Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE GIN AND TONIC CRAZE
In Barcelona, they don't let anything come between their gin and their tonic - not even the
word “and”. The gintonic, as it's known, has always been a favourite drink, but in recent
years there's been a surge in bars specializing in the classic cocktail and its star ingredi-
ent, ginebra.
BobbyGin
in Gràcia has some sixty varieties,
BarPescaSalada
in El Raval
stocks 54 kinds and
Xixbar
, which claims to be the first Barcelona bar specializing in gin,
mixes it up with more than a hundred types. And the tonic component has not been for-
gotten, with bars pouring a dizzying array of premium varieties, from the regionally pro-
duced Tònica Catalana tothose fromArgentina, the UKandbeyond.It'sarefreshing trend
worthy of glass-clinking ¡salut!
TOP 5 GIN BARS
CLUBS AND LIVE MUSIC
Centre Artesà Tradicionàrius (CAT)
Trav. de Sant Antoni 6-8 932 184 485
tradi-
cionarius.cat
;
Fontana;
map
.
The best place in town for folk, traditional and world music
by Catalan, Spanish and visiting performers, including some occasional big names. Admis-
sion is usually €5-15 and you can expect anything from Basque bagpipes to Brazilian sing-
ers.Therearealsomusicandinstrumentworkshops,whileCATsponsorsallsortsofoutreach
concerts and festivals, including an annual international folk and traditional dance festival
between Jan and April.
Concerts usually at 9.30 or 10pm.
Elèctric Bar
Trav. de Gràcia 233, no phone,
electricbarcelona.com
;
Joanic;
map
.
The
bar of choice for Gràcia's counterculture crowd, who come for the wildly varied live pro-
gramming, with something on every night, from poetry slams to electro-folk gigs. It's free if
you just want to drink in the grungy bar - performances in the space out back start at 10pm
(weekends at 11pm), with admission usually €3-5.
Daily 7pm-2am (Fri & Sat until 3am).
Heliogàbal
c/Ramon y Cajal 80, no phone,
heliogabal.com
;
Joanic;
map
.
Not much
more than a boiler room given a lick of paint, but filled with a cool, twenty-something crowd
here for the live poetry and music - expect something different every night (Catalan versify-
ing,jazzjamsessionsandearnestsinger-songwriters),startingat10pm.Admissionisusually
€3-10,dependingontheact,anddrinksaren'texpensive.
Wed-Sun9pm-2am(Fri&Satun-
til 3am).
