London Bar Historic Bar

El Raval, Barcelona –

Literature buffs and aspiring bohemians won’t want to miss London Bar, a legendary venue just off Las Ramblas.

Opened in 1910, this famous tavern was once frequented by such illustrious figures as Ernest Hemingway and Joan Miró, and even Dalí and Picasso were known to drop by on occasion.

The faded splendor of the art deco interior still hints at London Bar’s eventful history, and the venue’s patterned tiled floors, gold-framed photos, dusty piano, and ochre walls lend the place an extra dash of character.

During the day, small groups of locals and expats stop in for coffee and serious conversation or to kill an hour at the bar with a newspaper, while early evenings see groups of tired travelers and professionals lured in by the promise of a nice cool beer. Later on, an additional back room opens to accommodate the barhoppers and pre-club crowd.

Though it rarely gets wild, London Bar is the perfect place to slowly get into the party spirit before hitting the other bars in the area.