Barcelona's Gothic Offers Many Bar and Dining Options

I pop into Milk from time to time for its Happy Hour and extensive cocktail list. It is not uncommon for a cocktail in Barcelona to set you back 10 Euros, and at Milk they are normally priced just under this. However, if you go a bit early , say before dinner, and hit their Happy Hour, then you will be happy because you saved some dough and happy because you just had a great Cosmo or whatever your poison is.

Milk is somewhat trendy, with low lighting, bench seating, pillows and design furnishings. The bar is hip and stylish without being annoyingly full of itself. It attracts a wide range of clientele, from locals to foreigners living in Barcelona (oh, I guess that would be me!) and even tourists. The wait staff are bilingual, and fairly nice and efficient. Best of all, they know what they are doing when it comes to shaking up a martini.

Milk is located in the Gothic Quarter squeezed in-between many tasty restaurants and bars to check out after dinner. Milk does serve food as well, but I would suggest just having an appetizer there (hummus) and eating somewhere else.  It’s also close to the Harlem Jazz Club if you fancy some live music.

More: http://www.milkbarcelona.com/

Photo Credit: The Spain Scoop

Harlem Jazz Club in Barcelona, Spain

You’ve heard about the crazy Spanish tradition of eating at 10pm – even on school nights (gasp!) – and staying out late until the wee hours of the manana…After over four years now in Spain, I am used to eating late and staying out even later. It makes sense that if you eat dinner at 10 or 10:30, that might have a drink afterwards and then not get home until 2 or 3 am, or let’s face it, much later than that depending on where the evening takes you.

I like this part of Spain. I am not a party-animal, but I love the fact that people here are ready to have a fiesta (and a siesta the next day) for any occasion. There is something fabulous about enjoying life and even celebrating it regularly with relish.

Thanks to this cultural love of parties and going out, Barcelona has a pretty active nightlife and bar scene. If you are looking to see some live music checkout Harlem Jazz Club on any night of the week except Mondays. Live music ranges from Jazz to Flamenco fusion to funk and starts at 11pm. Get there early for a table. The cover is about 8Euros with a drink, and the vibe is low-key, bordering on bohemian. This is a classic Barcelona club and one of my personal faves. They close at 5am.

More: http://www.harlemjazzclub.es/

Photo Credit: The Spain Scoop