'''Gracia''', about 1 km north of the center of Barcelona at the north end of the Passeig de Gracia, is the most distinctively Catalan neighborhood to be found in easy walking distance of the center. A prosperous neighborhood, Gracia nonetheless has more a local than a cosmopolitan feel to it, with much of life lived on the many public squares.<br>
It's also a very good place to start (or finish) a walk through the most important modernist buildings.<br>
A good place to stay in an hotel.
Get in
Both the Fontana and the Lesseps Metro stations (on line L3) are located in or near the Gracia district. From the stations, the heart of Gracia will be to the NNE (this may appear as East or "to the right" on most, if not all, maps of Barcelona).
See
Check out any plaza and it will most likely be humming with life and vibrancy.
'''Park Güell Park (Parc Güell)'''
prosperous private villas can be found above the Guel Park
Do
One of Barcelona's most lively festivals, the '''Festa Major de Gracia''' [http://www.festamajordegracia.org/], is a week long festival that displays the best of Catalan with a mass celebration in the streets. One of the most popular events is the 'Best decorated street', where residents from 23 neighboring streets use anything and everything to decorate their street in a theme and vie for the prize.
Buy
Hibernian. econdhand English Bookshop. arrer Montseny 17, Gracia. etro Fontana. 34 932 174 796. ttp://www.hibernian-books.com. 0:30 AM to 8:30 PM. ost used paperbacks at 5 euros. Good selection in many categories. Also has some new books, and a shelf of German and French titles.
Vincon. asseig de Gracia 96. . Diagonal. 93) 215-6050. ttp://www.vincon.com/. on-Sat 10am-8:30pm. This is a place modern design lovers simply must visit. Offers everything from little household objects to furniture in a sleek and contemporary design--and much beyond interior decoration.
Eat
'''Eldorad2''' [http://www.eldoradobcn.com/modules/xoopsgallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album08], in the street Ramis, 2-4 (between Mila i Fontanals and Quevedo, 2 streets below Travessera de Gracia, next to the Placa John Lennon). A recently opened subsidiary of El Dorado Bar that shares the principles of quality and service of the main house.
Budget
'''Breton'''. Located just across the street down an "alley" from the Fontana metro station. An assortment of pictures out front of the restaurant give diners an idea of the plates as well as a tacky feel, but inside the restaurant is clean and simple. Good service and decent food make this a place to possibly frequent because you know what to expect. A menu del dia and a great menu to select from. "Normal" to Moderate prices. Menu del dia ~10?, Bocadillos ~?4, salads/"entrees" ~3?.
'''Restaurant Petra''' Carrer D'Asturies. Authentic Lebanese cuisine in the heart of Gracia. This great pedestrian street has several restaurants and many shops, but Petra offers traditional Mediterranean dishes. Shwarma, falafel, hummus, traditional pita and much more. Takeout available. Combination Plates ~10?.
Mid-range
Can Xurrades. arrer Gran de Gracia, 57. losed Sunday (all-day) and Monday night. 3 217 30 97. ttp://www.canxurrades.com/index.php. Probably one the best Catalan restaurants in the neighborhood, although their selection of other Spanish food is quite good. Particularly excels at meat dishes, cooked in traditional Catalan style. Dishes of note include the Ous Estrellats to die for (Andalusian Scrambled Eggs with Potato) as well as amazing desserts such as Strawberries with Salt and Pepper. Great wine selection with various Catalan varieties. Wonderful staff, the owner Rafa is a marvelous host.
'''Flah-Flash''' C/Granada del Penedes, 25. Not really in Gracia, but next to it, it's one of the restaurants of the ''Tuset street'' years, when the ''Gauche Divine'' was the cool group in the city. This restaurant was made as a cool bar during the late 60's and it remains unchanged. The food's good (omelettes is the speciality and the cheapest option). About 15?.
'''La Porteria''' La Forja, 11. This quiet street holds a few bars and restaurants to choose from. La Porteria is nothing fancy, but seems to keep a steady local crowd. They have a ''menu del noche'' (like the ''menu del dia''), which provides a good value and (what I assume was) the proprietor served his own wine from the "Ribera" (del duero) region of Spain. The selection of 3 olive oils with bread before the meal was a pleasant bonus. Menu del noche - ~22?.
La Taberna del Cura. he tavern of the priest. arrer Gran de Gracia, 83. st courses ?4-12, main courses ?12-20. (salad, filet, small bottle wine, water, dessert, coffee - 50?). Known by locals as one of the better restaurants in town, the menu is mostly meat selections, but seafood can be ordered from it's sister restaurant ''Botafumeiro'' next door. La Taberna is on the expensive side, but the food is excellent.
Non-Spanish cuisine
'''La Rosa del Desierto''' Placa Narcis Oller, 7. The first Moroccan food restaurant in Barcelona offering quality and generous portions, with a quite special decoration. About 18? each person.
Splurge
'''Botafumeiro''' Carrer Gran de Gracia, 83. The sister restaurant (and next door) to ''La Taberna Del Cura'', Botafumeiro specializes in seafood, while La Taberna handles the meats. High quality food with a price tag to match.
Drink
Gracia is popular among students, and offers a lot of nice restaurants and bars for the student budget. The plazas in the area, as Placa de Sol for instance, are filled with nightlife.
'''El Dorado''' [http://www.eldoradobcn.com/] Placa del Sol, 4. With an ample dance floor, it also has a pool table, 'futbolin' and arcade games. The giant video screens and the monitors over the bar are other icons of this Music Bar. Drinks are catered for by staff that are professional, likeable and friendly.
'''Bar Bambo''' LaForja, just off via Augusta. Small local bar with a clean, cozy atmosphere and a single dart board. Turntables behind the bar control the mix of music which is a variety of American and Spanish upbeat hits. Estrellas - 2?.
Places to seek more bars:
'''Placa del Sol''' Has a lot of bars, such as ''Sol Soler'', ''Woody's''
'''Placa Rius i Taulet''' This nice square with the old city hall and the clock tower in the middle has also many bars.
'''Placa de la Revolucio''' Is not as crowded as the others, but has an Ice cream bar, owned by two Italian sisters, that serve the best ice creams in Barcelona. The problem is that you may have to wait a long time.
Sleep
Hotels
'''NH Belagua''' [http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/spain/barcelona/nh-belagua.html] Via Augusta 89-91, phone: +34 932 373 940, email: nhbelagua@nh-hotels.com. Nice, clean rooms with double windows to keep out street noise. Like many European hotels, neighbor rooms can still be heard. Moderate to Expensive in price, probably geared more towards the business traveler. Great continental buffet breakfast included with room.
Pensions
'''Barcelona City North''', [http://www.barcelonacitycentre.com/north]. Very good facilities. Three stops by metro away from Catalunya square. Bathroom ensuite, tv, satellite, air-conditioned, wi-fi access to Internet.
'''Pensión Norma''', up 3 flights of stairs at C. Gran de Gracia, 87, Tel. (+34) 237 44 78. Modest rooms, some with bath, in the relative quiet of Gracia, about a kilometre north of the centre of town. About ?25 per night.
Apartments
Apartments Barcelona. . Marti. 34933017678. nfo@only-apartments.com. ttp://www.apartmentsramblas.com.
'''Aparthotel Silver''', Breton de los Herreros, 26, tel. '''+''34'' 932189100''', [http://www.hotelsilver.com/ WEBSITE] '''reservations@hotelsilver.com'''. A recommended establishment in Barcelona, located in a central, but quiet area in the city. Attractive prices. The Fontana metro stop (line 3) is at the doorstep, which will leave you in the historic centre (Plaza Catalunya, La Rambla, etc.) in only 10 minutes.
'''BarcelonaPoint.com''', Avenida de Madrid 95 3-3, Tel. +34 93 330 7800 This web agency has around 20 [http://www.barcelonapoint.com Barcelona apartments in Gracia]. You can book directly online or by telephone.
'''Barcelona Apartments''', Ronda Sant Pere, 60, Tel (+34) 935 397 992, info@feelathomeinbarcelona.com, [http://www.apartmentsbcn.net]. Apartments in Barcelona's cosmpolitan and relaxed district of Gracia. Barcelona rentals for groups of friends, couples, families and business travellers. Visit [http://www.feelathomeinbarcelona.com] to book..
Contact