Barcelona is a city of around 1.6 million people and, consequently, hundreds of bars. The city is brimming with truly unique places to suit the taste of anyone looking for the best start to their night out. However, if you’re nervous about having a good time, the truly daunting number of places to grab a drink can be a little disorienting. With that in mind, here are a few places guaranteed to get your night started off in the right direction.
Nevermind
Nevermind is located at 68, Carrer dels Tallers. It’s a punk rock/skate themed bar in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona. Nevermind’s claim to fame is that it has a bowl inside the bar where patrons can skate. However, if that’s all you know about it, you might be missing out on one of the most interesting and fun places to grab a drink in all of Barcelona.
The atmosphere here is perfect for the beginning of a night out. It’s dim but not dark, loud but not too loud to talk, and the environment is sociable and welcoming without ever seeming to take itself too seriously. It’s a great place to meet people (particularly if you want to practice your Spanish) and an even better place to inquire about the more clandestine party destinations throughout the city.
Although the bar may close at around 2:30, the party certainly doesn’t. Being located in the bustling Raval neighborhood, the courtyard across the street will be bustling with people drinking, laughing and generally having a good time. The last time I was there someone brought a ball and a game of drunken street soccer broke out. Then someone brought their guitar and got nearly everyone in the courtyard drunkenly bellowing Hey Jude. Needless to say, it was a pretty fun night.
Dow Jones
The next on the list is Dow Jones. A Wall Street themed bar located at 97, Carrer del Bruc. Dow Jones is known for its wide variety of shots and cocktails as well as the relatively young crowd it attracts.
But what’s the kicker? What makes this place worth going to? That’s where the boards come in. When you walk into the bar you’ll notice some screens with all of the drink options over the bar. At first this may just seem like a part of the gimmick and not much else. But, periodically, there will be a “crash” in which names on the screen turn from green to red and go down substantially in price. So, go in post-up at the bar, and prepare to make one of the better financial decisions you can on a Saturday at midnight. If you’re not sure where to start in terms of the drinks they offer, I would recommend the Hand of God. Trust me. It does not disappoint.
Fair warning though, Dow Jones tends to service a very American and almost entirely English-speaking clientele. So, if you’re looking to unwind and not worry about your Spanish for a bit, it’s a good place to be. If you’re looking to avoid tourists, however, you might want to look elsewhere.
360
Rounding out the list (pun intended) is perhaps the most visually pleasing place to throw a few back in the whole city. 360 is located on the top floor of the Barceló Raval Hotel, and it offers a 360 view of the city.
You might not be able to skate there, although I can’t say I’ve tried, and the prices for drinks might stay the same the whole night through, but that’s not what 360 is about. 360 is about having a cocktail, looking out over the city and feeling like your on top of the world. Doesn’t sound like a bad way to start the night, right?
