Dear travelers,
Barcelona isn’t just about Gaudí, beaches, and tapas. It’s also one of Europe’s most exciting cocktail destinations, a playground for bartenders who treat mixology like fine art.
In recent years, several Barcelona bars have landed in the World’s 50 Best Bars list, competing with cocktail legends in New York, London, and Mexico City. But what makes the city so special is its personality: a mix of creativity, rebellion, and Mediterranean flair that turns even a simple G&T into an experience.
And trust me, after this trio of bars, you’ll understand exactly why people fly halfway across the world just for a drink here.
Sips: Where Innovation Meets Elegance
“Sip like you’re in the number one bar in the world.”
When I walked into Sips, I felt like I’d entered a mix between a design gallery and a dream. It’s sleek, warm, and intimate, the kind of place that makes you instinctively lower your voice (even if you’ve already had a glass of cava).
At the time of my visit, Sips was ranked the #1 bar in the world, and I could instantly see why. Everything, from the lighting to the glassware, seemed meticulously planned to make you feel something.
What We Ordered?
We tried two cocktails, including their creative twist on the classic Pornstar Martini. But this wasn’t your typical “martini in a glass” situation. It arrived in this beautiful, sculptural vessel — almost too pretty to drink — and the flavors were perfectly balanced between passionfruit sweetness and silky smooth vanilla.
Each drink at Sips feels like an event. The bartenders (or should I say, artists) pour, smoke, stir, and sculpt, sometimes all at once, but it never feels gimmicky. It feels like theater.
Practical Details
Price range: Around €14 per cocktail
Reservations: Highly recommended, it gets packed. Walk-ins are possible, but you might wait quite a while.
Vibe: Refined, artistic, and a bit mysterious, the kind of place you’d take someone to impress them without saying a word.
Paradiso: The Hidden Gem Behind a Pastrami Shop
“You enter for a pastrami… and leave in paradise.”
If Sips is the elegant front-row experience, Paradiso is the hidden afterparty. It’s the kind of bar that feels like a secret you can’t wait to tell your friends, tucked behind a fridge door inside what looks like a small sandwich shop in El Born.
Yes, you read that right. You literally walk through a refrigerator to enter one of the world’s best cocktail bars. And once you do, prepare to be transported.
The Experience
Paradiso doesn’t just serve drinks, it tells stories through cocktails. The menu changes regularly, but expect drinks that bubble, smoke, or arrive in vessels that make you go, “Wait, how is that even a drink?”
When I visited, each cocktail was more imaginative than the last. I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite. They all tasted like adventure: layered, surprising, and beautifully crafted.
The Not-So-Secret Secret
No reservations — when you arrive, you’ll scan a QR code to join a virtual queue.
Wait time: Usually 40 minutes to an hour (plenty of time for a quick tapas stop nearby).
Price range: Around €15–€18 per cocktail.
Vibe: Playful, theatrical, and 100% worth the wait.
Here’s the thing: Sips might have the official “#1” title, but in my heart, Paradiso takes the crown. It’s immersive, surprising, and effortlessly cool. Walking through that fridge door felt like stepping into a secret world where every drink is designed to blow your mind.
Two Schmucks: Where Chaos Meets Creativity
“It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s brilliant.”
After the polish of Sips and the fantasy of Paradiso, Two Schmucks was a delicious shock to the system. Located in the Raval neighborhood, this bar is pure organized chaos: mismatched furniture, graffiti-style art, neon lights, and a playlist that could easily belong to your favorite dive bar back home.
But don’t be fooled by the laid-back vibe, this place takes its cocktails seriously. The creativity here doesn’t come from presentation or props; it comes from bold flavor combinations that make your taste buds do a double take.
What We Drank?
We tried cocktails made with mushrooms, chocolate, and even Grana Padano cheese (yes, the same cheese you grate on your pasta). It sounds wild, but somehow it works beautifully. Each drink was unique, balanced, and bursting with personality, just like the bar itself.
The bartenders feel more like your funny, slightly chaotic friends who happen to be cocktail geniuses. You can laugh, dance, spill a bit, and no one cares, it’s all part of the fun.
The Details
Price range: €12
Vibe: Street-style, energetic, no-frills, and full of life.
Reservations: Not needed, just show up and enjoy the ride.
Location tip: It’s a perfect pre-party or late-night stop.
Two Schmucks is proof that world-class cocktails don’t have to come with velvet curtains or hushed tones. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best nights out are the ones that feel just a little bit unplanned.
Barcelona’s cocktail scene is so much more than a night out, it’s a love letter to creativity. Each of these bars tells a story:
Sips shows what happens when elegance meets imagination.
Paradiso proves that cocktails can be pure magic (and a bit of theater).
Two Schmucks reminds us that great drinks don’t need fancy trimmings, just personality.
Together, they paint a perfect picture of Barcelona itself: artistic, daring, and full of soul.
So the next time you find yourself wandering the streets of this sun-soaked city, skip the basic sangria and step into one of these bars instead. Whether you’re sipping something smoky, sweet, or cheese-infused, you’ll walk out with a story worth sharing. Salud!
Truly yours,
The Creation of Us
P.S.: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
