It’s hard to pinpoint just what about the mojito makes it such a fantastic cocktail pretty much anytime of the day or night. A generous pour of rum certainly helps but there’s more to it than just that. Whether you’re a fan of good old fashioned mint and lime or you like to shake things up a little, here are some of the absolute best mojitos in Barcelona you really need to try.
La Bombilla
Cocktail Bar, Contemporary, $$$
Located on the far side of Sant Antoni, just a street behind the trendy Parlament Street, La Bombilla is everything you could wish for from your favourite neighbourhood haunt: a fine selection of reasonably priced wines, a few bar snacks (well, if you can call a platter of mature French cheeses a ‘bar snack’) and a barman who can serve you up the perfect cocktail before you’ve had chance to say ‘thank god it’s Friday’. The ‘fruity mojito’ is a house special which is prepared with raspberry and passion fruit, giving it a nice tang and the ability to disappear in seconds.
Widely reputed as one of the best places for a gin and tonic in the city, Bobby Gin is packed every weekend evening, when locals come to top up on their favourite after-dinner drink. Forget the tumbler glass and slice of lemon your grandmother used to drink, these G&Ts come in larger-than life chalices garnished with various combinations of spice, fruit and other treats while managing to remain incredibly moreish.
Cocktail Bar, Restaurant, Spanish, Contemporary, $$$
Borrowing its name quite simply from its location on Carrer Cera number 23, this cozy eatery is tucked away on what was once one of El Raval’s most infamous streets. These days the neighbourhood has undergone a veritable revival and is home to some rather cool cafés, vintage stores, and late-night bars. A restaurant more than a bar, Cera 23 is ideal if you’re in the mood for cocktails with dinner rather than wine. The blackberry mojito is just the right balance between fruity and sweet on the one hand but still refreshing and easy to sip on.
Located in the ever-trendy Gràcia neighbourhood, El Ciclista is a cocktail bar with a pretty impressive bicycle theme: from handle-bar coat-hooks to bike wheel lamp shades, there are bike bits everywhere you look. However the décor is far from a gimmick to entice passers-by as this is a serious cocktail bar with some pretty tasty signature cocktails. Friendly, fun and packed full of locals, El Ciclista will rapidly become your new favourite cocktail bar especially once you’ve tried their mojito, which is proof that things don’t need to be complicated to be great.
Located on a trendy side-street running off Passeig de Gracià, Boca Grande is a place for those who like to see and be seen. A stylish cocktail bar located alongside the similarly named Boca Grande, the venue made headlines a few years ago when its tea-infused G&T was voted best in Spain in 2014. The cocktails at Boca Chica stand out for their presentation, with original glassware, lavish garnishes and quirky serving methods galore. The mojitos are wonderfully balanced, bursting with fresh mint and so easy to drink you’ll wonder where it’s all gone.
If Sant Antoni has long been famous for its brunch scene, Bitter Cocktail Bar has very much made it a place for a late-night cocktail too. A stylish cocktail bar with an intimate lounge area at the back, Bitter Cocktail bar is best known for its signature cocktails and music events which see the place packed until 3am at weekends. Even if you won’t see the mojito on the cocktail list – it’s too full of enticing house cocktails – the bar-staff will have no problem whatsoever in preparing one in minutes, packed full of fresh mint, premium rum and piled high with crushed ice.
One of Barcelona’s worst-kept secrets, El Paradiso is a stylish speakeasy cocktail bar which was recently named ‘One to Watch’ by the World’s 50 Best Bars guide. Once you’ve got past through the secret doorway at the back of the Pastrami Bar out front, prepare to be amazed by some of the craziest cocktails in town served in everything from a mock Starbucks takeaway cup to a bird-shaped glass with a straw coming out of its ahem plumage. Expect nothing standard from your mojito.
