ManAboutWorld correspondent and born entrepreneur Oriol Pamies calls Barcelona, Spain his home. He shared with us his top six favorite recommendations for gay friends visiting this beautiful, vibrant seaside city. This serial businessman, even as a kid, was constantly developing new projects and ideas. He started his first company when he was 19, and he'd been involved in various projects before being approached by the founders of Moovz, the global social app for the LGBT community. When he's not travelling promoting the app, Oriol can be found raising awareness for LGBT issues and hanging out with his friends and his dog, Tyson (look at this cutie here!). Moovz, available for IOS and Android, just launched a fun new (very gay) video.
Here's Barcelona Oriol's way:
Breakfast
During the warmer months, one of the small pleasures you can enjoy in Barcelona is having breakfast under the sun. A lovely spot is the Carrer d'Enric Granados, full of great places with sunny terraces ready to help you start your day with a great vibe. Among the many spots, I'd recommend the small but cute place called Cup&Cake.
Hotel
Without doubt, the Axel Hotel Barcelona is a great choice if you want to get the most out of the city. The “hetero-friendly” hotel located in the heart of the Gaixample has all the ingredients to enjoy a fun stay in the city. Don't miss the Skybar on the roof of the hotel. It's a nice place to sunbathe and chill by the pool during the day, and a cool meeting point at night for a drink, with a relaxed atmosphere.
Cocktails
For an elegant night, with gorgeous cocktails and breathtaking views, Eclipse is definitely your place. Located on the 26th floor of the W Hotel, you'll enjoy cool music and a beautiful design at this trendy spot. Tip: Have a drink at sunset to make you fall in love with the city all over again.
Sunday Funday
There's always something going on Sundays but the best option is to grab a drink at one of the many gay spots around the Gaixample. I'd recommend starting the night at Dacksy, Mind the Gap or Plata Bar — all really nice places with lovely staffs who'll help you find the best options for the night. In summer, a gay beach party at the Marbella Beach is a fun option that's worth a visit.
Outdoors
If you've enjoyed the sea views, it's time to move to the mountain side of the city for a full view of the skyline from the open-air terrace of Mirablau. Evening or night is the best time.
Hidden Gem
My favorite place is the Plaça Sant Felip Neri, located in the heart of the Gothic Quartier. It's such a romantic and magical square full of history with a mysterious and charming atmosphere that will totally steal your heart.
This weekly travel column is brought to you by ManAboutWorld, an immersive digital gay travel magazine for iOS and Android devices from Ed Salvato, Billy Kolber, Kenny Porpora, and nearly 75 Global Correspondents. For more recommendations from ManAboutWorld's global gay experts, download our App. There are FREE guides and a 10-issue-per-year subscription-based magazine.
Photos: Top: Oriol Pamies by Carlos Moscat; Middle right: courtesy of Plata Bar (Sunday Funday); Bottom courtesy Eclipse (Cocktails).
