La Playa

There are plenty of things to do on Barceloneta Beach. You can sunbathe, take a dip in The Mediterranean ("The Sea"), windsurf, kite surf, play volleyball, and even work out at the open air gym that is free to the public. The beach starts at the Olympic Port, where Frank Gehry's glittering gold fish is located, and is lined with , shops, cafes, charinguitos "beach bars" and restaurants which become night clubs in the evenings. In addition to the topless women, you will also find interesting architecture on the beach, such as the Homenatge a la Barceloneta.

One of my favorite qualities of Barceloneta Beach are the many hawkers who will try to sell you just about anything.

These vibrant characters include...

• Oriental women offering you a massage ,  "ma-sa-hay, ma-sa-hay" 
• Middle eastern men offering you  refreshments "cola, agua, cerveza-beer, cold beer? fanta, agua, cerveza, beer?", henna tatoos "Don't-Cha-Wanna-Henna?",  fresh coconut "Durda Durda Durda Durda Durda Coconut?", and beach towels.
• and The Mojito Guys (personal fav) "MOJITO! MOJITO! MOJITO! MOJIIITTTOOO!!!!"

After the first week of laying on the beach and observing all of these things, I decided that I should really experience Barceloneta Beach and all it's offerings. And so, one Sunday afternoon, I did.

Cerveza beer cold beer

Don'tChaWannaHenna?

Yes. A Catalan Donkey Please

Mojiiiitttooooo!!!!

Durda Coconut

Coconut and Mojito, check

Ma-sa-hay

Gaudi and I soakin' up some rays after a dip in the Sea

Barceloneta Beach

Sailing Classes

Coronita at a Chiringuito

Homenatge a la Barceloneta

Olympic Port

And then there was this :)

LA BOQUERIA

I'll let the pics speak for themselves........

Our "Barrio" Bar: Cafe de los Angelitos

Barceloneta (Little Barcelona), is a neighborhood in Barcelona that is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and has been my home for the past 3 weeks. I fell in love with my new "barrio" the day I arrived. Not only was our apartment one block away from the beach, but it was also right across the street from Cafe de los Angelitos. After just one visit, Amy and I new that we would be spending a lot of time there and indeed, we did. Alberto, the best bartender ever, soon became our bestie and he would surprise us with some of the most delicious cocktails. (I'm pretty sure I will never have a mojito as tasty as Alberto's creations and the smell of mint will forever remind me of my "townie" bar.) Today we had to move out of our piso and Barceloneta and have relocated to a more central neighborhood. Although we are excited to start a new adventure, we will miss this little cafe that now holds a special place in my heart. I just want to say Thanks a Heap!!!, Cafe de los Angelitos, for being a true source of happiness for me and my roomie :)

Pineapple and Peach Mojitos

Party all Day

Party all Night!



Passion Fruit and Blueberry Daqs, Watermelon and Apricot Mojitos

Cana (Beer on Tap)

Alberto :)

Thanks for the many mojito-soaked evenings! BESOS!



41 Degrees

41 Degrees, located in Barcelona's theatre district, is one of the new projects of award wining chef, Ferran Adria (Owner and Executive Chef of El Bulli). He, along with brother Albert, also a member of the El Bulli team, have created "a classic cocktail bar with an exciting gastronomic offer full of creativity with no limits for the imagination." 

rum, coffee water, vanilla simple syrup, cardamom, crushed coffee beans, lime = one of my favorite cocktails ever!!

Olives from 41 Degrees: Spherified liquid olives

Nigiri: Scallop, Tuna Belly, Foie Gras

False Pistachios

Crisped Prawns with Saffron

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Forest Floor: Discover a world of sensations, submerged in a forest full of spices, herbs and dried fruits

He was cute, talented, and it was his bday :)



The "seemingly peculiar name carries some significance".
41 Degrees is named for the parallel of latitude on which Barcelona lies in addition to many of the liquors served, which hover around 40 proof.


The bar offers modern and contemporary cocktails along with a roster of classics.
 ( Innovative cocktail bars are a rarity in Barcelona.)

The service staff are not only well-trained, but also friendly and polite. The chefs have exacting precision and attention to detail. They would often garnish the cuisine with tools that looked like large tweezers to make sure everything was perfect.

The food here is mind-bending!! Nothing is what it seems, but each creation is a "magnificent volcano of creativity, ideas and hopes." On their menu are Oysters, selected to ensure the highest quality possible, and caviar, sourced from the River Amur which is located on the border of Siberia and China. The short menu of "snacks" includes 12 Tapas culled from the El Bulli archive so I was able to experience some of the famously wacky food.

"Frolicking Carnival
 for the Taste bud"