Barcelona can get awfully hot and sticky in the summer (which is finally here, yes!). The best way to escape the busy city and the sticky pavements? Take to the skies! No, I don’t mean flying – I mean checking out the great terraces that are around the city.
I had no idea you could just walk into a hotel and go up to the rooftops or that there were bars up there to visit, but terraza-hopping is quickly becoming one of my favorite verano activities. A bonus? They’re usually laid-back and free of the crazy tourist stampede that overtakes Barcelona in the warmer months.
So let’s start off with a hotel bar with some fabulous views – the Alaire terrace bar at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona. Its location on the very (very!) fancy Passeig de Gràcia already gives this bar some cool points, which you can instantly feel from the chic lobby.
But it gets even better when you shoot upstairs in an elevator and walk out onto the 8th floor terrace. That may not sound very high, but in the Eixample neighborhood it’s high enough to give you a good view.
Waiting for you in the middle of the terrace is Gaudí’s wavy wonder, La Pedrera. At night, the white building gets all lit up and changes into a golden palace overlooking the poshest street in the city.
Over to your right, the iconic Sagrada Familia glitters over the rooftops of the Eixample’s apartments.
On your left, you’ll get a glimpse of a gorgeous rooftop terrace belonging to another hotel. This one isn’t open publicly, but seeing it from above is almost as good as being there.
Grab a seat and choose from a menu of drinks, snacks, tapas, or light meals (they had a surprising number of hamburger options for such a fancy place). Here’s the downside of these hotel terraces – you’ll definitely be paying to be in a cool spot. A glass of wine runs about €5.50 and cocktails start from €10, so if you’re looking for a cheap place to get smashed in Barcelona, this isn’t it!
After you’re done checking out the views (and potentially getting over your sticker shock), relax, sit back, and enjoy discovering why this place is called the Alaire terrace bar – it literally means ‘in the air’. Sitting high above the city, it feels quite far away from the harried city center so you can enjoy the breeze.
The terrace is open year-round and opens at noon in the summertime. You can stay until 2 a.m., but I think the best time to go is definitely in the evening. You can also see more info about their special summer events at their website.
I’ll be back next week with another one of my Barcelona summer favorites now that the weather has finally heated up!
Have you ever been to a terrace bar in Barcelona? What’s your favorite summer travel activity?
Besos!
-Jess
What gorgeous views! I haven’t been to a terrace bar in Barcelona, but will have to check them out when I am there next. My favourite summer travel activity is swimming especially in not so busy beaches only frequented by locals. Know of any good ones in Spain?
Yes! Spain has some seriously beautiful beaches. My favorite ones I’ve been to so far were in Formentera, complete with white sand, clear turquoise water, and not too many people. Catalunya’s Costa Brava is also gorgeous.
Reblogged this on Travis Caulfield – Travel Photos and commented:
Great article!
Thanks for reblogging, Travis!
Go to your local for a few rounds on the cheap, then finish up on the terrace. I love the view. ~James
That’s definitely the way to do it! The view from here is spectacular.
Last week my sister and her boyfriend came to spend the afternoon in Barcelona. We went to Hotel Barceló terrace… (I knew about it because of a post in your blog) and we loved the views from up there!
Yay! I’m glad you like it, it’s one of my favorite spots in Barcelona. 🙂
Ahhh, the view from this place looks awesome! I’m definitely putting this on my list of things to do on my next trip to Barcelona!
It’s a lot of fun! I heard you had to pay to get into lots of hotel terraces in Madrid, but you don’t in Barcelona (fingers crossed it stays that way).
They have live music at Alaire some nights, love it. I was at HoteI 1898 on Friday, just off Ramblas, it has a massive terrace and 360 views of the city, really nice also.
I was just at the 1898 last night, what a great terrace! Thanks for the recommendation.
Wonderful terrace! I tried the one of Hotel Pulitzer. the view is really not that great, but the atmosphere is cozy and relaxing, and they play GREAT music!
I haven’t heard of that one, but I’ll have to add it to my summer ‘to do’ list. Thanks for suggesting it!
I won’t make it to Barcelona on this trip to Spain (my last day in Madrid and heading to Mallorca tomorrow), but I went to a rooftop bar in Seville with breathtaking views of the lit cathedral. One of my most memorable evenings in Spain. My hosts had sticker shock too and insisted I split the bill with them instead of picking up the tab. It was worth it.
BTW, I picked up my very own Flamenco apron yesterday. Thanks for posting about that a few weeks back. I love Spain!!!
Ooh I’ve been there! It’s a very nice terrace with some spectacular views – and some spectacular prices too.
Haha the flamenco aprons are the best! Enjoy it. 🙂
Always my favorite views … Overlooking everything. Never fails to give you good image result.
Yes, those are the best views. They give you a real feel for a city.