Barcelona’s bar scene has experienced something of a metamorphosis in recent years, now boasting a huge amount of diversity and a bold, experimental approach to cocktail-making, writes James Lawrence.

If anyone wants an example of how a city can completely reinvent itself, they should look to Barcelona. Once renowned for its tourist clichés of Sangria and Mojitos, Barcelona now boasts one of the most exciting bar scenes in the world, with a growing number of bartenders displaying a tenacity for the avant-garde that would impress any self-respecting hipster.

Mass immigration and the city’s unsurpassed popularity as a tourist destination has undoubtedly played a decisive part in challenging accepted traditions, adding unprecedented variety to Barcelona’s nightlife. This sense of renewal can be easily observed in the city’s long-established café scene; in the land where coffee was an obligatory institution, tea is now making serious inroads in many exotic teterias, where varieties of infusions are served to well-travelled clientele.

Of course, alcohol continues to play an important role – Catalans have a love of social drinking that supports the highest number of bars per capita in the world. “Me pones un vermut,” or “give me a glass of vermouth” is a phrase you’ll hear constantly. There is nothing more in vogue than sipping vermouth and nibbling on tapas with your friends in Barcelona. Just don’t ask for Italian versions in a local watering hole, that is, if you desire a repeat visit.

Speaking of bars, one of the sheer joys of drinking in Barcelona is the diversity of the local scene. The city’s venues now run the whole gamut from wood-panelled wine cellars to upmarket hotel destinations and boldly designed bars and clubs, many concentrated in the uber-trendy El Born district. Cocktails have reached new heights of popularity in these hip haunts, with a rapidly-evolving scene that could give New York a run for its money. Cava, Spain’s staple bubbly, is a common feature of modern cocktails, followed closely by sake, as bartenders continue to embrace Japan’s formidable drinks heritage.

However, Barcelona’s love affair with alfresco drinking needs no explanatory note – the city is on the up, literally, with new rooftop bars opening on a monthly basis. Some are obligatory appendages to the city’s collection of luxury hotels, some are hipster dives fitted into Gothic spaces, but all are extraordinarily atmospheric. Packed with visitors and locals every night in the summer season, they are a fitting emblem for Spain’s most dynamic and globalised city.

Click through the following pages to discover our pick of the top five bars in Barcelona, Spain.

Banker’s Bar

Hotel Mandarin Oriental, 38 Passeig de Gràcia
Housed in a former bank vault, Banker’s Bar is one of the most exceptional drinking experiences in Barcelona. The suited bar staff, chic design and top-notch service add up to an incredibly luxurious and atmospheric setting for cocktails on weekend evenings. Try one of the bar’s bespoke creations, such as the Ginger Margarita, Pear and Sake Martini, and Lychee or Orchid Caipirinha before enjoying dinner at Moments, Barcelona’s finest restaurant.

El Vaso De Oro

6 Carrer de Balboa
Barcelona isn’t exactly full of destinations where beer holds sway over other drinks, but ‘the golden glass’ is probably at the top of the list. For those who enjoy a wide choice of brews – accompanied by delicious tapas of course – El Vaso de Oro is an essential stop on any Barcelona itinerary.

Gimlet

Carrer del Rec
Gimlet, the original cocktail bar on the scene in Barcelona’s achingly trendy El Born district, pays
homage to the classic New York bar of the 1940s and remains eternally popular with locals and visitors alike. It’s a seductive narrow wood- paneled space, complete with jazz classics soothing over the hum of conversation. The cocktails are similarly spot-on as is the service. The original and best.

Ginger

1 Carrer de Palma de Sant Just
Offering a rare pocket of authenticity in the increasingly tourist- ridden Gothic Quarter, Ginger boasts a style and feel that is subtly retro. Its great ambience and expertly curated cocktail list continues to attract a youthful, well-heeled crowed, who come for the Moscow Mules, Cava cocktails and the signature Combustible Edison.

Xix Bar

19 Carrer Rocafort
A shrine to gin, Xix (pronounced ‘chicks’) is one of Barcelona’s most popular hipster haunts, set in the candlelit surroundings of a prettily tiled former granja (milk bar). The size of its gin offering is astonishing, as is the skill displayed by Xix’s talented, multi-national mix of bar staff, who can turn their hands to literally any concoction you desire.