The Best Bars in El Born, Barcelona

Pitin Bar has been the central spot in El Born and a go-to venue for more than 20 years. Opened originally as a restaurant, it was transformed into a hip bar and lounge by the son of the owner, Ramón. It features an open terrace, which is filled with sun during daytime, and which becomes a perfect late-night hangout place for cocktails or a glass of good Spanish wine. Pitin Bar is faithful to traditional principles, so make sure to bring cash to pay for drinks.

This is a place for a classical eating and drinking experience in Barcelona. El Born Bar is ideal for an afternoon drink in the midst of your exploration tour of Barcelona’s old city center. The interior is quirky and the staff are welcoming. El Born Bar serves everything from good beer and wine to refreshing sangria, coffee and small snacks. Try their special, juicy empanadas with meat.

La Vinya del Senyor has developed an extensive wine list with more than 300 different bottles of excellent Spanish and foreign wine. It also boasts a stunning open terrace overlooking the grandiose Santa Maria del Mar Church. It’s an intimate venue with only a few tables inside and on the terrace. This bar also offers a wine sampling experience. Accompany your drinks with one of the delicious tapas dishes.

Ale&Hop is a great place to sample some of the best beers available in Barcelona. The bar counts ten taps serving up an impressive selection of beers from across the world, including amber ale, pale ale and IPA as well as lager, wheat beer and stout or porter. In addition to its excellent range of beverages, the kitchen specializes in vegan and vegetarian food, and serves a Sunday brunch worth getting out of bed for.

Bar Mercaders will appeal to all fans of rock’n’roll. Owners Christina and Ramon have decorate this bar in a retro-style, and you can order drinks to the sound of your favorite albums by the likes of the Sex Pistols and the Ramones.

ElDiset is a luxury space that invites customers to taste excellent quality scotch or a glass of carefully selected wine in a laid back ambiance. The interior of the bar is complete with wooden panels and furniture, which create a rustic, cozy feel. The wine list features more than 60 Spanish wines, and also includes some from France, Italy, Germany and Portugal too. The food menu offers tapas dishes including Spanish cheeses, Iberian ham and Galician octopus.

Collage Bar is designed in the authentic style of old Spanish bars. You’ll find a lounge area, complete with vintage furniture, a 19th-century piano and leather sofas. College Bar specializes in cocktails, offering both classics and artful, signature drinks.

Located near the famous Picasso Museum, the authentic Bar El Xampanyet is hard to miss. It is a family-run establishment which has been welcoming customers for three generations. The menu offers excellent tapas, such as toasts with grilled peppers, that complement the refreshing drinks menu which includes cava and wine.

Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar is hidden in a small alleyway near the Picasso Museum, and offers an exquisite selection of world wines and savory tapas. Specialty wines are imported from the Catalonia region as well as from the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. The tapas dishes at Ziryab’s are made from fresh seasonal ingredients. The interior is typically Catalan, consisting of brick walls, high ceilings, and an inner balcony which looks over the bar itself.