Barcelona

Barcelona is such an easy city to love. I go at least once or twice a year. I feel strangely at home in this vibrant, laid back city. To have a ‘cortado’ coffee and ‘tostadas’ with olive oil and tomato in the morning at just about any cafe makes me feel like a local…

My favorite place to stay is design-B&B bedandbreak.es. It is located in the center of Barcelona, but not in a touristy area. In half an hour you can stroll to the trendy area of Barcelona and the beach. It is just 4 blocks from the famous Rambla and only three blocks from Passeig de Gracia, with shops, restaurants and the famous Gaudi building.

I love to have breakfast, lunch or just a ‘cortado’ coffee at Norte, just around the corner. Friendly and hardworking owner and host Maria prepares simple, light, beautiful meals and the place has a local, trendy feel.

One block from the B&B is the lovely small cafe and restaurant Betlem. They have wonderful wines and tapas and their lunch menu during the week is great value for money.

On the Passeig de Gracia you’ll find the ‘market place’ El Nacional is a stylish collection of restaurants and bars in an old parking lot building. A bit more pricey, but an experience not to be missed.

On block further, on the Rambla, Tapas restaurant Ciudad Condal looks like any upscale tapas place, but the lines of locals and tourists waiting for a table speak for themselves. Superb tapas, classical setting and still very affordable.

I loved visiting the Sagrada Familia and just sitting in a church bench in the cordoned off area, enjoying the peace inside and the beautiful details, like the ceiling…