Spain Blog Posts
TRIP HIghlights
Sevilla
Day 1:
Maria Luisa Park
Plaza de America
Plaza de Espana
Day 2:
Plaza de Torros de la Real Maestranza
Triana Neighborhood
Macarena Neighborhood
Metropol Parasol
Flamenco dance show at the Museo del Baile Flamenco
Day 3:
Alcazar
Seville Cathedral
Santa Cruz Neighborhood
MADRID
Day 1: Royal Palace of Madrid
Almuneda Cathedral
Chocolateria San
Plaza Mayor
Puerto del Sol
Day 2:
Museo Nacional de Prado
Triana Neighborhood
Macarena Neighborhood
Metropol Parasol
Flamenco dance show at the Museo del Baile Flamenco
Day 3:
Alcazar
Seville Cathedral
Santa Cruz Neighborhood
Barcelona
Day 1:
La Sagrada Familia
La Rambla
Gothic Quarter
Plaza Real
Parque Cuitadella
Barceloneta Beach
Day 2:
Park Guell
Casa Batllo
Magic Fountains
Day 3:
Montjuic: Olympic Stadium
Montjuic Castle
National Art Museum of Catalunya
Hotel reviews
Seville: EME catedral
Balcony view of the Cathedral
We chose this hotel for a single reason, the views! With a bonus of it being as a very modern hotel, nice accommodations and incredible hospitality. There is a pool in the rooftop and a bar. We didn't try the restaurants at the hotel but we did have a pretty good breakfast on our balcony our last morning. The hotel was also very close and central to everything.
Madrid: The principal Madrid
A truly great find among many options in Madrid, this boutique hotel was perfect. It was also centrally located, walking distance from the start of our self-guided walking tour. We were also close to the park where we went for a run one morning. We had a very warm welcome with a complementary bottle of cava. The lobby also serves complementary cava all day! The subtle touches was what made the difference: towels, apple and bottles of water right outside the door for when you go for a run. The afternoon snacks available every day and the super delicious breakfast on the roof top every morning.
Barcelona: The One
There are so many nice hotels to book in Barcelona. The hardest decision is probably which neighborhood. Ultimately, we chose the neighborhood Eixample (Catalan pronunciation: [əˈʃampɫə). It was south of Gracia and just north of the Gothic Quarter). The hotel is located 1 block from Passeig de Gracia (I liken this street to Rodeo drive of Barcelona) and on the same street as Casa Batllo. Although centrally located, the walk to the other neighborhood was still quite long (15-20 min of a good pace) and we ended up taking cab rides if we were short on time to get to our destination.
I do feel like we took a huge risk on this hotel as there are many well known luxury hotels in the area. The One is a new hotel property and the reviews were all pretty solid. We liked that it was very luxe in all its amenities, the location of it and boutiqueyness feel. The rooms were a bit small and the design is such that you walk into the bathroom to get to the main room (which is a bit weird), but I got used to it. The gym was nice, there's a spa and a rooftop pool overlooking the city. It also had a nice bar and lobby where they served breakfast in the morning. We never ate at the hotel so we can't vouch for the food. There is an amazing and apparently popular bakery next door that did serve awesome bread, pastries and breakfast food.
The best thing about the hotel was the bed. So much so we inquired about the brand of the bed. Unfortunately, it is made in Spain and only ships in Europe. It was the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. After a long day of site seeing, it was definitely a treat to lay you bed in the coziest of all beds.
Restaurant Reviews
Sevilla:
Vineria San Telmo
Easily one of the best meals we had in Spain. My favorite was the squid ink pasta topped with a scallop. The lamb with couscous was also pretty amazing, the tenderness and heartiness of the lamb coupled with the lightness of couscous was a really good balance.
La Quinta
We also had a pretty memorable meal at La Quinta. It was highly recommended by our hotel. The proportions were quite large, so sharing is recommended. In keeping with my obsession of squid ink, I ordered a squid ink paella. The restaurant's atmosphere was lovely. We ate in the courtyard but the restaurant had multiple levels. The service was also very nice and they gave us complimentary vodka tonic (apparently a big thing in Spain right now).
Barcelona:
Here is a list of restaurants that have been recommended by people we surveyed. The ones we have tried are described below in more detail. The ones bolded were recommended by multiple people (so it must be off the chain?):
Dos Torres
El jardín de la Abadesa
Boca Grande
Pez Vela
Moments
Passadis del Pep
Can Vallés
Tickets
Pargo
El Quim
Tapas 24:
Recommended by Lonely Planet, it was the best (and actually the cheapest meal) we had in Barcelona. It was the first tapas bar we hit up and was the exact thing we were looking for after a late arrival in Barcelona. The squid ink sandwich was TDF and the fried anchovies were perfectly crispy on the outside. They also had boneless chicken wings that we should ordered two of. If we had another night in Barcelona, this would have been on repeat.
Ikabana:
Recommended by the hotel, we were a bit leery on the recommendation. The concierge swore by the Brazilian-Sushi fusion that is taking wave in Barcelona. So we thought we would give it a try. Overall, the food was imaginative, the drinks were delicious, the atmosphere super hip but pretty expensive. I think there are places in Barcelona that have better priced food that is just as good if not better. The service was pretty poor. Although the hotel indicates we were celebrating our anniversary, we were placed in a forgotten corner. The servers ignored and was almost like the servers there felt too hip to be doing their job. I would pass on this one.
Mirabe:
Located on the hill going up to Tibidabo, it was a drive to get there. We came here for our official Anniversary dinner night and glad we did. It had a super romantic atmosphere looking over the city. The food was also pretty amazing. I had the best crab salad that had generous portion of shaved foe gras? What? They also served up fried artichoke hearts like I have never had before. The service was also the best we experienced in Spain (which says a lot because most restaurants we kind of had typical poor European service or just so-so). I mean, the servers went above and beyond to really make us feel welcome, I think something that is rare in Europe. One thing that we recommend is making sure they call a cab or Uber at least 30 min before the end of the dinner to ensure a cab is available to take you back. Because the restuarant is on a hill, the cabs don't typically drive up unless called upon.
Blai 9:
Maybe it was because we had been walking for 4-5 hours around Montjuic, we found the food here to be so surprisingly delicious. I found this random find walking along Blai street to be the most perfect place for an afternoon snack (turned into I-want-to-order everything-on-the-menu meal). The bar is served like a buffet with little mini tapas served on small toasted bread. The small bite-sized portions tempt you want to try it all.
Restaurant Tobogan:
Located in the Plaza Catalunya, it is only worth eating here for the location. The food was enjoyable enough, especially after a walking tour of the Gothic Center. However, the service was the absolute worst we experienced in Spain. Which was very curious to me because the helpers of the main server were Filipinos. Typically, service from a Filipino is very attentive, kind and efficient. However, the service that we got from my own brethren here were left to be desired. I would pass on this one.
El Glop:
Strategically selected for a lunch spot after exploring Park Guell, this restaurant was recommended by Lonely Planet in the Gracia neighborhood. They served classic Catalunya dishes. We loved the authenticity of the food and highly recommend this spot if you are in the neighborhood.
Botafumeiro:
Recommended by a friend, the hotel and our tour guide, we were glad to have experienced a classic steak and sea food Barcelona restaurant. It is a large and busy restaurant, but the seafood selection seemed really fresh (there is a lobster tank in the front of the restaurant). Despite being one of our priciest meal, I did have the best paella. The atmosphere was not intimate and the tables a little too close for my comfort, but the service was really nice and the food worth the price.
