Spain

These apartments are as beautiful as your apartment back home. Urban Suites offers 16 suites and 4 apartments in the lively Sants district. The best is that even the suites have their own kitchen. If you wish to have your breakfast coffee or cook a delicious dinner with all the tasty produce you bought at the market, you will certainly appreciate it. The community terrace invites you to drink one or two San Miguels in good company. Insider tip: book early or stay long.

Don`t be scared off by the name: If in the morning, you don`t remember whether you are staying in a hotel or a castle, then you are in the La Florida. The grand hotel does not hold back with luxury and has been the accommodation of choice for the rich and beautiful. Service and rooms are top class since the early 20th century. A highlight is the generous private terrace that provides great views of the city. In addition, you`ll have a beautiful spa area for relaxing.

Yessica had to have this apartment, but because of its 400 square metres, it was just a little too big for one person and so she decided to transform it into a small hotel. How you do that? You take 5 large rooms, furbish them stylishly and wait until a traveller magazine mentions it alongside the luxury hotels of the city. If you are staying at Yessica, it is like you are staying with a friend who is happy to provide you with all kinds of insider tips that you won`t find in any guide book.

Everybody in search of something special will make a find at Pinzat. For ten years, the creative heads behind the trendy label have worked on their ideas and a considerable range of products. The result: unique bags and backpacks made of vinyl, one of the oldest customary form of plastics. But don't think of stiff and grey plastic bags. The offer ranges from small, medium-sized to big bags which were designed by graffiti artists from all over the world. From motifs with flamenco dancers to landscapes - everything is possible and makes each and every piece unique. In order to guarantee a longer lifespan, the products are sewed twice and an additional strap enables you to wear your bag at the waist and attach it to your bike's handlebar. Also available: more vinyl pieces for the safe transport on your bicycle.

Probably the most famous fashion export Barcelona's is mainly one thing: colourful. The eye-catching prints are recognised by everyone who has seen them once. Famous people like Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Julia Roberts helped the brand gain international fame. Nevertheless, Custo's flagship stores are a rarity in Europe. Take the opportunity to shop in one of the three Custo shops in Barcelona and your friends back home will envy your purchases for sure.

Jeanne Weis attempts an experiment that cannot fail: she combines beautiful African textiles with modern European cuts. The idea, she says, is not that everyone is dressed like an African, but that there is more colour in the wardrobes of the European households. If you like sewing, you can also purchase the textiles by the metre and tailor your own African dream. If you have never tried, you should give it a go anyway- the outcome won't matter that much, as everyone will be starring at the colour not the tailoring.

The combination of Bar Lobo/El Japonés includes everything that turns a restaurant visit into an event. The interior is very stylish, but still very comfortable. The people are cool, but very friendly. The food is creative and the offer is huge and colourful. Upstairs they show art exhibitions that change regularly, while serving delicious Japanese food in the evenings. Speaking of evenings: don't leave this place too early on weekends and enjoy a cocktail after dinner. At midnight the restaurant turns into a disco with DJs putting on music.

One should not give away a secret like this, but we are doing it anyway. Book a table at the Antic Bocoi del Gòtic and have a real taste of authentic Catalonian food (a reservation is essential!). The traditional ambience is underlined by a piece of city wall that is part of the restaurant. It is best if you take a look at this highlight first. As soon as your stockfish or the typical 'coca', which is a very fine pizza, are served, you will forget about the impressive wall.

Ten years and not a bit tired! Designed by architect Juli Capella and interior designers Sandra Tarruella and Isabel Lopéz Hotel Omm in the Paseo de Gracia district celebrates the year 2013 extensively: with a freshly renovated restaurant and a new bar. The restaurant Roca Moo is now characterised by its open spaces, combing kitchen and guest room. In the middle you'll find a big counter. And on the lower ground (which also functions as the hotel lobby), the guests are now sitting at the new Roca-Bar - to have a cocktail or snack in-between. The creators of Roca are (the name already gives it away) the infamous Roca brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi, known for their restaurant El Cellar de Can Roca in Girona (99 kilometres away from Barcelona - also highly recommended!). In the kitchen of the Rocas' Barcelona restaurant the Michelin-starred chef Felip Llufriu swings the cooking spoon. He serves traditional, Catalan dishes and prepares them in front of the guests' eyes. We congratulate the Rocas for their anniversary gift!

The nice side of Place Reial is that you just can't get it under control. In this square, the Catalonian joy of life is celebrated day and night. It can become rather noisy here and only recently the locals took to the streets with huge posters to stop the noise at night. Admittedly, they weren't very successful. It is still rather noisy but somehow the sound has become nicer. The street musicians need to proof in a casting that they are actually able to play before they are allowed to perform on the square. Drug dealers have disappeared, as police officers take more frequent walks through the square. In other words, be it day or night, a coffee or a beer on one of the many terraces is always worthwhile.

If you are hanging out at the park of La Ciutadella, you will forget that you are actually in a city. A small lake ideal for canoeing, a grotesque fountain that Gaudi co-created and endless peace. Barcelonans love this green centre of tranquillity that is situated where once stood the citadel of Felipe V. The park was opened in 1870 and hosted the world exhibition in 1888. Today, the museum exhibits modern art and there is also a zoo. A bizarre piece of trivia is that they used to use parrots to keep away the pigeons. Today, no pigeon can be found in proximity of this park. However, the parrots with their green feathers are numerous and cheeky, flying from one palm tree to the next and back.

The times where El Raval was avoided are definitely over. In previous times, there were many cheap and cheap-looking apartments that immigrants used to start off their lives abroad. Today musicians, sprayers and artists have discovered the beauty of the darkness that surrounds this area. As an example, the mestizo sound of Manu Chao was born here. After the opening of the three temples for contemporary art MACBA, CCCB and FAD, the area was upgraded and turned into a hot spot for tourists, creative and trendy people. Meanwhile, there are many trendy and hip bars and restaurants. Nevertheless, there are still some dodgy people, cheap restaurants and 24-hour shops that keep the area exiting and trendy. Tip: avoid the side alleys especially at night and if you are dressed smart.