The Catalonian countryside as well as its coast has so much to offer, and whether you´re looking for a long weekend away from Barcelona or a restful longer holiday from outside of Spain, this hotel is a beautiful secret allowing you total relaxation.... La Vella Farga The Vella Farga hotel is luxurious so maybe best reserved for a special occasion. I thought my 40th was a good excuse to put my intensive instagram work to good use & after following this hotel for a while, the not-so-subtle hints to my husband finally worked! I can honestly say you will not be disappointed in any way, this ..read more

I get loads of requests from groups of girls planning their best friend´s hen do and wanting to make it as easy, fun and as classy as possible, so here´s a guide that will cover all your eating, dancing and drinking plans for the weekend! Hope it helps!  EATING: For group restaurants in the centre of town, try: Bar Lobo for tapas off the Rambla and a sunny terrace... Cheri Restaurant for tapas with an outdoor terrace... Right in the centre you´ll find Ultramarinos. A recent hen group I met went here and loved it. Although it´s on the Ramblas, it´s relatively new ..read more

In the winter months I love a cosy, open fire or fairy-lit pretty interior to enjoy a cocktail & dinner with friends. Sometimes I feel that Barcelona without the sun can be a bit dreary, then it gets colder and darker, and I realise that it´s actually just as beautiful! The shopping streets at night get busier, the twinkly lights come on and the outdoor heaters line the different Ramblas for the evening drinkers! So if you´re not feeling the dark, cold evenings of Barcelona and need a little inspo, I hope these spots help!  The Wittmore Very cosy with an open fire and checked Engl ..read more

Clandestine Cocktails The team at Rooftop Smokehouse have created something totally unique in Barcelona and as a result this secret speakeasy hidden behind their famous Pastrami bar, unfortunately ain´t so secret anymore! If you´re not content with just munching on one of the best pulled pork rolls or pastrami sandwiches you´ve ever had, then step through the fridge door & discover Bar Paradiso. Incredible cocktails are served in totally instagrammable (is that a word?) recipients & if you get a hunger on, order from the Pastrami Bar and try their smoked board of cheeses ..read more

The first time I ever visited Barcelona with friends, we spent most of the evening walking up and down the Rambla and never really getting anywhere! Convinced that we were just a corner away from a cute hidden bar or undiscovered plaza, we kept wandering until we got so hungry we just ended up in one of the most touristy bars on the Rambla itself, paying a fortune for a glass of wine! So as I was walking down the Rambla this weekend, (the main pedestrian street in Barcelona) I thought it might be useful to point out how close you are to some of those gems which I can share with you as well as ..read more

For me this place says holiday more than most beach restaurants in Barcelona. An oasis away from the busiest part of Barcelona´s beach & settled beneath the W Hotel you´ll find El Gallito Restaurant. (Photo by El Gallito) (Photo by El Gallito) Green vines cover the pergolas on the outside terrace which is moments from the sea and the colourful cushions and long chunky wooden tables make the perfect setting for a calm, delicious, group lunch with friends. The smaller tables also set the scene for a romantic lunch for two. The options for food are surprisingly varie ..read more

Sometimes all you want is a quick, tasty bite to eat sitting up a bar with a cold beer or quick cocktail before you get going again for the rest of the day. Here are some cool and delicious options from Barcelona which take fast food to another level... A tu bola: Just minutes walk from the Ramblas you´ll stumble upon this small bar with balls...meatballs, spicy mexican balls, falafal balls all freshly prepared in their open kitchen which forms the centre piece of the bar. Descibing itself as gastro street-food, at A Tu Bola, you can order a tapas (balls of your choice with sauce and perfect ..read more

I regularly get emails from brides-to-be asking me for tips or contacts for wedding planners, florists, photographers & hairdressers in Barcelona or Catalunya. It´s hard planning a wedding remotely so here are the top instagram feeds to follow that will hopefully make the process a little easier and a lot more enjoyable!  So grab a coffee, sit back and I hope this will help x Wedding Planners @bodasdecuento Bodas de Cuento are a dedicated team of wedding planners who come highly recommended and have even published their own book on Designing your own Wedding. They have a spe ..read more

A mid afternoon meet up with a friend is always best done over coffee and cake, and here are the best spots in Barcelona to enjoy this little ritual. (So call a friend and meet up soon!) OMA Bistro Exposed brick walls, brightly painted chairs, fairy lights and great coffee. (Or craft beer, if you´re interested) Head for the sofa for a long lazy catch up with friends. A nice mix of young people and families head to OMA, which is in the centre of town & I highly recommend the New York style cheesecake, it´s incredible! Ugot  Flamingo covered wallpaper, delicate vintage china a ..read more

Tapas is a great option when there´s a group of you as it´s such a sociable way to eat when you´re sharing dishes and drinking together.  There are hundreds of tapas places in Barcelona, but here´s a pick of the best... Lively tapas bar, quality food Busy, lively, colourful & tasty; all the things you imagine a tapas restaurant to be.  Big on seafood and a focus on innovative as well as the more traditional tapas.  Next to Plaza España and 5 mins taxi ride from the centre.  You have to try: The pulled pork tacos and the basket of fried seafood. Centre ..read more