The 10 Best Bars In Eixample Barcelona

Eixample has over the years turned into a host for countless recommendable bars, restaurants, cafés and boutiques. Urban planning of the neighborhood, designed by architect Ildefons Cerdà in the 19th century, is based on the grid street plan, thus, making it easy to navigate around. This also makes barhopping relatively easy too, if you know the places to go. Here is The Culture Trip’s guide to the best bars in the lively Eixample district.

1. Toto

Bar, Restaurant, Spanish, Mediterranean, European

Toto transformed a bookshop into an amazingly aesthetic wine bar and restaurant and has ever since attracted customers, inviting them in to enjoy a meal or a well-crafted drink. With the restaurant’s focus on local ingredients and the beautiful interior, not to mention the bar’s great selection of wines, house cocktails and local beers, Toto serves as a good option for a drink and a snack by the bar.

2. Mikkeller

Bar, Spanish, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

The carefully crafted idea of Danish microbrewery Mikkeller started in Mikkel Borg Bjergsø’s kitchen in 2006. Having opened craft beer bars and shops in nine different cities across the globe by 2015 and exporting the brews to more than 40 different countries, TCT is happy to inform you that Mikkeller has also landed in Barcelona. Opened in the autumn of 2015, this friendly craft beer bar makes you want to taste, if not all, at least a selection the 24 beers served on tap. Great beer, friendly service and a laid-back soundtrack make Mikkeller one of the most up-and-coming craft beer venues in town.

3. Dry Martini

Cocktail Bar, Bar, Restaurant, Mediterranean

Dry Martini has been ranked as one of the best 50 bars in the world.It’s exclusive menu is divided into signature cocktails and eccentric drinks, and if you have hard time deciding, the friendly staff will help you to sort out the best option for you. Dry Martini (hosting a fine restaurant Speakeasy in the back room) has also been named as the third best gin bar on earth. You must visit if you are in Eixample.

4. La Principal

Bar, Tapas, Spanish, Cocktails, Wine, Beer, Fast Food

While the early commuters fill Plaça Universitat and Sant Antoni metro stations, La Principal opens its door, inviting its guests to enjoy a cup of java while browsing through daily news. The design of this charming, classic corner bar resembles Parisian cafés with round marble tables, art and posters hanging on the walls with an extremely laid-back and local feel to it. La Principal’s outside terrace is heated which is perfect for the chilly winter months. It’s a great spot for people-watching while sipping your drink.

5. Pub Fiction

Bar, Pub, Spanish, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

Named after Tarantino’s cult movie Pulp Fiction, Pub Fiction’s guests are greeted by good old gangsters Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield at the door. This tiny but cozy venue, located on Casanova Street, offers delicious mojitos of many sorts. Pub Fiction gets quite crowded, especially during the weekends, but the bar always has a friendly vibe.

6. Tandem Cocktail Bar

Bar, Cocktail Bar, Cocktails, Pub Grub, Spanish

Cordial, attentive service complemented with a positive and relaxed atmosphere describe Tandem Cocktail Bar, but that’s not all. it offers. If you happen to be a fan of crafted cocktails and jazzy music complemented with the sensation that you have traveled back in time, you have found your spot. Classy, like the whisky sour they serve, Tandem is definitely a must-try while in Eixample.

7. Sala Fizz

Concert Hall

If you’re looking for some entertainment while enjoying your drink, check out Sala Fizz. This intimate live music club and cocktail bar puts local talent in the spotlight. The program varies, depending on the night, from jazz to singer-songwriters to improv open-mic comedy evenings, while the drinks are always good. Come by for a great night of live music in good company.

8. The Philharmonic

Pub, Spanish, Pub Grub, Wine, Beer, Cocktails

This cozy English pub on Mallorca Street offers quality beers and ciders (not so commonly known in Barcelona) on tap. Any homesick expat might be interested to know the pub serves roast beef on Saturday and Sunday nights. What makes The Philharmonic worth the visit is its warm, welcoming ambience and a rather broad spectrum of activities from language exchange nights on Mondays to Pub Quizzes on Thursdays (questions are read both in English and in Spanish) to live music and sports shown on a big screen. There is something for everyone.

9. Les Gens Que J'Aime

Bar, Pub, Pub Grub, Spanish, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

Les Gens Que J’Aime, located close to the famous Passeig de Gràcia, has served its customers since the 1970s. This small pub is worth the visit due to its rather unique, bohemian decorations, consisting mostly of quirky paintings and red velvet couches. It is a great stopover for anyone looking for an eccentric drinking experience. The bar shows old movies, projected onto the wall, which adds a special, artistic tone to your visit.

10. Solange Cocktails & Luxury Spirits

Bar, Spanish

If you find yourself looking for a great selection of single malt whiskies, a broad variety of gins or want to celebrate a special occasion with a vintage bottle of champagne, intimate and exclusive Solange is the place to go in Eixample. Choose a drink from the design cocktail menu with the assistance of attentive bartenders, or try some of the great and rare spirits Solange carries in their selection. The place has a special charm, and it’s hard to feel anything else than uplifted after a well-spent evening at Solange.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.