Barcelona Apps for the Busy, Sophisticated Traveler CITI PRESENTS LUXE CITY GUIDES
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Citi PrestigeSM The cult pocket city guides and mobile Barcelona apps for the busy, sophisticated traveler CITI PRESENTS LUXE CITY GUIDES www.luxecityguides.com FROM THE ROMANS With a glittering Mediterranean Sea lanes of the old city are ambient Barri AND MOORS TO WOODY coastal locale, stunning architectural Gòtic, bustling El Born, cool El Raval and ALLEN AND TODAY’S masterpieces and museums, eye-popping seaside Barceloneta. With year-round GLOBETROTTER, THE hotels, and culinary pyrotechnics, this s u n , t h e r e i s n e v e r a b a d t i m e t o v i s i t . WORLD JUST CAN’T GET city dazzles from top to toe. Uptown is So what are you waiting for – andale! ENOUGH OF BARCELONA, home to modern and neat Eixample, AND IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY. hip Gràcia, and the hills of Tibidabo, while situated downtown in the winding P1 / LUXE BARCELONA Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE Itineraries Citi PrestigeSM Blah blah • Balmy, perfect autumn and spring, • Avoid La Rambla like you would a • Reservations are essential winter is crisp, and the sun shines date with Franco. He’s gone? It’s a at most restaurants. year round, but avoid August, the shame the ugly hordes here haven’t. place shuts down, the locals flee and the world descends. • If paying by credit card, have • Don’t confuse the divinely florid, photo ID handy. art nouveau folly of modernisme • El Prat airport – city centre costs / modernista architecture with approximately 30 euros and takes the later, rational and functional 30 minutes. modernist style. • Beware of pickpockets and watch your bags, especially in a crowd; the rogues aren’t dangerous, just fast. • Catalán is the language of choice • It’s all in the details, so look closely in Barcelona, but everyone speaks at everything from doors and knobs, Spanish, though less so English. to balconies and lamp posts. • Football is a religion and FC Barcelona the god. • The best way to explore the old • At most bars, order at the counter, city is on foot or by bicycle (see pay when you leave. • International code for Spain is +34; LUXE Culture Itin.). Beyond that, local calls have a 93 prefix, which the metro and bus are efficient, and must be dialed. Most mobiles taxis are affordable and plentiful. begin with 6. • Don’t ask for cerveza, ask for caña. Avoid sangria with your meal and sip regional wines or cava instead. • Save time and money, get a T-10 • In emergencies, call 112 card at the metro station. or police 088. • Tipping is not required, though leaving a few euros is nice. • Shop hours are approximately 10am- 1.30pm and 4.30-7.30pm Mon-Fri, and Sat morning, give or take an hour. Even restaurants shut on Sun, so head to the beach, park, museum or bar. P2 / LUXE BARCELONA Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE Itineraries Citi PrestigeSM LUXE INSIDER Albert Raurich / CHEF DE CUISINE Born and raised in Barcelona, Albert Raurich spent 15 years at iconic restaurant elBulli, ultimately becoming chef de cuisine. He was part of the intimate group of four involved in the evolution of the restaurant, developing new recipes, leading the creativity behind elBulli Taller and assisting in the publication of books among other ventures. With an increased interest in Asian cuisine, Albert, along with his partners, opened the first dim sum tapas bar in Barcelona, Dos Palillos, in 2008. www.dospalillos.com P3 / LUXE BARCELONA Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE Itineraries Citi PrestigeSM LUXE INSIDER Albert Raurich / CHEF DE CUISINE 1) WHAT’S THE ONE 3) WHERE WOULD YOU GO Thirdly, Ca L’Isidre for authentic THING EVERY VISITOR TO FOR A DATE NIGHT OUT Catalán gastronomy made from BARCELONA MUST DO AND WHY? unbelievable raw materials. Tickets Bar (see LUXE Loves). AND WHY? Luz de Gas by Fede Sarda. You can’t www.lolitataperia.com Each visitor should visit all the tell whether it’s a concert hall or a www.calisidre.com modernist works including the Sagrada club or a bar, but rest assured you will Família, Parc Güell, Palau de la Música enjoy its great atmosphere Catalána, Casa Battló and La Pedrera – and its people. especially Gaudi’s works. Why? Because www.luzdegas.com 5) WHERE WOULD YOU they are the legacy of Catalán cultural GO FOR A COCKTAIL AND expression. (see LUXE Loves and LUXE WHAT WOULD YOU ORDER? Culture Itin. for all) 4) WHAT ARE 3 OF YOUR I like Boadas in the ramblas, a FAVORITE RESTAURANTS legendary place from 1933 where you can enjoy a fantastic mojito. The 2) WHERE DO YOU IN BARCELONA AND WHY? WHAT DISHES DO YOU mythical and elegant Dry Martini, RECOMMEND FRIENDS open since 1972 and the place to go ORDER AT THESE PLACES? STAY WHEN IN BARCELONA? for a good martini. And 41° by Ferran and Albert Adrià for modern cocktails. The first is without a doubt the new Without a doubt, Hotel Casa Camper I recently had one consisting of restaurant of the Adrià brothers, just next door to Dos Palillos. It is a new smoked gin tonic with red sisho. Wow! Tickets Bar. Albert Adrià describes it concept of hotel – casual, comfortable, as the elBulli of the street. Secondly, Boadas / Tallers I / El centrally situated but quiet, very the best informal tapas in Barcelona is R a v a l / + 3 4 9 3 3 1 8 9 5 9 2 pleasant and at Lolita Tapería by Juanito Martinez. Dry Martini (see LUXE Loves) 41° without attitude. www.41grados.es www.casacamper.com P4 / LUXE BARCELONA Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE Itineraries Citi PrestigeSM LUXE Loves HOTEL ARTS BARCELONA NERI HOTEL TICKETS BAR Hotel Hotel Dining This glass and metal waterfront Located in the heart of Barcelona’s The latest offering from elBulli alums stunner and jet-set magnet offers Gothic Quarter, Neri is a nouveau- Albert and Ferran Adrià, Tickets is luxurious, sandy-hued rooms featuring rustic hideaway set in a former part street carnival, part molecular panoramic vistas and all the tech toys medieval palace. A stunning façade tapas bar, and a feast for all the you could want or need. Indulge at the gives way to minimalist suites senses. Curious and surprising plates, sublime 43rd floor Six Senses Spa, featuring rich pops of color and oversized utensils and cotton candy fine-diner Enoteca, or splurge on a quartzite bathrooms, and the intimate trees are all part of the experience, wow duplex apartment if your and romantic ambience makes it unsurprisingly making it one of the budget allows. perfect for a right royal tryst. hottest tickets in town. Marina, 19 / Barceloneta / Sant Sever, 5 / Barri Gòtic / Avingdua del Parallel, 164 / Paral. +34 93 221 1000 +34 93 295 2800 lel / +34 93 292 4250 www.hotelartsbarcelona.com www.hotelneri.com www.ticketsbar.es P5 / LUXE BARCELONA Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE Itineraries Citi PrestigeSM LUXE Loves DOS PALILLOS BAR PINOXTO DRY MARTINI Dining Dining Bar Hidden within the tavern next to Casa This 14-stool counter located in the A shrine to The Beautiful Drink, this Camper Hotel, red siren Dos Palillos heart of the Mercat de la Boquería is discreet, uptown institution has all the is a haven of experimental, Asian/ always busy, so be prepared to wait. trappings of a traditional saloon – dark Spanish fusion tapas from former Patience will be rewarded though, with woods, shiny brass, leather banquettes elBulli chef de cuisine Albert Raurich hearty Catalán tapas plates including and dapper staff included – yet the (see LUXE Insider). Book ahead for a fantastic seafood and stews, and of ambience remains marvelously counter perch and watch the magic course plenty of crusty bread to mop relaxed, and the eponymous tipple unfold in the showroom kitchen. it all up with. Simple and delicious! is as good as you’re likely to find anywhere in the world. Elisabets, 9 / El Raval / M: Plaça Mercat de la Boquería, 466-67 / M: Catalunya / +34 93 304 0513 / Liceu / +34 64 786 9821 / 6am-4pm Aribau, 162 / Eixample / M: lunch Thu-Sat, dinner Tue-Sat Provença / +34 93 217 5072 / daily www.dospalillos.com NATALIE CAPELL Shopping THE OUTPOST ZEN ZONE SPA Shopping Natalie’s divine gothic-meets-1920s Spa dresses will take you down the aisle or Scouting the latest trends and up the red carpet in theatrical high- stocking the hottest labels for the Make a day of it and head up into the style. All gowns are unique, made from contemporary man, sophisticated hills for indulgent Oriental, Hindu and antique laces and silks, meticulously outfitters The Outpost’s fashion Arabic-inspired treatments, heavenly sewn and color-dyed by hand and philosophy lies smack bang in between ‘eternal youth’ facials using Alqvimia finished with delicate details, like glass the classic and the avant garde, so products, and a full range of face and stones and embroidery. expect to find brands like Balenciaga body spa therapies. A supplementary Homme, Comme des Garçons and fee gives you access to the fabulous Carassa, 2 / El Born / M: Jaume 1 / Adam Kimmel on the racks. steel indoor/outdoor pool, with +34 93 319 9219 / closed Sun-Mon / spectacular views over the city. MTM and custom orders taken Rosselló, 281 / Eixample / +34 93 457 7137 Gran Hotel La Florida / www.nataliecapell.com Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, 83-93 / www.theoutpostbcn.com Tibidabo / +34 93 259 3000 / 9am-9pm daily www.hotellaflorida.com P6 / LUXE BARCELONA Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs.