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2023 Travel Update: As of 2023, Spain essentially is open for tourism by both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers without Covid-specific documentation or testing. However, be sure to double check the official government site for up-to-the minute details.

The neighborhood of La Barceloneta traces its origin to 1718; it long housed fishermen, shipwrights, longshoremen, metalworkers, and other craftspeople and their families in its narrow grid of shophouse-lined streets. As Barcelona's role as a working port diminished in the mid-20th century, the neighborhood slipped into decline. However, it was repurposed and expanded as a leisure destination — complete with the effective creation of a beachfront — for the 1992 Olympic Games.

This shift from industry to tourism kept much of the structure of the old Barceloneta neighborhood, but it changed its character. For better or worse, the addition of the modern Port Olympic (Port Olímpic) next door with its massive Casino Barcelona — adorned by architect Frank Gehry's famous Golden Fish (Peix d'Or) — brought cruise ships and hordes of tourists to what once was a largely working-class area. Without the tourists, there likely would be little economic activity and no beach at all, but trying to strike a balance between local and tourist needs is a struggle for the neighborhood to this day. Barcelona currently is hard at work with the goal of making Port Olympic more accessible to local residents and better connected to the rest of the area, as well. We look forward to seeing the improvements scheduled for completion in 2024.

On one visit to Barcelona in the early summer, travelgasm.com was based in Barceloneta for a couple of months, and it was interesting to see how the neighborhood changed simply between weekdays and the weekend. On weekdays, the streets and courtyards are occupied mostly by locals doing day-to-day shopping, children playing, and the young at heart chillaxing. On the weekends, though, locals are overwhelmed by often noisy and disrespectful tourists. When you visit Barceloneta, remember that people do live there. No matter how excited you are about the sun, sand, and sea, please do your best to behave like a good houseguest.

The Best Restaurants in Barceloneta

In general, the beachfront restaurants and bars offer a great view, but if you want to eat well, restaurants are better in the canyons, as we refer to the neighborhood's narrow streets.

Seven of our favorite places to eat and drink in Barceloneta include the following, organized roughly in order on our map below:

1. El Vaso de Oro - Well known for its tapas as well as its draught beer, the beautiful old world ambiance and smartly dressed staff combine for an experience that is more than the sum of its parts.
2. Las Fritas - Excellent take away French fries (chips) with a variety of optional sauces and toppings. We initially assumed this was a big chain, but it actually is a local business with two locations (the other one is in El Born).
3. L'Òstia - A local introduced us to this restaurant, and although it is more expensive than many other tapas joints in the neighborhood, it also is significantly higher quality. It's a nice experience, for sure.
4. El Bar Del Paco - Tucked inside the Mercat de Barceloneta, this simple bar with friendly staff has been popping out inexpensive meals, tapas, and plenty of drinks since 1958. Closed Sundays.
5. Can Solé - Founded in 1903, this restaurant is famous for its rice and seafood dishes. It's expensive, but it very well might have the best paella in Barceloneta. Closed Mondays.
6. Can Ros - This simple but elegant restaurant serves a changing selection of Catalan dishes including a reasonably priced mid-day weekly menu. This restaurant is our favorite in Barceloneta. Closed Mondays.
7. Must Gelato - Our favorite local gelato (gelat) shop in the area did not survive the pandemic, but this joint also is well regarded and convenient to the beach, as well.

To save money, look for the Menu of the Day (menú del dia) or Weekly Menu (menú setmanal) offered mid-day, commonly from 1 PM to 4 PM. It generally provides two or three choices for a first course (entrants) and second course (segons), two or three dessert options (postre), a drink and bread (beguda i pà) for a fixed price.

Stroll Port Olympic

In addition to its prominent casino, the modern Port Olympic area provides an attractive boardwalk and its trendy businesses would not be out of place in Miami Beach. There are plenty of restaurants in Port Olympic, as well, but we would rather eat in Barceloneta. Although Barcelona is actively working to improve the quality of the restaurants in Port Olympic in the run up to America's Cup in 2024, the more modest local joints in the canyons likely will remain preferred by the locals. The nightclubs on the beach in Port Olympic always have been more memorable than its restaurants. Three of the best known nightclubs are Opium, Patcha, and Shoko. Dress as well as you would for a nightclub anywhere else in the world; do not show up in beachwear.

If you would like to get out on the water, rather than simply admire the sea from the shore, there also are moderately luxurious, and well-reviewed, two-hour boat rides with drinks and light snacks that you might enjoy either in the afternoon or around sunset. There also is a quick and very cheap boat tour option that might be suitable if you have modest expectations, but in our experience, if you are going to spend money on a boat tour — or a tour in general — smaller is better and worth the extra money.

Below, we have mapped out our favorite walk starting at Barceloneta Station (Line 4, Yellow). It ducks through the attractive Plaça de la Barceloneta and Plaça del Poeta Boscà in addition to the lovely Carrer de l'Almirall Churruca on the way to the beach.

How to Get Here: Take Line 4 (Yellow) to Barceloneta Station and use the only exit (labeled as Plaça Pau Vila on some maps). After exiting the station, turn right and cross the big street (Carrer del Dr. Aiguader - Ronda Litoral) to begin our suggested walk. Barceloneta Station is notorious for pickpockets; be particularly mindful of your belongings in and around this station, especially when entering and exiting trains and turnstiles.

travelgasm.com's Barceloneta & Port Olympic Map (Full Screen)

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