La Barceloneta

You might smell Baluard Barceloneta before you see it—the sour smell of the bread (all of which is made from homemade sourdough starters) is known to waft through the neighborhood. The bakery itself is run by Anna Bellsolà, a fourth generation baker who has become famous for her airy, just-chewy-enough baguettes and Italian loaves. One of the best things about the place is its exceptionally local feel; bread is blessedly inexpensive and you're likely to wait in line next to hungry kids and elderly shoppers alike. There's a glass partition separating the customers from the back-of-house, so you can see the bakers working, moving loaves in and out of the wood-fired stone oven.

Gallito is part of the Barcelona-based, family-affair restaurant group that is also behind Madrid favorites Ana la Santa and Bosco de Lobos. The really delicious Mediterranean food at Gallito is matched by its seaside view and easy, LA-meets-Spain vibe (picnic-style tables, bright pillows lining bench seating, and a mix of fresh bouquets and potted plants). The terrace is great on warm days, but you can still glimpse the beach from Gallito's glassed interior, which has that inside/outside feel.

Built for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, Hotel Arts is a big hotel done right. The rooms are beautiful, the service is great, and its location in Barceloneta means amazing seaside views.