A bit quirky and vintage on the inside, El 58 on the Rambla de Poblenou is a laidback spot for tapas and drinks on any day. I came here for weekday lunch when it opened at 1pm, and the crowds slowly trickled in. Don’t even try asking for a neatly folded menu here. If you do,…
Author: Justine Ancheta
California native, churro aficionado, and mom of 3, Justine Ancheta writes fervently about Barcelona and Spain. Since 2008, she's been eating burnt onions (calçots) and tripping on cobblestones in the Gothic Quarter. She shares tips on popular attractions, exposes offbeat non-touristy spots, and gives insight on exploring Barcelona with kids. Her next Catalan culture challenge: top level of a human castle (castellers).
Minimal and Hip: Federal Cafe in El Gotic
Federal Cafe in El Gotic works a modern vibe. Two Australian guys, Tommy Tang and Crick King, opened its doors just last year after the success of the first location in Sant Antoni. Apparently, they’ve got business smarts + remarkable taste — they started a buttload of cool companies and seem to be taking over Barcelona, including…
Eating at Els Quatre Gats, Picasso’s Former Hangout
“Umm. I’d to like paint some of my art for your walls. I like chillin’ here with my artist buddies, it’s fun, ” a 17-year-old Pablo Picasso says to Pere Romeu, the owner of Els Quatre Gats. “Sure. Maybe this place will be famous one day. And you’ll be famous too. Hahahaha!” That’s what I imagine Picasso said…
Ideal, a family-friendly cafe restaurant in Poblenou
Post updated February 17, 2018. Brrr! We finally have cold weather after a questionably warm December. You know me, I love the sun, but when you’re just wearing a light sweater in mid-December in Barcelona, I get a little worried. Now who says global warming is false?? It’s so cold that sometimes that I get…
The Beautiful Medieval Old Quarter of Cáceres, Spain
I knew I was going to get a real holiday treat this winter: I was going to Cáceres, a city of Extremadura, one of Spain’s poorest regions per capita. You see, I’d been itching to go somewhere new in Spain, instead of the usual Andalusia (my first love) and Catalonia (my current fling). I wanted to experience…
Zombies Invade the Sitges Film Festival
Devoured flesh, gouged eyes, torn-up faces, ripped-out jaws. A bunch of undead people infested Sitges on Saturday — moaning around the city, stupidly and relentlessly. The renowned Sitges Film Festival celebrates fantasy and horror films, where that evening they would film the Sitges Zombie Walk. The zombies started swarming the city at daylight. Hordes of them gave normal…
The Ostentatious and Decorative Streets of Festa Major de Gràcia 2015
Hi, everyone! July robbed August of all of the heat, so it seems we have a mild and rainy August. I’m not complaining. It’s perfect for being outdoors in the city! Also, you cannot miss the Festa Major de Gràcia in Barcelona. It’s the neighborhood festival of concerts, films, workshops, eating, drinking beers, and more…
Summer in Marbella, My Future Retirement City
Whew! Someone open a window, please. The temperature today in Barcelona is 31ºC/87ºF. Mix in a little humidity and..well what does it matter…it’s only going to get hotter later this week! While I’ve been on hiatus for awhile, I’ve been busy with summer shenanigans. That includes planning my daughter’s birthday…and going on vacation! I’m really…
A Spanish Lesson: Body, Panty, Leotardo, and More
When I was pregnant, I started to make a list of newborn clothes that I’d need before my baby girl’s arrival. My mother-in-law (who’s Spanish) asked me if my daughter had enough bodys. Well course she’d have a body. A cute little baby body. I’m sure she didn’t mean to say cuerpo, the Spanish word for “body”. After some…
Badalona, Not Barcelona
Oh, never-ending summer. I don’t know what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, but it’s been quite the warm autumn here in Barcelona. With temps around 24ºC / 75ºF and the added humidity, it’s still short-sleeve season. In fact, we’re experiencing the hottest fall since 1950 (or so I heard on…
