Digital Nomad’s Guide to Barcelona

Aerial view of Barcelona, including coastline beaches.

Believe the hype. Not only is Barcelona beautiful and tons of fun, it is shockingly vegan-friendly, with a plethora of great restaurants ranging from the low end to the fanciest of shmansiness.

Coffee Shops

FRIZZANT

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 692, L'Eixample, 08010 Barcelona

Beautiful yoga + coffee place with vegan food options and a co-working table on the second floor. 

Cafe interior with white walls and ample greenery.

(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)

Laie Llibreria Café

C/ de Pau Claris, 85, L'Eixample, 08010 Barcelona

Bookstore with a roomy (albeit not super hip) cafe above, which is not a bad place to work. 

Bookstore with shelves, central displays full of colourful books.

(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)

Mescladís

Carrer del Literat Azorín, 13, L'Eixample, 46003 València

A nice little cafe with a sustainability and social consciousness focus. 

Cafe interior with white chairs, red tables, various pictures on the wall.

(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)

Restaurants

The Green Spot

Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 12, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona

Gorgeous, stylish, high-end vegetarian resto, with food as impressive as its aesthetic.

Restaurant exterior with concrete walls and orange awnings.

(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)

Bubita Sangria Bar

C/ dels Flassaders, 15, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona

Though it looks more like a bar, this punk-y place serves phenomenal vegan tapas & paella. Presumably the Sangria is good too, but admittedly, I didn’t try it…

Bar exterior with stone walls and black awnings with pink on black writing.

(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)

El Vato Loco

Carrer d'en Tantarantana, 20, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona

Very cool and delicious (albeit narrow) vegan pizza place. 

Pizza shop exterior with red glowing neon lights.

(Photo: El Vato Loco)

Parks and Recreation

Barceloneta Beach

Platja de, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona

Barcelona isn’t quite as beach-centric as Valencia, but its beaches are still a good time. 

Beach with blue sky and people, large building in backdrop.

Razzmatazz

C/ dels Almogàvers, 122, Sant Martí, 08018 Barcelona

If you’re looking to party, go to Razzmatazz. This massive club has 5 separate rooms, sometimes with 5 different DJs and music styles to choose from. 

Night club exterior with light backlit letter signage.

(Photo: Sala Razzmatazz)

Museu Picasso

C/ de Montcada, 15-23, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona

Even after seeing the Paris Picasso Museum and various classic works (including Guernica) at the Reina Sofia in Madrid, I still loved the Barcelona Picasso Museum. 

Colourful, stylistic Picasso painting of a Spanish woman.

(Painting: Picasso; Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)

Drugs and Alcohol

Alcohol: Legal drinking age in Spain is 18.

Cannabis: Cannabis use and cultivation is decriminalized in private settings, though public consumption or possession is illegal. Nonetheless, in certain regions, there are cannabis ‘clubs’ that seem to operate publicly in a manner that is not subject to enforcement.

Psychedelics: Possession and/or sale of the usual suspects appears to be illegal.