Holiday in Barcelona

L’EIXAMPLE

L’Eixample has upscale bars and some of the best gay nightlife in Europe, as evidenced by the area’s nickname, Gaixample.

ill Buenavista Salsoteca, C. Rossello 217. FGC: Provenga. This over-the-top salsa club manages to attract a laid-back, mixed crowd. Free salsa and merengue lessons W-Th at 10:30pm. F-Sa cover ‚9, includes 1 drink. Open W-Th llpm-4am, F-Sa llpm-5am, Su 8pm-2am.

S Dietrich, C. Consell de Cent 255. M: Pg. Gracia. A rather unflattering painting of Marlene Dietrich in the semi-nude greets a mostly gay crowd. Nightly dragstripdance shows. Beer ‚3.50. Mixed drinks ‚5-8. Open Su-Th 10:30pm-2:30am, F-Sa 10:30pm-3am.

La Fira, C. Provenga 171. M: Hospital Clinic. Bartenders serve a hip crowd dangling from carousel swings and surrounded by creepy fun-house mirrors. DJs spin funk, disco, and oldies. Open M-Th 10pm-3am, F-Sa 10pm-4:30am, Su 6pm-lam.

Fuse, C. Roger de Lluria 40. M: Tetuan or Pg. Gracia. A cutting-edge Japanese-Mediterranean restaurant, cocktail bar, dance club. Mixed gay and straight crowd. Beer ‚3. Mixed drinks ‚6. Restaurant open M-Sa 8:30pm-lam. Bar open Th-Sa l-3am. MCV.

Les Gens que J’Aime, C. Valencia 286. M: Pg. de Gracia. Travel back to Gaudi’stime in this intimate bar. Background soul, funk, and jazz soothes patrons. Beer ‚3. Half-bot-tles of wine ‚9, Open June-Aug. daily 7pm-3am; Sept.-May 6pm-3am.

Luz de Gas, C. Muntaner 246. M: Diagonal. Chandeliers and deep red walls set the mood in this hip club. Live music every night. Beer ‚6. Mixed drinks ‚9. Live music concerts ‚15; check the Guia del Ocio for listings and times. July-Aug. open M-Sa 11pm-5am; Sept.-June daily llpm-5am.

Salvation, Ronda de St. Pere 19-21. M: Urquinaona. A popular gay club. Beer ‚5. Mixed drinks ‚8. Cover ‚11, includes 1 drink. Open Su and F-Sa midnight-6am.

The Michael Collins Irish Pub, PI. Sagrada Familia 4. M: Sagrada Familia. 100% Irish, from the waitstaff to the smoky, wooden decor. American and European sports on the TV. Draft beer ‚4. Mixed drinks ‚5. Open daily 2pm-3am.

Berlin, C. Muntaner 240. M; Diagonal. A slice of streamlined German style in Barcelona; attracts area hipsters, and hordes of I’Eixample yuppies. Beer ‚3.50. Cocktails ‚9. Open M-W 9;30pm-2am, Th-Sa 9:30pm-3am.

domestic, C. Diputacio 215. M: Urgell. Multifaceted bar-musical with frequent poetry readings, art expositions, and live music. Beer ‚3. Mixed drinks ‚5. Open Su andTu-Th 7pm-2:30am, F-Sa 8pm-3am.

POBLE NOU AND PORT OLIMPIC

L’Ovella Negra (Megataverna del Poble Nou), C. Zamora 78. The place to come for the first few beers of the night. Foosball games on the 2nd floor are nearly as intense as the real-life FCBReal Madrid rivalry. Large beers ‚2. Cocktails from ‚2. Kitchen open until 12:30am. Open F-Sa 5pm-3am, Su 5-10:30pm.

Club Danzatoria, C. Ramon Trias Fargas 24. The sleek interior makes this one of the hottest places in town. All house music all the time. Cover ‚15, includes 1 drink. Open Su and Th-Sa midnight-late.

Razzmatazz, C. Pamplona 88. M: Marina. A huge warehouse-turned-entertainment complex, with strobe-lit dance floors and concert space for indy-rock. Cover ‚9, includes 1 drink. Concert prices vary; call ahead for listings. Beer ‚3. Cocktails from ‚5. Open F-Sa and holidays midnight-4am. MCV.

MAREMAGNUM

Barcelona’s biggest mall has a split personality. At night, the complex turns into a tri-level maze of clubs, each playing its own music for a plethora of tourists and the occasional Spaniard. This is not the most authentic experience in Barcelona, but it is an experience. No one charges cover; clubs make their money from exorbitant drink prices. Be aware that catching a cab at the end of the night can be extremely difficult; consider leaving clubs 30min. before they close.

MONTJUIC

Lower Montjuic is home to Barcelona’s epic disco theme park, Poble Espanyol, Av. Marques de Comillas. Fall in love with the craziest disco experience in all of Barcelona at some of the most popular (and surreal) discos: La Terrazza (an outdoor madhouse; open July-Aug. Su midnight-6am; Sept.-June Su and Th-Sa mid-

night-6am), Torres de Avila (with speedy glass elevators; open Th-Sa midnight-6:30am), and HiTinta Roja (for tango lovers; open July-Aug. Tu-Th 7pm-l:30am, F-Sa 8pm-3am; Sept.-June also Tu-Th). Dancing starts at lam and ends after 8am.

ZONA ALTA

The area around C. de Maria Cubf has great nightlife, undiscovered by tourists, but you’ll have to take a taxi. For more accessible fun in Gracia, head to PI. Sol.

13 Otto Zutz, C. Lincoln 15 (www.ottozutz.com). FGC: PI. Molina. Groove to house, hip-hop, and funk while Japanimation lights up the top floor. Beer ‚5. Cover ‚15, includes 1 drink; email ahead for a discount. Open Tu-Sa midnight-6:30am.

C. Plato 13. FCG: Muntaner. A blue-hued heaven for lesbians of all ages. A touch of class, a dash of whimsy, and a ton of fun. Cover ‚6, includes 1 drink. Beer ‚3.50. Mixed drinks ‚6. Open Th-Sa llpm-3:30am.

Gasterea, C. Verdi 39. M: Fontana. Yellow walls cast a warm glow in this table-less bar. Mixed drinks ‚5. Su-Tu and Th 7pm-lam, F-Sa 7pm-2am. Cash only.

Bar Marcel, C. Santalo 42. When midnight strikes, locals pack the place in search of cheap booze. Certainly not the fanciest bar in the neighborhood, but possibly the most loved. Beer ‚1.60. Mixed drinks ‚5. Prices vary. Open daily 8pm-3am.

Nick Havanna, C. Rosello 208. FGC: Provenca. Trendy Spaniards and tourists converge to grind to pop hits. Dress to impress (no sneakers). Drinks ‚6-8. Cover ‚10. Open W-Sa ll:30pm-5am. AmExMCV.

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