Two Schmucks in Barcelona's Raval is the Pavel Davydov and Moe Aljaff dive-cocktail bar: low-light, loud music, pickle martinis and a Worlds 50 Best top-10 list.
Food program: Bar snacks
Tip: Walk-up only; queue starts at 22:00. The pickle martini is the order; cash easier than card.
Address: Carrer de Joaquin Costa 52, 08001 Barcelona
Boadas in Barcelona's Raval, off the Rambla, has poured cocktails since 1933 in a triangular Art Deco bar: Miguel Boadas trained at La Floridita in Havana.
Signature drink: Daiquiri
Food: None
Tip: Open Mon-Sat 12:00-02:00. Closed Sunday. The Daiquiri is the canonical order; counter only.
Bar Marsella in Barcelona's Raval, founded 1820, is the city's oldest cocktail bar: dust-stained mirrors, marble tables and the absinthe ritual still served by the glass.
Signature drink: Absinthe
Food: None
Tip: Open Mon-Sun 22:00-02:30. Cash only. The absinthe with sugar-cube ritual is the order.
Dry Martini in Barcelona's Eixample has poured the city's reference martini since 1978: a polished wood bar, white-jacketed bartenders and the silver-counter ritual.
Signature drink: Dry martini
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Open daily 13:00 to 02:30. The martini at the bar is the only order; cocktails-on-the-rocks at the table.
Boadas in Barcelona's Raval, off the Rambla, has poured cocktails since 1933 in a triangular Art Deco bar: Miguel Boadas trained at La Floridita in Havana.
Signature drink: Daiquiri
Food: None
Tip: Open Mon-Sat 12:00-02:00. Closed Sunday. The Daiquiri is the canonical order; counter only.
Solange in Barcelona's Eixample is the James-Bond-themed cocktail bar with a deep luxury-spirits cellar: high-quality classics and a list of signature martinis.
Signature drink: James Bond Vesper
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Open daily 18:00 to 02:00. Book ahead Fri-Sat; walk-ups easier Tue-Thu.
Bar Marsella in Barcelona's Raval, founded 1820, is the city's oldest cocktail bar: dust-stained mirrors, marble tables and the absinthe ritual still served by the glass.
Signature drink: Absinthe
Food: None
Tip: Open Mon-Sun 22:00-02:30. Cash only. The absinthe with sugar-cube ritual is the order.
Dr Stravinsky in Barcelona's Born is the apothecary-themed cocktail bar with its own bitters lab in the back: 30+ house bitters and a quiet basement room.
Signature drink: House bitters cocktails
Food: None
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 19:00 to 02:00. Closed Monday. Reserve the basement table.
Old Fashioned in Barcelona's Gracia is the speakeasy behind an unmarked door on Carrer de Santa Teresa: 60 bottle bourbons, rye, the classic-drink set.
Signature drink: Old Fashioned
Food: None
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 19:00 to 03:00. Closed Monday. Ring the bell at the unmarked door.
