Bars
El Bosc de les Fades
Off larambla. dubbed the "tree bar" by many english speaking tourists. this wax-museum bar features expert-crafted ambiance to look like a forest.
Dusk
Carrer merce 23. sexy bar and bistro inside centuries-old stone walls in ciutat vella/barri gotic. one block in from the correos big post office at the end of via laietana, "dusk" offers an upbeat bar and a more relaxed lounge in the back. it's a perfect place to get a delicious bite to eat to start the night off, or to finish the night with funky music and a bailey's martini. overall, a perfect place to get a taste of both the old gothic quarter and the new, hip, contemporary barcelona.
RiBborn
C/antic de sant joan 3, tel.+34 93 310 71 48, (http://www.ribborn.com). a hip bar in the heart of the casc antic, a vibrant section of the ciutat vella with a variety of bars and restaurants. ribborn offers "funk you till you drop" hiphop jazz reggae and soul with dj chocolito + guests, tuesday-sunday 10pm-3am. live music until 1am on most sundays and the odd weeknight.
Harlem
C/comptessa de sobradiel behind the city hall, ask there. live music every night. you must buy at least one drink, but the entrance is usually free.
La Fianna
One of the busiest bars in the neighborhood with a funky decor and a large selection of spirits. They also have a great dinner menu with an international selection.
Sidecar Factory Club
Plaã§a reial 7 / c/heures 4, +34 93 302 15 86, +34 933 177 666, (http://www.sidecarfactory...). one of the best choices for drinks and music in casc antic. offers live music 4 or 5 nights a week, 10pm-12:30am. hosts dj sessions every night m-su 12.30am-4.30/5.00am with djs of many different styles and from the most important clubs making people dance until the wee hours. always a good atmosphere.
L'Ovella Negra
Or the "black sheep" is a large dark tavern-like bar. located in carrer sitges just off la rambla. you can get cheap and delicious sangria for 10 euros before 23:00 and 13 euros after. fun to sit around with friends or to partake in a game of futbolina foosball.
Travel Bar
Travel's internet space is a good place to ask and talk with other people visiting the city. Has a quiet terrace. Very much a backpackers bar, this is a staple hang-out for many travellers. The Travel Bar has a barcrawl every evening although it is poorly advertised in the bar - staff 'invite' people they would like to join, otherwise you have to ask, as well as a mean Catalan cooking course. This is a good place to hang out and meet other English speaking people. It does have some decent perks - notably, the one euro meals again, you have to be in with the bar staff to get this and the free Wi-Fi plus free internet computers again, ask the barstaff - its rather haphazard if you'll get it offered to you, depending on whether you look like a part of the backpacker crowd.
Jazz sÃ
C/requesens 2 near ronda st. antoni. live music every day by the teachers and pupils of the music school next to it. pop/rock, flamenco, jazz, latin music etc depending on the day. to get in, it costs 3 euros but you get a drink on arrival.
Cafes
L'Antic Teatre
L'Antic Teatre, (http://www.lanticteatre.com/) Screens special artistic productions. There is also a small café inside and outside operated by the association which makes for a great break from the noisy Barcelona downtown. It's only a few steps away from the Palau de la Música Catalana.
La Clandestina
C/baixada de viladecols 2bis behind the post office in via laietana. you can take tea, different fruits juices, vegetal sandwiches and much more in a different place that holds some cultural events, lends some books.