10 Trendy Spots To Visit In Barcelona This Summer

From the endless sunny days and balmy nights, to the superb food and drinks scene, legendary nightlife and close to three miles of city beaches, Barcelona is a summer hotspot like none other.

Make the most of Barcelona this summer

For many visitors, the only drawback could well be that there’s simply too much to do—between Gaudí’s eye-popping architecture, 26 Michelin-starred restaurants, and countless wine bars, tapas joints, museums, galleries and boutiques.

Here’s your definitive guide to making the most of Barcelona this summer: from the hottest rooftops and beach bars, to the coolest soft-serve ice-cream, a secret cocktail bar, and the under-the-radar spots that only the locals know about.

When one of Barcelona’s most loved Michelin-starred chefs sets up shop in one of the city’s most sought-after beachfront locations, people sit up and take notice. Add a sun-drenched rooftop terrace with views to die for and a menu packed with fishy treats, and you’ll be in no doubt as to why Romain Fornell’s Azul is already a leading contender for the hottest new opening of the year. Chef Fornell may be French by birth but his love for his adopted home in Catalonia is present in everything he does. Nowhere more so than at Azul, where menu highlights include local delicacies like red shrimp from Palamós in the Costa Brava and Mediterranean red tuna, as well as Atlantic lobster and oysters from Normandie, of course.

Barcelona’s arguably most beautiful restaurant is also one of its best-kept secrets. Hidden behind a majestic wrought-iron doorway, through a Game of Thrones-worthy lobby and up an imposing flight of stairs, discover a Moderniste (or Catalan Art Nouveau) apartment-turned-cocktail bar and restaurant. The menu is French-inspired with Mediterranean touches—think salade Niçoise with seared tuna and anchovies from Cantabria in northern Spain, grilled octopus with Spanish paprika, and Dover Sole à la meunière—but what really sets La Dama apart is a romantic setting par excellence.

It may come as a shock that Barcelona has a serious shortage of beach clubs. Sure, you can rent a tired old sun bed from one of the city’s beach bars, or chiringuitos, but, for something more upscale, you’ll have to look further afield. The charming village of Garraf, about 30 minutes south of city and reachable by car or train, is home to Soho House’s Little Beach House Barcelona—and, as of last summer, La Caseta beach bar. Whereas Little Beach House is only open to Soho House (and Soho Friends) members, La Caseta is accessible to the public. Yes, you heard it right, a Soho House-run beach club with food, cocktails and plush loungers, and everyone’s invited!

This summer pop-up on the breezy beachfront terrace of upscale Hotel Arts has the Barcelonians talking and who could blame them? Roka is a London-based Japanese restaurant concept with outposts in the UK capital and elsewhere. It was the first restaurant in Europe to introduce the robata grill—a traditional method used by Japanese fishermen to cook fish over charcoal on their boats. And while the sushi and sashimi are nothing short of world class, the real scene stealers are the grilled delicacies like the black cod marinated in yuzu miso, and the lamb cutlets with Korean spices. Add an open-air setting overlooking Frank Gehry’s glittering “fish” sculpture, and you’ll be in no doubt as to why Barcelona is going wild for Roka.

At this stage, Paradiso, the speakeasy “hidden” behind the fridge door of a pastrami bar, is probably one of the worst-kept secrets there is. Between being named the best cocktail bar in the world last year, and the line that invariably snakes around the block outside, everyone and their uncle is in on the fun. What you may not know is that the Paradiso crew have a new spot—it is called Monk and it’s still semi-under the radar. Concealed behind what appears to be a 24-hour convenience store, the only thing giving it away is the growing line of people outside. As for the drinks, try the aromatic Kusama Negroni, made with galangal-infused gin, yuzu liqueur and eucalyptus-infused Campari, and the umami-packed Glass is Dry, with vodka, oyster leaf-infused sherry and citrus cordial.

As the sun sets over la Sagrada Família and Tibidabo mountain, what could be dreamier than catching a Hollywood classic on one of the city’s prettiest rooftops? This season, El Palace Barcelona is hosting a series of activities to make the most of the Barcelona sunshine on its jasmine and orange blossom-lined terrace. From weekend brunch, to art classes, live rumba, and the new L’Arròs pop-up restaurant that celebrates Catalonia’s love of paella-style rice dishes, there’s plenty to keep you busy. The real highlight is the open-air summer cinema, showing classic movies every night from Wednesday thru Sunday. This year’s programming includes Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Mamma Mia, the original Top Gun, and more.

There are no fireworks at Barcelona’s newest foodie hot spot, not even a sign on the door to let you know you’ve arrived. Suru is a kind of culinary speakeasy, hidden behind an entrance so unassuming I passed it twice before going in. Inside, die-hard foodies watch the magic unfold from their seats at the bar overlooking the open kitchen. Founders Carles, Gemma, and Sergi worked together at another Barcelona institution, Gresca, before setting up on their own and, boy, are we glad they did! Seasonal, local produce is prepared on a yakitori grill, turning out dishes like the grilled chicken skin topped with shrimp tartare, and the white asparagus with almond cream and mustard vinaigrette. Sommelier Sergi provides the perfect pairings to make the flavors pop.

Eric Ortuño and Ximena Pastor’s l’Atelier is not just one of Barcelona’s most exceptional pastry shops. Aside from some of the best croissants in town, locals come here for everything from their favorite desserts to Christmas panettone and birthday cakes. In the summer months, when the sweltering heat takes hold of the Catalan capital, l’Atelier also serves some of the city’s coolest ice-creams. The “Reus” cone—a croissant cone filled with soft-serve ice cream, caramel and hazelnut praliné—is already a classic and, this year, guests can also enjoy a range of ice-cream-based cocktails. Like the Rossini: a refreshing blend of sparkling cava and strawberry sorbet.

One evening in April this year, Barcelona’s ritzy Amar restaurant received a puzzling last-minute booking. Imagine the surprise of the staff when the mystery guests turned out to be none other than former U.S. President Barack Obama, rock legend Bruce Springsteen and director Steven Spielberg. An ultra-elegant seafood restaurant by local superchef Rafa Zafra set in one of Barcelona’s poshest hotels, Amar is famous for its mouthwatering takes on oysters, shellfish and caviar. Rumor has it the group proceeded to order this and a bit of everything else on the menu. I’d say what’s good enough for them is good enough for me!

Barcelona-based Grupo Tragaluz already has more success stories under its belt than you or I have had hot dinners. From classics like Pez Vela to the trendy El Japonés Escondido, it presides over some of Barcelona’s most perennially popular hotspots. This year, it has added Bosco de Lobos (which translates as forest of wolves) to the mix. The menu is Italian-Mediterranean, with highlights including a selection of antipasti, like zucchini flowers, filled with ricotta cheese and anchovies, lightly deep fried in tempura, and pasta dishes like the cacio e pepe tagliolini that is arguably the best in town. With its cozy, plant-filled outdoor patio, expect this one to stay packed all summer long.