Bars · Our pick in Barcelona
Rooftops and the waterfront: the back story
The back story
About Rooftops and the waterfront: the back story
Barcelona’s evenings move between two horizons. Above the Eixample, the grand hotels open their roofs to the city: the Majestic’s La Dolce Vitae and Mandarin Oriental’s Terrat look out over the grid towards the hills. Down by the sea, the promenade runs for kilometres past the beaches, from Barceloneta to the marina of the Port Fòrum.
On the rooftops
La Dolce Vitae is the Majestic’s restaurant and bar on the roof of the hotel, which, in the hotel’s words, looks over “practically the entire city”. A few blocks down Passeig de Gràcia, Terrat is Mandarin Oriental’s open-air rooftop for Mediterranean plates and cocktails.
By the sea
The seafront promenade links Barceloneta, Nova Icària, Bogatell and Mar Bella. At its far end, SeaSea Club is a beach club in the Port Fòrum marina; check its own site for the season.
Book a rooftop table for sunset, then take a taxi down to the sea.
Timing
Barcelona dines late, so a rooftop drink before dinner fits the city’s rhythm. Rooftops and beach clubs keep seasonal hours: check before you go.
Our advice: walk the seafront in the morning, when the light is soft and the promenade is quiet, and keep the rooftops for the evening.
Why it's on our list
- On the rooftops
- By the sea
- Timing
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Rooftops and the waterfront: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Rooftops and the waterfront: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro stations
- DiagonalL3L5400 m5 min walk
- ProvençaL6L7450 m6 min walk
- Passeig de GràciaL2L3L4600 m8 min walk
Key sights
- La Pedrera250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Casa Batlló250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Palau de la Música1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Sagrada Família1.4 kmWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- La Boqueria1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Barcelona Cathedral1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Museu Picasso1.8 kmWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Park Güell2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Barceloneta beach2.9 kmWalk 37 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Barcelona-El Prat Airport13 kmCar or taxi 39 min
Main railway stations
- Passeig de Gràcia (Rodalies)600 mWalk 8 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Plaça de Catalunya (Rodalies, FGC)950 mWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Plaça d’Espanya (FGC)2.4 kmWalk 30 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Barcelona Sants2.5 kmWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min