6 late-night dives in Barcelona, editor-picked by TableJourney. All Barcelona nightlife.
Bar Marsella ★ 4.4
raval · Carrer de Sant Pau 65, 08001 Barcelona
Bar Marsella on Carrer de Sant Pau in Raval has run since 1820 as Barcelona's oldest bar, with flaking paint walls, dust-covered absinthe bottles and the green-fairy ritual served with sugar cube and ice water.
Tip: Tuesday to Sunday from 17:00; absinthe starts at 5.30 euros and is served with the spoon-sugar-cube ritual. Cash only is faster than card.
Bar Pastís ★ 4.3
raval · Carrer de Santa Mònica 4, 08001 Barcelona
Bar Pastís on Carrer de Santa Mònica in Raval has run since 1947 as a tiny French-music shrine, with walls covered in Édith Piaf posters, French chanson on the speakers and pastís as the house pour.
Tip: Live music Sun to Thu around 23:00 in a super-small format. The room seats maybe 20; arrive early or stand at the door.
Tinta Roja ★ 4.4
poble-sec · Carrer de la Creu dels Molers 17, 08004 Barcelona
Tinta Roja on Carrer de la Creu dels Molers in Poble Sec is the Argentine cabaret-themed bar-teatro founded in 1998, with red velvet drapes, antique furniture and tango shows Thursday to Sunday.
Tip: Concerts and dance performances Thu to Sun nights in the back Gardel room. Wednesday evenings run an open tango class; arrive 21:00 for the warm-up.
Boadas Cocktails ★ 4.6
raval · Carrer dels Tallers 1, 08001 Barcelona
Boadas on Carrer dels Tallers off La Rambla has run since 1933 as Spain's oldest cocktail bar, founded by Cuban-born Catalan Miguel Boadas who learned the trade at Hemingway's Floridita in Havana.
Tip: Standing room mostly; the bow-tied bartenders throw cocktails behind the small bar. No menu, just ask for what you want.
Ocaña ★ 4.2
gotic · Plaça Reial 13-15, 08002 Barcelona
Ocaña on Plaça Reial is the cafe-bar-club complex that occupies a corner of the square, with a street-terrace cafe, the Apotheke basement cocktail bar and a small late-night club running together.
Tip: Apotheke downstairs is the cocktail room and runs DJ sets late; the terrace is the easy afternoon drink with the Plaça Reial in view.
Sor Rita Bar ★ 4.3
gotic · Carrer de la Mercè 27, 08002 Barcelona
Sor Rita on Carrer de la Mercè in the Gothic Quarter is the Almodóvar-styled queer-friendly bar with leopard-print wallpaper, high heels nailed to the ceiling and a different themed event every night of the week.
Tip: Monday cocktails and tarot, Tuesday open buffet for 6 euros, Thursday free karaoke with a dressing-up box. Walk-in; gets packed late.