Newsletters with the best recommendations for Barcelona

JANUARY’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

“The Museum of Forbidden Art”

Located at the wonderful ” Casa Nogués,” this new museum is unique; it is the only one showing a private collection of art that has been censored, attacked, and prohibited from all around the world.
It is just two blocks away from Passeig the Gracia, at a very centric location.

More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

IF I WERE A RICH MAN

The Gaudí & Güell Barcelona private tour is an excellent example of how friendship and mutual admiration can make a big difference in people’s lives.
BOOK this 3-hour tour to discover the amazing collaboration between Eusebi Güell and Antoni Gaudí.
Find more information here

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

RESTAURANT 1881

At the very top of the History Museum of Catalunya, we have one of our most recommended restaurants at the Barceloneta.

Fish, paella, meat from the Bask country, and amazing views of Barcelona’s harbor, plus a decent wine menu to choose from.

Get to know them better here

DID YOU KNOW?

You can find Picasso’s just walking around Barcelona. Pablo Picasso did a few drawings for the COAC (The Architects’ Association of Catalonia) and the artist Carl Nesjar was charged with transferring the drawings onto huge concrete panels using the sand-blasting technique. You can see both of them at the photo, even if Picasso never saw them in place because he never came back to Spain after the War.

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FEBRUARY’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

“Chagall, In quest of beauty”

The Palau Martorell, a former bank from the early 19th hundreds, is nowadays a great example of how culture and architecture can go together.
All their exhibitions are fascinating and by well-known artists from all around the world. We recommend you visit the current exhibition that covers most of his art for 50 years.

More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

BARCELONA & MONTSERRAT

The Montserrat and Barcelona tour is a full-day excursion combining two unique places done or inspired by nature. The Mountain of Montserrat and the Sagrada Familia.
Combine a morning visit to Montserrat with the afternoon tour at the Sagrada Familia.

Find more information here

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

BAR CAÑETE

We believe it is one of the best restaurants located in the area around La Rambla. Spanish food of all kinds, including meat, seafood, croquettes, seasonal vegetables, a fantastic variety of wines, and an excellent busy, a bit loud ambient that is so Spanish. Excellent service; we recommend making a reservation before going.

Please get to know them better here.

DID YOU KNOW?

FONT DE PRADES

This fountain, located in Prades once a year during the Cava Festival, used to give Cava instead of water. If you want to see a replica in Barcelona, the restaurant “LA Font de Prades” inside Pueblo Español has one, but it does not provide Cava, not even water, because of the drought.

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MARCH’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

“Barceló Ceramics. We are all Greeks.”

Did you know that you can visit art expositions at La Pedrera? The former owner’s apartment is now an excellent place for art exhibitions.
Miquel Barceló is one of Spain’s most interesting artists. La Pedrera has organized the most complete retrospective of his ceramics.
More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

GOTHIC QUARTER & PICASSO MUSEUM

The Gothic Quarter and Picasso Museum tour is a private walking tour of two historic neighborhoods in the city center of Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter and the Ribera or Born.
The Gothic Quarter has the oldest remains in the city. The museum features lesser-known masterpieces from his early years as well as classics from his Blue and Cubist Periods. It is a charming museum and one of our favorites.

Find more information here

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

EL NACIONAL

Right in Barcelona City Center and open every day from noon until 1 p.m., El Nacional is a great option for enjoying Spanish cuisine, meat, fish, tapas, and a central bar with cured meat beers and wines. Built back in 1889, it initially housed a café-theatre, a fabric dye factory, a car dealer’s shop, and a garage. You can see photos of the former garage inside.
Read more information here

DID YOU KNOW?

ROMAN AQUEDUCT

Just a few years ago, while demolishing a building, the archeological team discovered that the remains of a 2000-year-old Roman Aqueduct were still there and ready to be restored so we could all see them. It is always amazing to realize that your streets have so much history. Join one of our tours and we’ll explain you many histories like this one.

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APRIL’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

“The Lost Mirror”

Images have always played an important role in understanding how societies and religions see and represent each other. We recommend this exposition at the MNAC (one of our best museums)
More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

MIRO MUSEUM AND MONTJUÏC TOUR

Let us take you on a tour slightly different from the typical tours in Barcelona; we’ll be visiting Montjuïc Hill, enjoying the renovated display at the Joan Miró Museum, and while walking around Montjuïc, we’ll learn about Barcelona’s Olympic Games and many more interesting events that have taken place here in Montjuïc.

Find more information about the tour here and read our blog post about the Olympic Games.

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

ESPAI QUERA

Is it possible to eat inside an old Bookstore? Yes, at Espai Quera you learn about mountain hiking, they still have the book store open, and you’ll enjoy Catalan cuisine. Located at a charming Petritxol Street, on your way to the Espai Quera you’ll find an art gallery and a couple of traditional “chocolate con churros” bars.
Read more information here

DID YOU KNOW?

CIUTADELLA’S GREENHOUSE

Finally !!!! after too many years, the beautiful greenhouse at Ciutadella’s Park is shining again. Do not miss a stroll around the Parc and a visit to this renovated garden.

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MAY’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

“Suzanne Valadon. A Modern Epic”

Museums share and collaborate to help spread knowledge of their collections; this exposition we recommend is a collaboration between the Mnac and the Pompidou (Paris).
Suzane was one of many artists in Montmartre’s bohemian life. You’ll be surprised by the variety of materials she worked with. Plus, you can profit an visit the other amazing collections at the Museum.
More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

TARRAGONA

This is a half-day trip to Tarragona, where you will visit the city with some of the Iberian Peninsula’s oldest and most important Roman remains. Tarragona is a small Mediterranean city a bit more than 1 hour away from Barcelona; we stop a bit before the city to show you the Roman aqueduct, and once in Tarragona, we’ll do a walking tour to show you the historical remains.

Find more information about the tour here.

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

SEMPRONIANA

Ada Parellada is the chef at this restaurant, which is located inside a former publishing house. Her family has owned “La Fonda Europa,” one of the oldest restaurants in Catalunya, for more than 200 years.
Semproniana is one of those places where, before going, make sure you do not have any other appointments; just go, eat, talk, and enjoy a Mediterranean lifestyle. A bit of Spanish knowledge might be helpful; it is a truly local restaurant.
Check the menus here.

DID YOU KNOW?

STONES

Walking around Tarragona, you can find stones with quite an exciting history. Some might be from the old Roman Forum, and some from the Jewish community from the Middle Ages. All of them are part of our history, and it is pretty surprising to see how they have survived centuries of changes.

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JULY’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

ROBBIE WILLIAMS “CONFESSIONS OF CROWDED MIND”

We are the same age, which means we have followed his career as a singer. Now, we are very happy to see that his collaboration with the Moco Museum has arrived in Barcelona.
We’ll use his words to explain his exposition, “I’m inspired to do more, so I’m thrilled to unveil this new collection of my art at Moco Museum Barcelona, where I trust it will encourage people to accept themselves and express their truth.”

More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

GIRONA

Enjoy a half-day tour of Girona with us. Visit the Cathedral and the Museum of Jewish History to broaden your knowledge of Judaism in medieval Catalonia. If you prefer, we can have a nice walk around the old city with its medieval buildings and streets, enjoying the views from the top of the cathedral’s stairs or walking down some of the narrowest streets that are so typical in old cities.

Find more information about the tour here.

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

CAN RAMONET

“Paella or not Paella” is often a question in any Spanish city. Well, in Barcelona, we do have restaurants that offer paella and much more; the one in our photo is a Paella with oxtail, yes, oxtail. The seafood one is not the one and only; we have so many more options. We had ours with our friends from New York at Can Ramonet, the oldest restaurant in the Barceloneta, our former fisherman’s barrio, and nowadays still a place to discover many hidden gems; we have already recommended another small local bodega in previous newsletters.
Check the menus here.

DID YOU KNOW?

CHUPA CHUPS

The most famous Spanish lollipop is the “Chupa Chups,” and its history is full of surprises. The logo was designed by the one and only Salvador Dalí in 1969. Mr. Bernat’s idea was to allow the kids to eat a sweet without getting their hands dirty; he wanted to find something that did the same job as a fork. The descendants of the company’s founder are nowadays the owners of Casa Batlló.

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AUGUST’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

“THE PRACTICE OF ART”

2023 was the centenary of the birth of Antoni Tapies, one of the most interesting 20th-century artists from Barcelona. This retrospective will give you the chance to discover the variety of his production in a non-linear journey through his work.
In our photo, you can see the installation ” Beyond the Skin” by the artist Serge Attukwei. He has used recycled materials and wants to address both the environment and the relation of Barcelona with the colonial past.

More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

MONTSERRAT & SITGES

Montserrat & Sitges full-day tour to enjoy Catalonia’s inland area and landscapes.
Montserrat has a long relationship with art and culture; inside their fantastic art museum, we can see some canvases inspired and painted by one of the most important painters who lived in Sitges, Santiago Rusiñol.

Find more information about the tour here.

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

EL MASCARON

One of our recommendations when visiting Sitges is to enjoy a nice traditional lunch. The “Fideua with ink” and the “Arroz caldoso” (broth rice) are very traditional and they know how to prepare them. They are located just in front of the main beach sidewalk and just minutes away from the lovely old section in Sitges, with plenty of cute stores, museums, and beaches.
Check the menus here.

DID YOU KNOW?

BARCELONA’S CHAIR

One of the most iconic designs from the 20th century has an interesting connection to our city. Back in 1929, Barcelona organized a World Fair. The German pavilion by Mies van der Rohe was the most interesting one; together with his collaborator Lilly Reich, they designed the nowadays world-famous chair that we are pretty sure you have seen many times, movies, offices, museums…

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NOVEMBER’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

“MiróMatisse. Beyond the Images”

The brand new Exposition at the Fundació Joan Miró continues exploring the relationship between Miró and some of the 20th-century’s most influential artists. The early “fauvist” works of Miró are just the beginning of a dialogue that lasted many years. We’ve enjoyed a visit by the curator, and we look forward to sharing it with all of you.

More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

MIRO & PICASSO

The two great artists, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, have museums in our city because it was their will to open them here. The Picasso Museum opened in 1963 and is located in a charming neighborhood known as El Born, on five medieval buildings, all built in stone. A few years later, in 1975, the Fundació Miró was opened. The museum is in Montjuïc Hill, one of our green areas in town.
Discover them with us: ” A Star Chasing a Demoiselle.“

Find more information about the tour here.

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

EUSKAL ETXEA

If your trip around Spain does not include visiting any Basque country town, we recommend stopping at the Euskal Etxea to try the traditional “Pintxos” from San Sebastian, with some sider or Txacolí wine. It is quite curious how they know how many pintxos you have eaten.
They have a restaurant where you can try more Basque specialties.

Check the menus here.

DID YOU KNOW?

“LA MASIA” JOAN MIRÓ

Joan Miró’s family had a farm at Mont-Roig del Camp that became one of the main inspirations for the painter. The famous painting ” La Masia” was bought by Ernest Hemingway. He went back many summers and had a workshop that nowadays is possible to visit and see how he worked and lived over there.

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DECEMBER’S NEWSLETTER

BEST CURRENT EXPOSITION

“Catalan painters in Paris, From Montmartre to Montparnasse“

Many Catalan artists lived and worked in Paris during the century’s changes. The Universal Expositions, the new avantgardes, everything was calling them to the most important city for all artists. A young Pablo Picasso and his best friends from Barcelona followed the steps of Ramon Casas and Santiago Rusiñol, two very successful Catalan painters.

More information here

TOUR OF THE MONTH

DALÍ & GIRONA

This is an excellent choice for a full-day tour outside Barcelona. You will visit two fascinating places in Catalunya: Girona and the Dali Museum in Figueres.
Salvador Dalí designed the Museum himself; it is an old theater, and we think there’s no better place for a museum dedicated to his genius.
You can have lunch in Girona and walk around the old city.

Find more information about the tour here.

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

CHERIFF

Another classic from the Barceloneta neighborhood. Pedro, the first owner, loved getting dressed as a Sheriff, and his nickname became the restaurant’s name.
Paella and seafood are their specialties and local ambiance. We mostly ask for the Menu Paella for 29 euros.

Check the menus here.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tió & Caganer

If you visit us during December, you’ll find Christmas markets at the Gothic Q and Sagrada Familia. You can buy plenty of decorations plus the strange ones we have in the photos; their names are TIÓ ( wooden log) and Caganar (you’ll have to do some research about this one). They are only traditional in Catalunya, not in the rest of Spain.

We have a blog post to help you a little read more here

Barcelona’s newsletters from 2024