Barcelona

Catalonia’s capital is a lively city full of history, culture, gastronomy, art, and beautiful beaches.

ELEVATED BEACH DINING

The seafront Barceloneta (“Little Barcelona”) neighborhood is known for its hole-in-the-wall eateries and locals-only bars. Last year, one of the area’s most emblematic beach eateries dating to the 1940s reopened as an elevated chiringuito (beach bar), dishing out creative takes on classic fare. There’s indoor seating with red banquettes and sea views at Casa Costa, but you can’t beat the ambiance (or sea breeze) on the lively outdoor terrace. casacostabarceloneta.com

WORTH THE WAIT

Three-Michelin-Starred restaurant Disfrutar is one of Barcelona’s toughest places to get a table. But the wait is more than worth it for its inventive tasting menus featuring whimsical creations such as a vinegar-laced gazpacho ice cream sandwich or a crispy egg yolk served with hot mushroom jelly. Several members of the culinary team cut their teeth at Ferran Adrià’s fabled Catalan El Bulli restaurant. disfrutarbarcelona.com

GASTRO WINE BARS

Barcelona’s best new wine bars are just as serious about their food. Take Masa Vins in the city’s up-and-coming Poblenou neighborhood, where natural wines share the spotlight with seasonal plates. Meanwhile, Mikan specializes in Asian-inflected tapas and low-intervention wines. However, if there’s one place that pioneered the city’s gastro wine bar craze, it’s Bar Brutal. The vibrant restaurant is the spot to meet friends for a bottle of biodynamic cava and a platter of fresh oysters before hitting the town. barbrutal.com

LIVE MUSIC WITH A BANG

Big Bang is a tiny bar with regular jam sessions. On its open nights, locals and tourists play and sing with a core house band. Arrive early to get a seat, order a vermut, and enjoy some wonderful music within the walls of what was formerly a 19th-century tavern. bigbangbarcelona.com

BEAUTIFUL BOUTIQUES

While most of Barcelona’s designer stores are concentrated on Passeig de Gràcia, the trendy El Born neighborhood is synonymous with small boutiques and specialty addresses such as Naima Records and the artisanal food store Vila Viniteca. Popular with locals and visitors alike, Chandal is a sophisticated concept shop filled with handcrafted candles, locally made jewelry, and more. Meanwhile, Arquinesia Perfumes uses botanicals from the Balearic Islands to make small-batch soaps and perfumes. Barcelona also has a strong local fashion scene; discover homegrown brands like Rita Row and the footwear label Naguisa at the multi-brand boutique Ivori. ivoribarcelona.com

ELEGANT READING

Llibreria Finestres is an independent bookstore located on the ground floor of one of architect Enric Sagnier’s most emblematic buildings in the Eixample district. The interiors are just as elegant with glossy wooden bookshelves and jewel-toned velvet sofas where visitors are free to relax and flip through new releases and coffee-table books. There’s also a “secret” back patio with a vertical garden and a bar serving wine and coffee. llibreriafinestres.com

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

Once a month, the pop-up Palo Market Fest takes over a repurposed textile factory on the outer edges of Poblenou. Expect live music, food vendors selling everything from Argentine choripán sandwiches to Chinese steamed dumplings, and displays of vintage clothing and locally made jewelry and art. palomarketfest.com

MESMERIZING MOSAICS

There’s no better place to listen to flamenco guitar or classical music than Palau de la Música Catalana, a UNESCO-listed concert hall built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1908. A kaleidoscopic mix of Spanish and Arabic architecture, the grand venue is known for its mesmerizing mosaics and showstopping blue-and-gold stained glass ceiling. If you can’t make it for a live performance, be sure to sign up for a guided 55-minute architectural tour. palaumusica.cat

A DAY TRIP TO SITGES

Barcelona is blessed with beautiful beaches, but if you want to skip the summer crowds, take the train down to the seaside town of Sitges, about 25 miles southwest of the city. Here, you’ll find sandy stretches backed by traditional seafood restaurants and the 17th-century Church of Sant Bartomeu. The vibe is relaxed and family friendly, and there are hiking trails in the surrounding Garraf Park.

ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUMS

Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Montjuïc park, the Fundació Joan Miró houses 14,000 pieces by the Catalan artist inside a striking white building. Don’t miss the outdoor sculpture garden on the panoramic rooftop terrace. A short stroll away is the CaixaForum Barcelona cultural center – one of the most important collections of contemporary art in Europe – which occupies a former textile factory that was constructed in the Catalan Modernism style. Previous exhibitions have been dedicated to the likes of Salvador Dalí, Auguste Rodin, and Lucian Freud. fmirobcn.org/en; caixaforum.org/ca/barcelona

Barcelona’s newly revitalized waterfront will take center stage during the 37th America’s Cup sailing race from August through October. For a front-row seat, be sure to make reservations at one of 11 restaurants due to open in Port Olímpic just in time for the big-ticket event.