Keep it Cool: Café Terraces
EL CAFE DEL GALLERY. Roselló 249.
Perfect if you’re out and about in the Eixample, this café is part of the Gallery Hotel and is set in a small, secluded passageway next to the Palau Robert gardens. It’s not cheap but it provides a welcome shady respite.
www.galleryhotel.com/en/the-gallery-cafe
EL BAR DE L'ANTIC TEATRE. Verdaguer i Callís 12.
Near the Palau de la Música, this cheerful, shady garden is a must in the summer. It’s laid back, the beer is cheap, and you may even be treated to a live performance.
EL JARDI. Carrer de l’Hospital 56.
Escape the crowds at this tapas bar, which is set in the walled Gothic gardens of the Hospital de la Santa Creu. Relax to ambient music with a glass of wine and pretend you’re not in the middle of the Raval.
MESCLADIS. Carders 35.
Mescladis is a non-profit project which works to promote social inclusion and diversity. Located in the Born, they hold courses and workshops and also have a fabulous terrace where you can enjoy some organic fare and an international vibe.
TORRE ROSA. Francesc Tàrrega 22.
It’s not in the city centre, but it’s well worth the metro to Sant Andreu. This cocktail bar is set in a 100-year-old mansion and has a spectacular garden terrace surrounded by palm trees and pines.
ICE BARCELONA. Ramón Trías Fargas 2.
It’s always five below zero at Ice Barcelona. For €15 you get a drink, some warm clothes to wrap up in and the chance to forget for a while that your days are actually very hot and sweaty.
PLACA SANT PERE
This quiet square in the Born is slightly off the beaten path and provides a peaceful place to sup or dine. Sit at one of the cafes and admire the heavily-restored Romanesque church of Sant Pere de Puelles. Try La Candela for Mediterranean and Asian-inspired cuisine.
CAFE D'ESTIU, MUSEU FREDERIC MARES. Plaça de Sant Iu 5.
In the heart of the Gothic quarter, but happily overlooked by many tourists, you can enjoy a cool drink at this café, which is open from April until September, whilst soaking up the beautiful Gothic architecture of the Museu Frederic Marès.