Barcelona La Ribera

La Ribera’s nightlife scene is more local and more varied than the scene on La Rambla. When the gas lantern goes on in front of Església de Santa Maria each night, people begin to migrate from small backstreet bars to second-floor sheesha lounges.

El Copetín, Pg. del Born, 19 (☎607 20 21 76). Jaume I. Cuban rhythms invade this casual, dimly lit nightspot. Copetín fills up before some places open, making it a good place to start the night. When the bartenders break out the maracas and cowbell, be ready to get down. Mojitos €7. Open M-Th and Su 6pm-2:30am, F-Sa 6pm-3am. Cash only.
Ribborn, C. Antic de Sant Joan, 3 (☎933 10 71 48; www.ribborn.com). Barceloneta. Deep crimson light and an eclectic music selection, from jazz to funk to soul. Beer €2.50. Mixed drinks €7. Jazz piano W 9pm. Happy hour Tu-Sa 7-10pm. Open Tu-Su 7pm-3am. MC/V.
El Born, Pg. del Born, 26 (☎933 19 53 33). Jaume I. Sit at the marble counter over the basins where they used to sell fish, or follow the tiny spiral staircase for more casual seating. Free Wi-Fi. Beer €2. Open Tu-Su 10am-2:30am. MC/V over €10.
Pitin Bar, Pg. del Born, 34 (☎93 319 59 87; www.pitinbar.com). Jaume I. A shiny interior on the 1st floor and a cozy attic upstairs fill up nightly with the young and the young-at-heart. Start off with a beer (€2.50) and if that doesn’t do enough for you, contemplate a shot of absinthe (€3.50). Or just skip right to the absinthe. Open Sept.-May Tu-Su 10am-2am, June-Aug. daily 10am-2am. Cash only.
Alma, C. de Sant Antoni dels Sombrerers, 7 (☎933 19 76 07). Jaume I. The tattoos and body piercings on display in this bar rival its dramatic red decor. Come during happy hour (8:30-9:30pm) to snag €4 mixed drinks and €8 pitchers of sangria. Open M-Th and Su 8:30pm-2:30am, F-Sa 8:30pm-3am. Cash only.
No Se, Pg. del Born, 29 (☎671 48 59 14). Jaume I. Walk down C. Princesa, make a right onto C. Montcada, and follow it until Pg. del Born. Perhaps in keeping with its laid-back name, this bar doesn’t try as hard as some of its competitors on the busy Pg. del Born. The intimate space has a few canvases thrown up on the walls and a relaxing ambience. Mixed drinks €8-10. Open daily 8pm-2:30am. MC/V.
Kama, C. del Rec, 69 (☎932 68 10 29; www.kamabar.com). Barceloneta. Walk up Pl. del Palau, make a right on Av. del Marqués de l’Argentera, and a left on C. del Rec; the bar is on the right. Kama means “desire” in Sanskrit. At this fuschia-lit restaurant, you’ll find what you desire—assuming that it’s Indian dishes like kheema mutter and palak paneer, mixed drinks, and a sharp, cosmopolitan ambience. Lunch menù €10. Entrees €15-26. Mixed drinks €8-10. Open M 8:30pm-midnight, Tu-Sa 1-4pm and 8:30pm-midnight, Su 8:30pm-midnight. MC/V.
Cactus Bar, Pg. del Born, 30 (☎933 10 63 54; www.cactusbar.cat). Jaume I. Walk down C. Princesa, make a right onto C. Montcada, and continue until Pg. del Born. Walk toward the beach; the bar is a ways down, on the left. This corner bar has simple metal decor, windows ideal for people watching, and a prime location on a popular street. Come during the day to try the walnut-raisin bread with Roquefort cheese (€3.80), or show up at night for a caipirinha (mixed drinks €8.50). Open M-Sa noon-2am, Su noon-midnight. MC/V.
Berimbau, Pg. del Born, 17 (☎933 19 53 78). Jaume I. Walk down C. Princesa and make a right onto C. Montcada. Turn on Pg. del Born; the bar is down the street, on the left. This Brazilian bar’s low wicker chairs give it a beachy, laid-back feel. Brazilian music plays in the background. Mixed drinks €8-10. Open daily 6pm-2:30am. MC/V.
Princesa 23, C. Princesa, 23 (☎932 68 86 18; www.princesa23.es). Jaume I. Walk down C. Princesa. Shamelessly touristy and fun enough to get away with it. Princesa 23 serves mojitos and caipirinha cheap (€3.50) to an international crowd until 11pm and then keeps serving them for full price late into the night. Tasty food ranging from tapas and paella to wraps and hamburgers (€3.50-10). Large TVs, a quote by Kahlil Gibran scrawled across the walls, and late-night DJs spinning pop, R&B, and electronica mean that this restaurant has something for everyone. You may hate yourself for loving it here, but you’re probably come back. Open M-Th 11am-2:30am, F-Sa 11am-3am, Su 11am-2:30am. MC/V.
Creps al Born, Pg. del Born, 12 (☎932 69 03 25). Jaume I. Walk down C. Princesa and make a right onto C. Montcada. It will hit Pg. del Born. This bar offers crepes and mixed drinks. Sit in the red and black space and wash down your Gran Marnier crepe (€5.90) with..some more Gran Marnier. Crepes and salads €3.90-5.90. Open M-Th 1:30pm-2am, F-Sa 1:30pm-3am, Su 1:30pm-2am. Cash only.
Palau Dalmases, C. Montcada, 20 (☎933 10 06 73). Jaume I. Walk down C. Princesa and make a right on C. Montcada. Enter the central courtyard of this one-time Baroque palace through its nondescript door and you’ll immediately feel like a courtier. The gilded decor is glitzy to the point of gaudy, but a fun, if expensive jaunt back in time. Drinks from €7. Opera music Th 11pm. Cover €20; includes 1 drink. Open Tu-Sa 8pm-2am, Su 6-10pm. MC/V.
Mudanzas, C. Vidrieria, 15 (☎933 19 11 37). Juame I. Walk down C. Princesa and make a right on C. de Montcada. Cross the Pg. del Born; C. Montcada turns into C. Vidrieria. Black and white checkered floors, marble tabletops, and taupe walls give this bar a retro feel that attracts a local and tourist crowd at all ages. Smoke a cigarette while sipping a martini at the bar, or take 1 of the venue’s free magazines to the mezzanine. Mixed drinks €8-10. Open M-Th 5pm-2:30am, F-Sa 5:30pm-3am, Su 5pm-2:30am. MC/V.
Local Bar, Fossar de les Moreres, 7 (☎93 319 13 57; www.localbar.es). Jaume I. The hip flock here for live jazz and an electro-funk DJ (Th-Su 11:30pm). The walls are plastered with local art and fliers for live music. Beer €3. Mixed drinks €7. Open M-Th and Su 9pm-2am, F-Sa 9pm-3am. MC/V.
Mirame Linda, Pg. del Born, 15 (☎933 10 37 27). Jaume I. Exotic mixed drinks draw a friendly, diverse crowd. Sit at the bar practice your Catalan—the mojitos (€6) should help. Open M-Th and Su 5pm-2:30am, F-Sa 5pm-2:30am. Cash only.