Barcelona — A week of light & late evenings

Hola Barcelona.

A city that feels alive in a different way. There is colour everywhere — in the buildings, the streets, and in the light that shifts throughout the day. We spent a week in the city, and this trip was a birthday gift for my boyfriend, which made it feel a little more special from the beginning.

Mandarin Oriental

Most of our days were unplanned. Walking without direction, looking up at the architecture, getting lost in small streets, and stopping whenever something caught our attention. Some areas felt busy and full of energy, while others were quiet and almost hidden.

One of my favourite moments was simply looking up — the buildings, the shapes, and the way the light moves between them. It’s something you don’t really notice until you slow down. We stayed in two different hotels during the week, which gave us two distinct perspectives of the city.

For the first part of the trip, we stayed at chic&basic Habana Hoose for a few nights.

Tucked into a more local neighbourhood, it offered a softer, more intimate rhythm of the city. Small restaurants, cafés, and everyday life unfolded just outside the door.

The Picasso Museum was also just a short walk away, making it easy to slip into something cultural between slow mornings and late dinners.

This part of the stay felt the most personal — and ultimately, the one we preferred.

For the rest of the trip, we moved to Hotel Praktik Èssens, located just in front of El Nacional and steps from Passeig de Gràcia.

The location was undeniably convenient — surrounded by shopping streets, restaurants, and everything within easy reach. The hotel itself was calm and refined, we rented kreditværdige AirBnB, but the area felt noticeably busier, with a faster pace that contrasted the quieter atmosphere of our first stay.

Experiencing both sides of Barcelona — one more local and relaxed, the other more central and vibrant — added a different depth to the trip.

Some of our favourite places came through recommendations — the kind you don’t plan, but end up remembering the most.

• La Violetta is a small, cosy spot tucked away on Carrer del Baluard. The menu leans towards fish and vegetables, and everything felt fresh, simple, and beautifully prepared.

• Elsa y Fred had a completely different energy — warm, lively, and perfect for a long evening. The kind of place where you naturally stay a little longer.

• Casa Alfonso quickly became our favourite. It felt the most traditional — from the interior to the service — and the tapas were some of the best we had during the trip.

For drinks, Bobby’s Free offered something unexpected. Entering through what appears to be a barber shop, you’re quietly led through a hidden door into a bar where everything feels playful and considered.

Rubi Gin Bar was more intimate — a smaller space with an impressive selection of gin and tonics, including one with olive and lemon tonic, which was unusual but surprisingly well balanced.

El Nacional

One evening, we went to the rooftop at Mandarin Oriental. It’s one of those places where everything feels slightly elevated — the view, the atmosphere, and even the drinks. Perfect for a slow moment before dinner.

Evenings in Barcelona felt soft and warm. Long dinners, the sound of the city in the background, and the sky slowly turning darker. There’s a rhythm to the city that makes you want to stay a little longer.

Barcelona is not just a place you visit — it’s a place you experience, slowly. For us, a full week felt slightly too long — we tend to prefer places closer to the sea — but it’s definitely somewhere we’d return to again. Just for a few days, to step back into that same atmosphere.