Off to the Races: The Perfect Long Weekend in Barcelona

Alexandra Zigrang organises luxury group travel to F1 races all around the world but calls Barcelona home. Here are her picks for a weekend in the city!

I have been fortunate enough to call Barcelona my home for over four years. This vibrant international city has so much to offer; unique culture, stunning architecture, and exceptional food at every turn. I’m always spoiled for choice and can rarely answer the simple question: what are the best things to do here?

With Formula 1 pitching up in this Spanish city at The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix, here are my tips on how you can spend your weekend in Barcelona (F1, or no F1).

Friday: Exploring the Gothic Quarter

Weekends start on Friday afternoons when the laptops shut down and then don’t reopen until Monday morning. It’s the perfect time to run an errand, browse a shop, or grab a glass of vermouth and soak in the afternoon sun.

My husband and I treat ourselves, and our dog, Frank, to what we’ve coined the ‘Frank Tapas Tour.’ Frank, our discerning miniature beagle, has become something of a local celebrity in the neighborhood.

First stop: La Plata

Established in 1945, this no-frills tapas spot does a few things exceptionally well. Order a plate of crispy fried anchovies and wash it down with a vermouth. Pepe, who’s been behind the bar since nearly the beginning, will take good care of you.

Carrer de la Mercè, 28, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona

Cocktails at Carlos & Matilda

Decidedly local with canine patrons who sometimes outnumber the humans, this cocktail bar uses only the freshest ingredients. They always have a short menu of inventive seasonal cocktails alongside the classics. The setting in a plaza buttressed against an ancient Roman wall reminds you just how deep Barcelona’s history runs.

Baixada de Viladecols, 6, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona

To wrap up the night, we cross into the Born neighborhood for either tapas and natural wines at Canvis Nous or a smashburger and fries at Fast Eddies, you can’t go wrong with either.

Canvis Nous: Carrer dels Canvis Nous, 8, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona

Fast Eddies: Carrer dels Carders, 6, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona