I find that 95% of those that go to Barcelona either on vacation or for a semester abroad - tend to focus on the Ramblas area of the Gothic Quarter during their nightly drinking rituals. I just want to make something very clear to people arriving in Barcelona. NO ONE from Barcelona parties on the Ramblas! If the locals won’t - why should you, right? Right.
With the advent of the low cost carrier, namely easyjet, Ryanair, Berlinair, etc… Barcelona has been fortunate [or unfortunate] enough to have experienced an insane influx of Brits and other northern Europeans that have decided BCN is the ideal weekend escape. Most of these “northerners” come for Stag or Hen parties, end up drunk for three days straight, pee and puke all over the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona - and then leave. Not to offend my northern friends, as I am sure that many out there come to Barcelona to lead respectable holidays, it is just what I have experienced.
At any rate, although the Ramblas is a gorgeous part of town, and should be walked during the day to experience the amalgamy of color, the pet shops and the architecture, there are other places in the city to experience the night. One such place is a street named Maria Cubi, a few blocks north of Diagonal road, between Aribau and Plaza Francesc Macia. The street is mainly in the Sant Gervasi area of the north part of town. And guess what - you will be hard pressed to find ANY tourists! I must warn the weary traveler, however, that if you are in the mood for some Gaudi-esque night experience sipping halluconegenic absynthe on the terrace of some mosaic-filled-bizarre-shaped building, Carrer Maria Cubi is NOT the place. This is the north part of town - and this is where the rich kids go, so the ambience will be fun, young and maybe a bit stuffy. Do not wear sneakers and throw a Ralph Lauren polo shirt over that Abercrombie cut-off tee-shirt. You will then be good to go.
The fun part about Maria Cubi is that it is a long street with bars back to back on either side of the street. None of the bars have cover charges and they are all decorated differently. The highlight of the street is called Bar Universal, which is housed in what once was a large private two-story home. The club/bar was recently redecorated and offers an upstairs non-smoking area with large white faux-leather chairs, as well as pop music, while the downstairs thumps trance and house music and allows patrons to smoke. If you pretend to speak Catalan and are very well dressed, the bouncer will not charge you a cover. Otherwise, you may have to pay. I never have… but I digress. ;)
These bars close pretty early [for Spain] around 2:30-3:00, but then everyone migrates to Carrer Aribau where there ar at least 5 megaclubs back-to-back in a ritzy part of town. Some of these include Luz de Gas and Get Back. You will have fun at any of these places but I need to stress that they are a bit cheesy and play horrible pop music. However, if you have had enough to drink by 3 - you will have a blast. Lastly, on Carrer Lincoln, there is always the iconic Otto Sutz Club which was recently revamped and is very cool. Carrer Lincoln is a very small and narrow street, so you may have to ask for directions, but once inside the industrial chic layout, you can dance your bum off to hip-hop, 80’s or house… depending on the room you decide to enter. There is also a VIP area but it is quite small and the drink prices will make you think you are in Tokyo or Hong Kong - but you’re not!
Drink, dance and be safe!
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