Relaxing Day in Barcelona

It is one of the oldest bakeries in Barcelona. They are beloved by locals and famous for Catalan traditional breads and pastries. To get in line, take a ticket. Then, make an order and pay at the cashier. My choice is Pan de Coco – sweet pastry with pine nuts. It is a great way to start the day.

A local initiative to bring back to life a disappearing part of the city — the newsstand. They started small and now slowly growing into an international chain. Besides coffee, you can buy here a magazine to kindle the spirit.

This historic botanic garden is located in the back of the University of Barcelona. It is a cozy and intimate space filled with exotic plants and surrounded by a cloister. Enjoy the tranquility of the garden while sipping coffee and reading your magazine.

Follow Barcelona’s new pedestrian street, Consell de Cent, to get to Gràcia. It was once a small village located not far from Barcelona. Nowadays it is a quiet neighborhood with peaceful walking streets, art galleries, and stylish boutiques. Many of Barcelona’s iconic landmarks are in the vicinity including Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, and Park Güell.

Gràcia offers a variety of food venues from tiny bars with craft beer and cava to up-scale restaurants. If you are craving some pizza, go to Gina Balmesina Pizza Bar. For Asian - Ramen-Ya Hiro. They are famous for their authentic Japanese ramen. And my personal recommendation — La Pubilla, a warmhearted family-owned restaurant of Catalonian cuisine. All of them have vegan options on the menu.

Through the Poble-sec District go up the Montjuïc Hill. Here, you will find two huge pools built for the 1992 Summer Olympics. Next to them are stairs of seats. They offer great panoramic views with the last sun rays reflecting in the water of the pools. There is also a bar where you can buy some wine and refreshments.

After the sunset, go down the Montjuïc to this bar for a couple glasses. They have a great selection of organic wines. You can also try Pét Nat — a light sparkling wine. And as an appetizer, try their Pan con Tomate — a traditional Spanish bar snack with the recipe unique in every venue.