Barcelona knows how to party. NYE is a big deal in the city by the sea. Though big brother Madrid’s Puerta del Sol celebration is the closest thing Spain has to the NYC countdown, Barcelona has enough excitement to give even the most legendary NYE locations a run for their…
The holiday season in Spain is a delightfully drawn-out affair beginning the weeks leading up to Christmas and joyfully traipsing their way through New Year’s Day to Three Kings Day. Along the whimsical holiday way is a king’s ransom of delicious food customarily eaten in Spain and in Catalonia on…
Hace frio. It’s a Spanish phrase which you probably already know. It means, “It’s cold.” Hace frio is something you’ll hear a lot in Barcelona these days as neighbors pass each other in the street, bundled up in thick jackets, scarves and warm hats. For the locals, the cool winter…
Imagine a market devoted exclusively to Christmas, draped in Christmas lights and pulsing with the good cheer of arguably Spain’s most festive season. Imagine no longer. Each year at the end of November, the Barcelona Cathedral plaza and the park in front of Sagrada Familia take their normally busy open…
The first thing we noticed when we approached the clubhouse at Vallromanes Golf Club was the clubhouse itself, a massive 18th-century Catalán country house (masia) built from stone and aged with centuries of camaraderie, heritage and pride. The 18th-century clubhouse In many ways, the masia is a reflection of the…
The famed Michelin Guide released its 2015 list of Michelin-starred restaurants this past week. As expected, Barcelona maintained its standing as the city with the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the country — 23 in all. This year’s list remains the same as last year’s, save for one addition and one…
Not bad, Mr. Adriá. This past week the prestigious Michelin Guide released its 2015 list of Michelin star restaurants. Barcelona maintained its collection of 23 starred restaurants, while welcoming newcomer and Ferran Adria brainchild Patka, a restaurant which features Japanese-Peruvian fusion. “A colourful, contemporary and informal restaurant that evokes Peruvian…
Christmas may not seem all that different in Catalonia. Homes glow with the white or multi-colored lights of Christmas trees. Cookies and cakes abound. Elaborate nativity scenes depict the birth of Jesus. Within this scene of yuletide tranquility, however, is the key to the Christmas season in Catalonia. Amid the…
Coffee lovers have a chance to enjoy their favorite UK brew tomorrow at Palau de Mar. Costa Coffee is opening their first Barcelona location, marking a milestone moment for the Malta-owned branch of the UK´s coffee giant. Great coffee and top-notch customer service are what will set the store apart…
Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park is a symbol of the region’s struggle against foreign occupation and a symbol of Catalonia’s rebirth as an international tourist destination. Buildings, monuments and information kiosks point to the park’s storied past. Battles for Catalán independence were fought in the neighborhoods and areas in and around the…
