In Barcelona you will be treated to a gourmet extravaganza.

As Barcelona is a hub of cultures, there are numerous ethnic restaurants to accommodate all tastes including Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian. Vegetarianism is a new phenomenon in Barcelona and there are a growing number of vegetarian restaurants for those who forego meat.

The Eixample (pronounced eshaumplay) district is the place to go when you are seeking culinary delight. Most restaurants will have an economical choice for those merely seeking to satisfy their hunger, but if you do you'll be missing out on gastronomic excellence. The back streets of the Gothic Quarter are full of little tapas bars, while El Raval has plenty of restaurants.

Remember the drink of choice during dinner is Sangria, which is a combination of red wine and fruit punch and tastes quiet refreshing. But it's not recommended to drink the tap water, instead ask for bottled water.

The abundance of bars and cafes is evident, throughout Barcelona, of the Spanish fondness of socialising. Coffee is the non-alcoholic drink of choice but tea is scarce and isn’t recommended unless you can’t do without. Estrella and San Miguel are popular choices for the drink of the night; however, don’t make the mistake of asking for the very last drink, as it is bad luck to do so!

Several markets occupy the squares around the centre of town. Most of the conventional shops are found along the main shopping boulevard that stretches from the waterfront along Las Ramblas and continuing up to Passeig de Gracia where you'll find shops like Zara, Mango, Berksha and even Gucci. El Corte Ingles is a huge department store with just about everything from shoes to household appliances under one roof. It can be found on Placa Catalunya. Another good shopping street is Av. Del Portal de L'Angel which leads from Placa Catalunya.

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