Hotel Vela and Barceloneta Beach

My perfect day in Barcelona starts early. I want to make the most of it, so I get up before daybreak, at around five am. Bleary-eyed, and still half asleep, I wander into the kitchen and refill the moka pot that sits on the hob.

As I wait for the coffee to bubble up into the top part of the pot, I hurriedly pull on my board shorts and a long-sleeved rash vest before dragging my inflatable SUP down from on top of the wardrobe.

I half fill a mug with steaming coffee, then top it up with cold milk so that it’s cool enough to drink. It doesn’t taste great, but I haven’t time to wait for the bar on the corner to open, and I need my early morning caffeine fix.

I guzzle down the brown elixir and quickly pack the pump, 3-part paddle and a bottle of water into the oversized rucksack with the paddleboard. Flip flops on, and I’m out the door, hurrying downstairs to the street on my way to the metro. Read the rest of this article…

My perfect day would be a spring day, between late May and early June. But we are in February, and Barcelona is also beautiful in winter.

Your only objective for a day of leisure in Barcelona is to abandon yourself to the pleasures that the city has to offer.

First, as a good foodie, I need to think about where to get the best breakfast. A relaxed place where I can read the newspaper and eat the best croissant in town. Hofmann La Seca (Carrer dels Flassaders, 40) in the Born district is definitely my choice. In addition to a latte I order a croissant filled with raspberry or maybe mascarpone, it is difficult to choose, I will order both. Reading newspapers or a good book while time goes by without being noticed is a basic principle of pleasure.

Nuria’s favourite breakfast at Hofmann La Seca, Carrer dels Flassaders, 40

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It’s 10:30. I’ve just arrived home after a busy day around the city. I take my shoes off, I pour myself a glass of white wine, then I sit down on my couch. It’s been a perfect day, actually it’s Friday and the icing on the cake would be this cold, fruity and just a little bit alcoholic juice. Ups! My cell is ringing so I dig in my purse to find it. Let’s see… I have a cactus… a ring… no sign of my cell (although I can hear the music)… a chocolate bar… a red and white bandana… finally my cell!

After my weekly conversation with my mother, I look at all the stuff I had in my purse. Those are just fantastic memories of my great day rediscovering Barcelona. Why rediscovering? Because this is my hometown where I work as a tour guide showing this exciting city to visitors. What do I do when I’m not working? I search for new charming spots, new delicious restaurants as well as new original shops. As a matter of fact, that’s what I have done today.

I’ve woken up at 7:30am, after a quick shower (quick in my standards, I am a very slow person in the morning) and a coffee I was on my way towards the Poblenou neighbourhood.

District 22@, Poblenou

Nowadays this is a constantly changing area, which houses the technological district: the 22@. Modern buildings coexist with façades of old factories and the neighbourhood life that tries to keep a traditional and family spirit. As a result, this is the trendiest area in Barcelona where you can still appreciate the different periods just by looking at its buildings. Read the rest of this article…

I must say I don’t get over to Poblennou that much. But when I do it’s usually because I visit one of the beaches that separate this up and coming barrio from the sea. And tucked just behind Mar Bella and Nova Mar Bella is the recently opened Picnic Deli.

Picnic Deli, Passeig del Taulat, 138

Picnic Deli makes deli-style baguettes, salads, pastas and other meals daily in their on-site kitchen that you can eat in or take away. They also deliver to a select few local businesses.

Owners Brett and Natasha pride themselves on using fresh local ingredients to produce their ever-changing menu. They use organic produce whenever possible and offer an array of dishes suitable for vegan, vegetarian and coeliac diets. But don’t worry, meat is on the menu too! Read the rest of this article…

Zoe with all the kids

I’ve lived in (and loved) Barcelona for over 3 years now. And I pinch myself almost everyday that this is my life. It’s easy to have a perfect day here, with the incredible weather, the beach on my doorstep, beautiful architecture at every turn and the goblet of G&T. But all of this can be easily trumped by the ultimate perfect day… my wedding day. Cliché much!?! Of course. But to have all our favourite people, in the city we love, doesn’t get any better in my opinion; wedding or not.

It was on Saturday 11th April this year. It had been a whirlwind week of drinks and dinners out with the stream of wedding guests in holiday mode. Unfortunately, our French neighbours decided to have an air traffic control strike that week resulting in many guests having to endure challenging journeys over. So amidst the fun, I’d also been glued to my phone most of the week getting stressed out hearing about cancelled flights and peoples’ ‘planes, trains and automobile’ adventures just to get to our wedding. Luckily everyone made it! And our three French wedding guests miraculously became French Canadian overnight. Read the rest of this article…