"Sharpen those elbows before tucking into the inevitably crowded El Xampanyet in El Born, where the vibes are as bubbly as the cheap housemade cava that keeps locals and tourists chilling in the street out front for hours. When you’re ready for a little food between rounds, order some unfussy tapas like olives, cheese, and charcuterie from the counter display, or made-to-order plates like tortilla with chorizo and grilled Iberian pork with padron peppers hot from the kitchen. It’s located near the Picasso museum, so stop by after a morning visit between noon to 3:30pm, or once the museum closes and the bar opens back up from 7pm on weekdays." - isabelle kliger
Sara Larsson