Gothic Quarter

Technically they serve food here-and don't misunderstand, it's great: Pulled pork that's been smoked for 14 hours and chicken curry sandwiches as well as healthy options, like sweet mango salad and homemade gazpacho. But that's not really why you come. You come for the coffee-cold brew, nitro cold brew, aeropress, and a whole bunch of other coffee options that are fantastic, if somewhat intimidating. Fair warning: eat something, too. A place that takes its coffee this seriously means your caffeine intake will make you think you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. (You can't.)

Besides the rad name, Satan's is known for its coffee aficionado-worthy blends, thanks to the genius of master barista, Marcos Bartolomé, who comes from a line of coffee makers. Satan's has a standalone café in the Gothic Quarter and another location at the Casa Bonay hotel.

La Pallaresa is a great place to go for breakfast or an afternoon snack, or churros with “suizo” (melted chocolate with whipped cream) on a quiet weekend morning. It’s in the old Gothic Quarter around the corner from Plaça del Pi, a very cute square where you can sit down and read the newspaper. There are painters showing their work on Sundays, similar to Paris’ Place du Tertre in Montmartre. Photo: Chris Oakley

If you’re looking to invest in one great made-in-Barcelona item to bring home, one of Carolina Iriarte's handcrafted leather bags should be it. The two beautiful shops (each one looks more like an apartment than retail space) also serve as Iriarte’s workshops, so you can witness the slightly masculine, vintage-inspired satchels, elevated fanny packs, clutches, and briefcases come to life on the spot. The second outpost is on Calle Cotoners.

If you’re looking to invest in one great made-in-Barcelona item to bring home, one of Carolina Iriarte's handcrafted leather bags should be it. The two beautiful shops (each one looks more like an apartment than retail space) also serve as Iriarte’s workshops, so you can witness the slightly masculine, vintage-inspired satchels, elevated fanny packs, clutches, and briefcases come to life on the spot. The second outpost is on Plaza Real.