The Barcelona City Break for Friends

Some friendships deserve more than a group chat and an annual promise to do something soon. Luckily, the world-class restaurants, remarkable architecture and adjacent Mediterranean make Barcelona one of Europe’s easiest cities to lose a weekend in. Add in Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, set on an emblematic avenue flanked by brands such as Prada and Loewe, and you know you’re in for a treat.

Barcelona has changed a lot since I first arrived and it’s certainly busier than it once was, but I still can’t imagine living anywhere else. As someone who’s called the city home for 16 years, I enjoy nothing more than to welcome my closest friends here for a weekend of long lunches and late dinners and checking out my favourite haunts. If you can, come in spring or autumn, when the city slows down just enough to remind you why so many people fall in love with it.

8am

There’s something magical about getting up early in Barcelona before the hum of the city has really taken hold. Waking up in Passeig de Gràcia is even better, as you’re close enough to Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and La Pedrera for a morning ogle at the undulating rooflines and ornate balconies before the crowds descend. After that, you’ll be ready for Mandarin Oriental’s white-on-white Blanc, where breakfast consists of a lavish buffet and à la carte options such as the indulgent Iberian ham Benedict.

6pm

As dinnertime approaches, you may be struggling to pick just one restaurant, so why not go to four instead? Catering to private groups of no more than six people, Elysian Tales’ team of culinary experts have put together an experience that covers four iconic Barcelona venues in just four hours – it’s like a tasting menu set across multiple secret stops (one of which could be a peek behind the scenes of Mandarin Oriental’s Michelin-starred Moments restaurant, where you might prepare a dish with chefs Raül Balam or Carme Ruscalleda).

10pm

There’s nowhere better for a nightcap than Sips, currently ranked number three in the world by the prestigious World’s 50 Best Bars. It’s known for its clever spins on the classics, such as a version of an espresso martini made with Scotch whisky and cold brew, and avant-garde blends such as the Mil Fulls, a refreshing, citrusy drink served in layers like a mille-feuille. The Negroni is also the best you’ll ever try.

10am

The next morning, all those cocktails may tempt you to sleep in, but there’s no time, because you can’t come to Barcelona without visiting the almost-finished Sagrada Família (“almost” because work on some interior features and the controversial Glory Façade staircase is still ongoing). Gaudí’s masterpiece may technically be a basilica, but it feels more like a giant artwork with its magnificent stained-glass windows and tree-like pillars. Book online well in advance to see inside.