How To Do Barcelona in Style

Navi Ahluwalia

5 July 2024 at 9:46 am·4-min read

Welcome to Local Hype, a travel diary where we compile a curated list of our "Hometown Heroes" for you to enjoy. Featuring the buzziest hotels, restaurants and local treasures that we've experienced for ourselves, suggested by the city's locals.

Next on the agenda? The sunny streets of Barcelona. The Spanish city is the perfect summer getaway, and a rare affordable option this time of the year. With temperatures reaching up to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in June with consistent sunshine, the beach-meets-city nature of Barca makes it the ideal locale for holidaymakers who love the best of both worlds.

For our trip, we opted for a luxurious stay at the Kimpton Vivadora, an impressive five-star hotel in the heart of La Rambla complete with a rooftop pool and restaurant. For the second half of our travels, we descended on the Hoxton Poblenou, an equally impressive oasis that's slightly further afield, in a pretty funky neighbourhood -- might we add.

Read on for more of our top picks across accommodation, shopping and food.

Hotels and Accommodation

Hotel Kimpton Vivadora

barcelona travel spain guide hotels rooftop pool restaurant food drink coffee

Hotel Kimpton Vivadora is located right in the heart of the city, surrounded by the coolest streetwear shops and instantly recognizable retailers. Complete with an impressive rooftop pool and warm, well-designed interiors, the five-star locale is surrounded by amazing views of Barcelona and has its own renowned restaurant serving contemporary takes on classic Catalan dishes.

The Hoxton Poblenou

The Hoxton is an obvious choice for fans of impeccable design, amazing service and a little cool factor and of course, the hotel's Poblenou outpost features all of the above. Located in a trendy neighbourhood complete with natural wine bars and impressive architecture, the Hoxton is an undeniable home away from home -- and then some. With spacious rooms, cozy bath tubs and a stellar rooftop pool, the hotel is also home to two restaurants: Tope, serving up a flavorful Mexican-inspired cuisine, alongside Four Corners: a Detroit-style pizza joint.

Shops

NUDE PROJECT

NUDE PROJECT is one of Spain's fastest-growing streetwear brands, and there's a plethora of reasons for that. The brand's tongue-in-cheek visual identity, high-quality garments and sell-out Playboy collaborations have made it one of the most desirable and innovative, at just five years old. Its Barcelona store is small but mighty, featuring the brand's latest collaborations alongside jewelry, accessories and in-store exclusives.

SSSTUFF

SSSTUFF's Barcelona location is so much more than a store. It is a truly unique and wholly immersive experience that shocks and awes like no other. Designed with the view of recreating a Japanese supermarket, the sensory overload that is SSSTUFF includes scratch 'n' sniff T-shirts, color-changing embroidery and interactive elements at every turn. It's genuinely a must-visit for streetwear fans and those who like to have a little fun with their fashion.

TheRoom

TheRoom Barcelona is a curated lifestyle and streetwear store offering a slew of unique brands and collaborations alongside household names and streetwear staples. Stocking brands like Aries, Suicoke and HOKA, the pared-back space offers a wide selection of footwear, accessories and ready-to-wear for every fashion lover.

Restaurants

Casa de Vivi -- Fauna

Located inside the Kimpton Vivadora, Casa de Vivi's Fauna restaurant offers a wide selection of local dishes alongside fine wines. Promising "honest cooking with a rich Catalan heritage built on fresh, seasonal products," the cozy restaurant provides the perfect setting to try whatever your heart desires. A personal highlight was the sobrasada with honeycomb, a fusion of spicy Catalan sausage with sweet and sticky honey.

Veraz

Situated inside the visually stunning Barcelona EDITION hotel, Veraz is currently home to a partnership with the Les Cols restaurant, helmed by chef Martina Puigvert. For our visit, we trialled the new six-course tasting menu, which included an onion royale with breadcrumbs and licorice and fresh egg of the day, with green bean, carrot, red bell pepper, corn, tuna and potato. A truly unique experience, the tasting menu combines familiar flavors with artfully curated textures that you'd quite literally never expect.

Achaar Bar

A stunning discovery in the heart of Poblenou, Achaar Bar combines plentiful Indian flavors with a small plates sensibility, paired with a delightful selection of natural wines. Featuring classic dishes like paneer tikka and butter chicken, the inventive menu showcases unique takes on familiar dishes, elevated by contemporary flavors and a casual plating style.

Casa Delfin

Located not too far from La Rambla, Casa Delfin is a perfect pit-stop for sunny lunches. Featuring an extensive menu of fresh food staples, we tried popular dishes like the oven-roasted Galician queen scallops, salt cod salad and octopus with smoked pimenton.

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Hotels and Accommodation

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