In fact, Barcelona's famous nightlife constitutes the chief reason for many travellers' coming to the city. Crowds of locals, students and foreign tourists sweep from bars to pubs to taverns to enjoy sangría, Spanish wine, and the famous tapas. A recommendable location in which to sample this combination is Rita Blue (Plaza Sant Agusti), a funky restaurant club. Another popular choice is the Bosque de los Fades, literally meaning 'the forest of fairies', and magically decorated to resemble one (Las Ramblas, next door to the Wax Museum).

In order to appreciate the amount of effort that Barcelona's bar-owners put into making their establishments as unique as possible, go for a wander around the Gothic, Born, Raval and Gracia districts. You’ll certainly come across many surprises which will keep you coming back. Looking to join a pub crawl and have a lot of money to spend? Head for the bars along the waterfront in Port Olympic. Most of the bars there are combined with music clubs, but drinks are often very expensive.

Cosy coffee shops scattered around the city very often also offer alcoholic beverages. They’re a really good alternative to a busy pub if you're looking for some peace and quiet, or a place for a business meeting. Importantly, most cafés stay open until 1am and also offer food. The meals usually aren't of restaurant quality, but are filling and cheap. Every visitor to Barcelona should visit a wine bar, serving a wide variety of regional and national wines. Prices range from moderate to expensive, so make sure you're financially prepared for the bill.

Keep your eyes open for the traditional bars where the locals hang out. They're usually full of old people playing cards and drinking beer, and the atmosphere is truly unique. There's also a multitude of typical Irish and English bars, with English-speaking staff serving Guinness and organizing live music concerts, quiz nights and language exchanges.