you drag a sweetheart in order to make some sweet Instagram magic.
How'd you like your eggs in the morning? We like ours with a view.
That's exactly what you'll get if you visit the Hotel Villa Emilia for a brunch of the classier variety. Here you can head for the rooftop Zinc-Bar and lounge in the sunshine while enjoying the sight of the bustling metropolis below.
Now does that sound good or does that sound good?
Cocktails? Good. Nostalgia for 80s and 90s? Good. But cocktails combined with nostalgia for the 80s and 90s? Now that's a winner.
Located in the Gótico neighbourhood, Polaroid plays the best music and movies from our formative decades and their memorabilia line the walls. Their cocktails even come with names like Delorean, Balboa or Miyagi San!
Definitely worth experiencing for yourself.
It can be hard to find a decent cup of coffee in Barcelona, so remember the name Cafés El Magnífico.
If you've named your café 'The Magnificent', then you've really got a lot to live up to. But this place doesn't disappoint.
Located in the Borne area, these guys have managed to find a small artisanal producer to supply them with a milk that perfectly complements their beans. Just taste it and see.
Of course, the culture vultures won't be happy unless they get their fix, so they'll be wanting to visit the Biblioteca Pública Arús.
This gorgeous public library is like something out of Harry Potter, its rooms lined top to bottom in leather-bound books.
It even has its own Statue Of Liberty, so you're ticking all sorts of boxes with this spot.
You're on holiday so treat yourself, why don't ya. And there's really no better place in the city for a treat than Chök.
As the name suggests, this place is all about chocolate deliciousness in every form: doughnuts, brownies, cookies, the works.
How heavenly does this look?
Of course, if you're coming to Barcelona you need to get some tapas into you.
La Flauta, meaning 'the flute', is where Catalan natives go to avail of its wide variety of 'typico' tapas.
Super fresh ingredients, award-winning crusty bread and, most importantly, 100% authentic, you should be heading straight to La Flauta for the real Barcelona tapas experience.
This is probably the best view in all of Barcelona and far enough away from the beaten track that it's never swarmed with tourists.
The Bunker Del Carmel is the perfect spot to take your travelling companion to soak up the staggering beauty of the city, with sights like Sagrada La Familia, Montjuic and Torre Agbar being clear as day from up here.
Come right before dusk for the most magical views imaginable.
Estrella Damm, the Beer of Barcelona.
For many years, both visitors and locals have been enjoying the taste of Estrella Damm with tapas and other Mediterranean cuisine, surrounded by art, creativity and most importantly, their friends. Estrella Damm work in partnership with the world’s most award-winning chef Ferran Adrià to promote the “Tapas” concept around the world.
Estrella Damm is now available in both draught and bottle in Ireland for you to enjoy.
Enjoy ESTRELLA DAMM Sensibly.
