Princesa 23 Bar / Restaurant

La Ribera / El Born, Barcelona –

There’s a distinct Arabian Nights vibe at Princesa 23, a relaxing restaurant and lounge bar whose beautiful décor of sandy walls, wrought iron sconces, and checkered Eastern tiles evoke hot evenings in Morocco.

The North African theme stops short at the menu, however, where the mix of tapas, hamburgers, salads, and nachos is clearly designed with an international clientele in mind.

The spacious interior is open and offers plenty of elbow room so patrons can spread out and enjoy a meal without feeling cramped, or settle in over sangria on the cushioned banquettes along the walls.

A nice mix of locals and visitors typically frequents Princesa for meals, though a more diverse international crowd seems to take over the bar area for the cheap drink specials after 11pm.

No matter what time of day, the excellent food, chatty crowd, and boisterous late-night bar make Princesa 23 a terrific choice for lunch or pre-club drinks.