Paradiso

Paradiso hides in plain sight. Step into the small pastrami bar on Carrer de Rera Palau in El Born, walk to what looks like a refrigerator door at the back, and you pass through into a curving, wood-lined cocktail lounge. Founded by the Italian bartender Giacomo Giannotti, it has become one of the most decorated bars in the world: it topped The World's 50 Best Bars in 2022, has appeared on the list every year since 2018, ranked fourth in 2025 and 17th in 2026, and in 2026 received the list's Legend of the List award for its career achievements.

The drinks are inventive and often theatrical, with presentation that can involve smoke, unusual vessels and edible elements, but the flavours are carefully balanced. The menu is organised so you can choose by flavour profile, with drinks tagged as fruity, citrus or smoky, and current creations carry names such as Perception, Fantasy, Wabi-Sabi and Illusion. Staff are happy to steer you towards something that suits your taste, and the front bar's pastrami sandwiches are a good way to line your stomach. On Thursdays and Fridays at 7pm, a Macallan whisky experience is held.

Paradiso does not take reservations in advance for the main bar. Instead, entry works through a virtual queue: scan the QR code at the door to join it, then wait nearby until you are called. Queues can be long, especially late in the evening and at weekends, so arriving early in the evening is the best way to get in quickly. Prices are at the upper end for Barcelona, reflecting the craft and the reputation.

The bar suits cocktail enthusiasts, couples and small groups who want a memorable night out. It is less suited to large groups, given the queue system and the size of the room. Paradiso also hosts private events and runs cocktail courses, and there are sister bars in Dubai and Ibiza.

Carrer de Rera Palau is a short street in El Born, near the Passeig de Picasso and the Parc de la Ciutadella, a few minutes' walk from Barceloneta station on metro line L4. Cal Pep is nearby for dinner beforehand, and the bars and restaurants around Santa Maria del Mar and the Passeig del Born are within five minutes on foot.