Stag-Do City Guides: Barcelona

In Barcelona you can roll out of the nightclubs and onto the hangover-soothing beach. By day in the capital of Catalonia, you can enjoy the culture, jet skiing, a football game at the famous Nou Camp Stadium, go-karting or rollercoaster rides on Tibidabo. Start central in the medieval city and on La Rambla (watch out for pickpocketing), before hitting the clubs and bars at the yachting marina Port Olimpic by night. Combined with a feast of Paella, tapas and beer on every corner 24/7, you have a stag weekend sorted.

NIGHT CLUBS

Razzmatazz: Huge indie club with rock, pop, electro, punk and live acts like the Killers. Fri-Sat until 5am. Entry: 12 euros (+ a drink). www.salarazzmatazz.com (C/ Almogavers, 122)

Piratas: A spectacular club likened to a movie scene with dancers, fire-eaters and strippers. Open Fri-Sat 24:00-06:00 (C/ Muntanya)

Club Catwalk: Two floors of Techno, R&B, Latin house, Hip Hop on the beach until 6am. Admission (incl 1 drink) €15-€18. www.clubcatwalk.net +34 932 240 740 (Carrer de Ramon Trias Fargas 2 08005 Barcelona, Spain)

Pacha: Sister club in Ibiza, big DJs and hip crowds from midnight til 6am. No trainers. Entry: free except Sat night 20 euros. ( Av. Doctor Maranon)

Baja Beach Club: Casual party atmosphere on the beach from 10.30pm until sunrise. (Paseo Maritimo 34) www.baja-beachclub.com/bajaes/

Karma: A popular Plaça Reial haunt playing indie, rock, britpop and techno. +34 93 302 5680 www.karmadisco.com (Plaça Reial 10)

DECENT PLACES TO GET A BEER

Cervecería El Vaso de Oro: Small, tucked-away bar serving 7% amber Spanish lager on tap and great food. (c/ Balboa 6, 08003). Tel: +34 933 193 098

La Fira: Lively and bizarre Amusement Park themed bar with dodgems and merry-go-round bars. (C/Provenca 171)

London Bar: Popular historic artsy bar with live music every night and no cover charge. Open til 5am. +34 933 185 261 (C/Nou de la Rambla 34)

Bristol Blue: Large English pub with sports, darts and 10 types of beer on tap. +34 934 155 988 (Torrent de L´Olla, 39 -41 bajos)

The Fastnet: Irish pub with good bar food. Watch the match or enjoy the outdoor terrace. Tel. +34 932 953 005 (Passeig Juan de Borbón 22)

Mirablau: Trek up to the peak of Tibidabo for panoramic views of the city from its floor-to-ceiling glass windows. +34 934 185 879 (Plaça Doctor Andreu s/n)

Brigadun: Relaxed late bar open 8pm til 3am where you can play pool with the locals. tel: +34 93 310 0883

El Xampanyet: Small, atmospheric family-run cava and tapas bar near the Picasso Museam. +34 93 319 7003 (C/Montcada 22)

The Marsella Bar: Try the absinthe in this traditional, famous 1820s bar where Dali and Picasso used to drink. +34 93 318 5347 (Carrer de Sant Pau 65, El Raval)

Margarita Blue: Bar and restaurant serving Mexican food, red-hot cocktails and live music. www.margaritablue.com (C/Josep Anselm Clave 6 08002) +34 93 317 7176

STRIP CLUBS

Peep shows and strip clubs: Head to the bottom end of La Ramblas for a variety of Peep shows and Strip Clubs, that Costs around €12 with 1 or 2 beers included day and night. Metro Stop (Line): Drassanes, Liceua (L3).

The Bagdad Club: is infamous for its full-sex show, the ‘Pornarama’. Whipped cream and sex toys feature in the performances – so might you if you are in the front row. Entry costs €90, which includes one free drink.

Museum of Erotica: If you only visit one museum make the sex one and brace yourself for the first porn movie ever made.

DECENT RESTAURANTS

Hanoi Restaurant: specialising in Vietnamese cuisine with a few Thai and Chinese specialities and group menus. C/Enric Granados

OK Sarria: Sports bar serving the best hamburgers and BLTs until 2am. Jaume Piquet, 18 Barcelona 08017 Tel. 93 205 06 10 www.oksarria.cat

Cervecería Taller de Tapas: Tapas bar in the Gothic quarter has an English menu and a selection of beers from around the world. Open 9 til midnight Tel: 93 481 62 33

Madrid Barcelona: Best affordable Catalan food in town centre 20-50 euros (Carrer d’Arago, 282)

Mayura Lounge: Fresh Indian food with group menus and belly dancers on Bollwood nights. (Calle Girona 57) Tel: 934814536 www.mayuralounge.es/english.html

Al Passatore: Italian at Port Olimpia, 24 pizzas to chose from, pasta, steak and views of the harbour. +34 93 225 0047 http://www.milisa.com/P.Palau/indexing.htm Moll de Gregal, 25, Barcelona, CT 08005 Spain -

ALL-NIGHT FOOD PLACES

Finding late-night food is easy in Barcelona, with tapas bars and takeaway falafel and kebab stands open till late in the Old City (Ciutat Vella)

Popofs: Sandwiches and drinks all night until 6am. (C/Aroles off Calle Ferra)

TRAVEL

Reliable taxi firms: Official Barcelona Taxis are yellow and black and a green illuminated light on the top of the Taxi indicates that it’s available for hire. Tel: (0034) 93 225 0000, Tel: (0034) 93 433 1020
Tel: (0034) 93 357 7755

Best airport transfer route:

Aerobus - Express bus service to the city centre runs every 15 mins, takes about 30 minutes and costs about 5 euros. Tel: (0034) 93 415 6020. Can also take the Train Tel: (0034) 90 224 0202 or an Airport Taxi Tel: (0034) 93 303 3033, but no Metro.

BarcelonaTourism: Tel. 933 689 700 www.barcelonaturisme.com

Tourist information:

Emergency 112

Municipal Police 092

Airport (Costumer Services) 902 404 704

Barcelona Metropolitan Transport (www.tmb.net) 933 187 074

RENFE (Spanish Railway) 902 240 202

Bus stations Barcelona Nord Bus Station / Tel. +34 932449831

Barcelona Sants Bus Station / Tel. +34 934904000

Public transport is the best way to get around. Non-transferable travelcards can be purchased at Barcelona Tourism www.barcelonaturisme.com

ESSENTIAL VOCAB

Hello – Olah

A beer please – Una cervesa, si us plau

Thanks – Gràcies

Excuse me – Perdona

How much is it? – Quin preu té?

Classic ice-breaker in a club - de donde eres? (where are you from?) Note: a Catalan asking you tens foc is asking for a light, not for horizontal action.

ESSENTIAL TRIVIA

Barri Gòtic is the center of the Old City with many buildings dating from medieval times, and some even from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona.

With the seating capacity for 100,000 people, FC Barcelona is the biggest privately-owned football stadium in the world.

La Rambla is a lively promenade from the town to the sea decorated with musicians, living statues, artists (and pickpockets). On the right, you’ll find the Raval district with its museums, art galleries and notorious red-light area, Barri Xines