Bakery

Best place to get your daily bread:

Barcelonareykjavik

Iceland itself might have run out of dough, but this Icelandic bakery certainly isn’t feeling the pinch. Tucked away on a side street in the Raval, Barcelona’s trendiest neighbourhood, it’s where all the local hipsters come to get their morning loaf, and understandably so – with a huge range of delicious baked goods on offer, it’s not the place to come if you’re a fan of Dr Atkins.

Where: Barcelonareykjavik, Doctor Dou, 12, Barcelona, Tel: +34 933 020 921.

Website: www.barcelonareykjavik.com

Outdoor

Best spot for a picnic:

Jardins Botanics

The relatively new Jardins Botanics (Botanical Gardens), reopened in 2003 on Montjuïc, the big hill that overlooks the city, are a spectacular location for outdoor snacking. Flora from all the distinct zones of Mediterranean climate all over the world, as far afield as Chile, South Africa, Australia and California, are brought together along with stunning views over the whole city. They’re open all year round (except Christmas and New Year’s Day) from 10am till dusk. Admission is €3.70 (free on Sundays from 3pm on)

Where: Jardins Botanics, C/ del Doctor Font i Quer 2, 08038 Barcelona

Website: www.jardibotanic.bcn.es

Best place to get (pleasantly) lost:

Parc del Laberint

Once you get there, of course! This beautiful park, an enchanting mix of 18th century classicism and 19th century romanticism, was the private estate of the wealthy Desvalls family until it was opened to the public in the 1970s. The original mansion may be gone, (replaced with a Moorish-influenced building over a century ago), but the star attraction remains: a maze. It’s a challenging and clever puzzle for those brave souls who try it, and, fortunately, it’s overlooked by a balustrade above, so you can leave someone above to shout directions if you get stuck. If that all seems like too much effort, just wander the oak-shaded grounds and take in the panoramic views of the city, or amble up to the fishpond behind, stocked with some alarmingly large carp.
Where: Parc del Laberint de l’Hort, Pg Castanyers, 1-17, c/Germans Desvalls, 08035 Barcelona, tel +34 934 283 934; entry €2.17 adults, €1,38 under-14s, pensioners and under 5s free; also free on Wednesdays and Sundays)

Best place for 24/7 romance:

Mercat de la Concepció

Inspired by a cosy candlelit dinner to buy your beloved a dozen roses after midnight? Sweet dreams brought out your inner Valentino before breakfast? (Unlikely, but still…) Fear not – help is at hand, in the shape of the Mercat de la Concepció, Barcelona’s 24-hour flower market, housed in a handsomely renovated Victorian glass and wrought iron building in the middle of the Eixample Dret district. There are two different flower stands open all night long, with a ravishing range of blooms – from asters to zinnias – to choose from. Rather less seductively, gardeners will also adore browsing through the ample range of seeds and seedlings in stock. Wander hand in hand through the area’s extravagant modernista architecture under starlit skies – or, if your feet are sore, just hop in a cab. Either way, we can guarantee that romance will blossom as soon as you get there.
Where: Mercat de la Concepció, c/Aragó, 315, 08009 Barcelona, tel: +34 934 575 329
Web: www.laconcepcio.com

Morning after

Best hangover cure:

Milk Bar

This being Spain, authentic brunches are thin on the ground. But sometimes, when it’s too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, and you’re feeling a little fuzzy from the night before, a little comfort food to tide you over is just what you need. Never fear, because Milk Bar comes to the rescue. With the full complement of eggs benedict, waffles, pancakes, and bloody marys, the morning after the night before never tasted so good.

Where: Milk Bar, Calle Gignas 21, Barcelona. Tel: +34 932 680 922

Website: www.milkbarcelona.com

Best for all-day people watching:

Bar Velódromo

This Art Deco gem, opened in 1933, was a local institution until it closed in 2000. Members of the Republican government used to meet here during the Spanish Civil War, and it was a hub for the local intelligentsia, so it was a keenly felt loss when it shut down. Thankfully, it got snapped up and spruced up, reopening its doors in 2009 to much acclaim. Today, it’s open all day until the early hours (3am), for lunch, afternoon coffee, pre-dinner tapas, or post bar-hopping snacks, and with top chef Carles Abellán in charge of the kitchen, you’re in for a tasty treat. It’s uptown and a little off the tourist trail, so swing by, pick yourself a prime spot on one of the pistachio-coloured banquettes and get ogling the locals.
Where: Bar Velódromo, c/Muntaner 213, 08036 Barcelona, tel +34 934 306 022

Magic

Best tricks in town:

El Rey de la Mágia

Whether your kids (like all kids) love Harry Potter or you have a secret hankering to be the next David Blaine, make your way to the ‘King of Magic’. This prankster’s palace has a long history – it was opened by the famous Catalan magician, Joaquim Partagàs Jaquet, in 1881 and has been wowing all comers in its current location since 1895, inspiring generations of hypnotists, tricksters, illusionists, cardsharps – and naughty schoolboys. The shop underwent a meticulous restoration in 1984 and offers a cornucopia of conjuring supplies, catering for both ambitious amateur and practiced professional alike. There are also regular magic shows and even a school of magic for anyone interested in taking things a little further, as well as the usual itching powders and scary plastic spiders favoured by practical jokers of all ages.

Where: El Rey de la Mágia, c/Princesa 11, 08003 Barcelona +34 933 193 920

Web: http://www.elreydelamagia.com/ (Spanish and Catalan only)

Shopping

Best places to shop like it’s 1899:

Cereria Subira and Herboristeria del Rei

Tucked away round the odd corner in the old city, you can stumble upon little spots that seem like time has forgot. In a couple of cases, it actually has: these are the ‘centenary shops’, little boutiques that have been around since before your grandmother was born. For all sorts of candleware, head for Cereria Subira – the business has been going since 1761 (but in its current location ‘only’ since 1847, which still makes it the oldest retail space in Barcelona). The premises are partly lit by gas lamps, a newfangled invention installed 50 years after the store opened. Or there’s the herbalist’s Herboristeria del Rei, a relative spring chicken, having opened its doors a mere 185 years ago. There’s a range of 220 herbs on offer, with both medical and culinary uses, each stored in its original drawer and served by weight into paper bags. Just like they’ve always done.

Where: Cereria Subirà, Baixada de Llibreteria 7, Barcelona. Tel: +34 933 152 606. Herboristeria del Rei, Carrer del Vidre 1, Barcelona. Tel: +34 933 180 512

Website: www.herboristeriadelrei.com