[Vicious]

(05-12-2013 09:45 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

There is also a super nice hotel on Passeig de Gracia (can't remember the name right now) that would be a good place to post up.

You're thinking about The Mandarin Oriental or The Omm. The latter has a Michelin star restaurant with a bar that has a great view of the crowd.

[thegmanifesto]

(05-14-2013 05:09 AM)Vicious Wrote:  

(05-12-2013 09:45 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

There is also a super nice hotel on Passeig de Gracia (can't remember the name right now) that would be a good place to post up.

You're thinking about The Mandarin Oriental or The Omm. The latter has a Michelin star restaurant with a bar that has a great view of the crowd.

Your right. Mandarin Oriental. Good place to post.

Also a good place to post is Loewe across the street.

the dude, if you post there and don't see fly girls walk by on a nice day, then something is wrong.

The Hotel Omm Barcelona is where I had this go down.

Also a dope spot.

[UnderTheVolcano]

(05-12-2013 10:07 PM)thedude3737 Wrote:  

I've seen pretty massive protests the two days I've been here. Unemployment is at 25% or some crazy shit. My first day I met some really cool people but today I definitely got some bad vibes from the locals. Not sure if that's normal.

I experienced the exact same thing when I was there a few years back (lots of protests + bad vibes). If you want to recharge, head to Picnic (on Comerc I think...). Its ran by some expat friends of friends and both times I went it was a super cool vibe. I think these guys are right, its the kind of place you have to be a while to get the hang of it.

[Veloce]

After seeing the name "Suttons" come up over and over again, I just realized I made acquaintances with two of the biggest promoters there about a year ago in L.A. I added them on facebook but then deleted my profile months later.

Probably the only time I've regretted that move. I have no other way of contacting them. Oh well.

[Veloce]

Ok, a little more data on Barcelona for interested parties:

A week wasn't very much time, and as mentioned, I only went out a few nights with the intent of pulling girls. During that week I did my best to acclimate and adapt to Catalan culture. I think I learned a few things.

Eat like a Catalan:
Breakfast is at 9-10am. It's a pastry with coffee, or a "cafe cortado" (my favorite). Or it's churros with xocolate. A famous locals churreria is Granja la Pallaresa on Carre Petritxol in Gotic. Service can be surly but get used to it if you're not Catalan.

There's a meal between breakfast and lunch called "Almuerzo". In Mexican culture this means lunch, but in Spain it's a snack before lunch. It's very often a small baguette filled with meat and/or cheese.

"Mediodia" is the big meal of the day, eaten around 2-3pm. This could be anything from soups, stews, seafood, meat, fried foods, you name it.

Tapas are eaten before dinner, usually around 8-10. They're meant to be eaten with beer and/or wine, and not too many. An alternate is "Pintxos" which are eaten off a toothpick. At the end, the bar wench counts the toothpicks and charges accordingly.

"Cena" or dinner is eaten at 9-11pm. It's usually a lighter meal than mediodia, but protein heavy.

For breakfast I recommend just about anywhere. Spanish are crazy about sweets and there's at least two pastry shops on every block if not every street. Ask for a xoco-croissant and cafe cortado and enjoy. There's a place called Catalina cafe in Born that makes a great cortado and is full of old regulars. Good for getting into the vibe of Catalan lifestyle.

I never really went out for almuerzo but it's not really a big deal anyway. It's hard to fuck up a baguette with meat on it.

For lunch and dinner, my favorite was Paco Meralgo. Easily the best restaurant I went to in Barcelona, but I didn't hit any michelin star or high end shit. I just wanted simple stuff prepared well. The quality of seafood is absolutely first rate, some of the best I've had in my life. Expect to pay 50-70E per person. Definitely get their Crema Catalana.

For tapas, I was a huge fan of El Xampanyet. I went to Tapeo, Vaso de Oro, Cal Pep, Pinotxo, Taberna Euskaia, and a few others. Honestly, I wasn't impressed by much, especially Cal Pep which you will see is hyped by pretty much everyone. Basically, if you walk in and see a bunch of tourists and/or hear a bunch of English being spoken, get the hell out. There's another place called Champagneria I wanted to hit but never got to. Go to Xampanyet, but you gotta like seafood. Their canned razor clams are killer, as are the tuna stuffed piquillo peppers.

Drink like a Catalan-
I saw people drinking at all hours of the day, sometimes starting at 10am. Wine and beer are the most popular with locals. If you're out at night, Gin and Tonics are also very popular. Don't say Vino Rojo, it's Vino Tinto. When ordering a beer, say "Una Caña". I got a makeout session with a Catalan girl by taking her to La Vinya Del Senyor (Which has a GREAT wine list and the food is great too) and dropping some serious wine knowledge and ordering for us all night (I was pushing hard to get her back to my pad but she was a good Catalan girl). Brush up on Albariño (the best come from Rias Baixas and Galicia), Cava, Priorat, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Xerez (Sherry, but don't call it that, it's pronounced "Herethz"

I didn't hit a single club, so I've got nothing there.

Aesthetically, if you like dark haired, dark eyed girls, Barcelona is a goddamn paradise. That happens to be just my type and the girl I made out with is easily one of the top 10 if not top 5 hottest girls I've kissed. Bummer I didn't get further with her but oh well.

Culturally, I'd say Catalan girls are tough to crack. I don't have enough experience to speak with any authority, but my brief experience tells me to drop any western style sarcasm game. Keep it genuine. Be confident and strong, but not cocky whatsoever. Be direct, but not directly sexual. Don't answer every question fully, leave some mystique. You want to build trust but not play into her shit tests. I notice that Catalans are big on familiarity and are probably highly mistrusting of "extrañeros". A look into their history over the past 100 years will explain everything. Do a little reading on the Spanish civil war, get to know their culture, and bring that to the table when approaching girls. It helped me for sure. If they see that you have some rudimentary knowledge and interest in their culture, it goes a long way.

As far as neighborhoods go, El Born is pretty great. There's tons of people in the streets, lots of bars, very mixed crowd, and GREAT logistics. I found a place on Sant Pere Mes Baix on airbnb and I think there's a lot available in El Born on airbnb. Everything closes up by 1 or 2am so if you're still looking for some action head down to Port Olimpic and hit some clubs.

[Nudge]

So looks like Im gonna head to Barca and try and stick around for the summer. Granada has been fun but I really am a city kid through and through. I need that big town vibe or I get bored. Think Im just gonna focus on tourists and ex-pats, tired of troublesome Spanish girls. Though gonna learn some Catalan phrases to try get in with a few locals.

Has anyone got any more summer based info? I know loads of beach and open air bars/clubs open up and some normal ones shut down. I studied here years ago but wasnt around in the summer.

[LaPastillaRoja]

(05-18-2013 07:22 PM)thedude3737 Wrote:  

Ok, a little more data on Barcelona for interested parties:

A week wasn't very much time, and as mentioned, I only went out a few nights with the intent of pulling girls. During that week I did my best to acclimate and adapt to Catalan culture. I think I learned a few things.

Eat like a Catalan:
Breakfast is at 9-10am. It's a pastry with coffee, or a "cafe cortado" (my favorite). Or it's churros with xocolate. A famous locals churreria is Granja la Pallaresa on Carre Petritxol in Gotic. Service can be surly but get used to it if you're not Catalan.

There's a meal between breakfast and lunch called "Almuerzo". In Mexican culture this means lunch, but in Spain it's a snack before lunch. It's very often a small baguette filled with meat and/or cheese.

"Mediodia" is the big meal of the day, eaten around 2-3pm. This could be anything from soups, stews, seafood, meat, fried foods, you name it.

Tapas are eaten before dinner, usually around 8-10. They're meant to be eaten with beer and/or wine, and not too many. An alternate is "Pintxos" which are eaten off a toothpick. At the end, the bar wench counts the toothpicks and charges accordingly.

"Cena" or dinner is eaten at 9-11pm. It's usually a lighter meal than mediodia, but protein heavy.

For breakfast I recommend just about anywhere. Spanish are crazy about sweets and there's at least two pastry shops on every block if not every street. Ask for a xoco-croissant and cafe cortado and enjoy. There's a place called Catalina cafe in Born that makes a great cortado and is full of old regulars. Good for getting into the vibe of Catalan lifestyle.

I never really went out for almuerzo but it's not really a big deal anyway. It's hard to fuck up a baguette with meat on it.

For lunch and dinner, my favorite was Paco Meralgo. Easily the best restaurant I went to in Barcelona, but I didn't hit any michelin star or high end shit. I just wanted simple stuff prepared well. The quality of seafood is absolutely first rate, some of the best I've had in my life. Expect to pay 50-70E per person. Definitely get their Crema Catalana.

For tapas, I was a huge fan of El Xampanyet. I went to Tapeo, Vaso de Oro, Cal Pep, Pinotxo, Taberna Euskaia, and a few others. Honestly, I wasn't impressed by much, especially Cal Pep which you will see is hyped by pretty much everyone. Basically, if you walk in and see a bunch of tourists and/or hear a bunch of English being spoken, get the hell out. There's another place called Champagneria I wanted to hit but never got to. Go to Xampanyet, but you gotta like seafood. Their canned razor clams are killer, as are the tuna stuffed piquillo peppers.

Drink like a Catalan-
I saw people drinking at all hours of the day, sometimes starting at 10am. Wine and beer are the most popular with locals. If you're out at night, Gin and Tonics are also very popular. Don't say Vino Rojo, it's Vino Tinto. When ordering a beer, say "Una Caña". I got a makeout session with a Catalan girl by taking her to La Vinya Del Senyor (Which has a GREAT wine list and the food is great too) and dropping some serious wine knowledge and ordering for us all night (I was pushing hard to get her back to my pad but she was a good Catalan girl). Brush up on Albariño (the best come from Rias Baixas and Galicia), Cava, Priorat, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Xerez (Sherry, but don't call it that, it's pronounced "Herethz"

I didn't hit a single club, so I've got nothing there.

Aesthetically, if you like dark haired, dark eyed girls, Barcelona is a goddamn paradise. That happens to be just my type and the girl I made out with is easily one of the top 10 if not top 5 hottest girls I've kissed. Bummer I didn't get further with her but oh well.

Culturally, I'd say Catalan girls are tough to crack. I don't have enough experience to speak with any authority, but my brief experience tells me to drop any western style sarcasm game. Keep it genuine. Be confident and strong, but not cocky whatsoever. Be direct, but not directly sexual. Don't answer every question fully, leave some mystique. You want to build trust but not play into her shit tests. I notice that Catalans are big on familiarity and are probably highly mistrusting of "extrañeros". A look into their history over the past 100 years will explain everything. Do a little reading on the Spanish civil war, get to know their culture, and bring that to the table when approaching girls. It helped me for sure. If they see that you have some rudimentary knowledge and interest in their culture, it goes a long way.

As far as neighborhoods go, El Born is pretty great. There's tons of people in the streets, lots of bars, very mixed crowd, and GREAT logistics. I found a place on Sant Pere Mes Baix on airbnb and I think there's a lot available in El Born on airbnb. Everything closes up by 1 or 2am so if you're still looking for some action head down to Port Olimpic and hit some clubs.

Seems like you had a good time mate! You should definitely make a trip to the champagneria next time you are in the city as that is an excellent place that I should have mentioned in the original post. Its also a short walk from the port olimpic area! As for the girls, I would say a week is too short a time to crack catalan girls. It took me a good 2 1/2 months before I even began to see some results with them. I'm off to Bulgaria for a week on friday and then to Palma de Mallorca for 3 months so I will make an effort and do a couple data sheets!

[...]

(01-04-2013 09:36 PM)LaPastillaRoja Wrote:  

Barcelona is one of the most flocked to cities in Europe tourist wise, and I agree that the overflow of tourists is somewhat of an Achilles Heel.

It depends, if you're only after local girls then I agree. On the other hand, sluts from all over Europe flock to BCN during the summer. I've had good results day-gaming bitches (Scandinavians and English girls mostly) in Plaza Real.

[MidWest]

Any Intel on Bilboa and the girls up there? I think my study abroad program is going will be in Bilboa in the Basque country. Anybody been there and have any intel on the girls, nightlife, food and girls?

[thegmanifesto]

(06-21-2013 03:27 PM)MidWest Wrote:  

Any Intel on Bilboa and the girls up there? I think my study abroad program is going will be in Bilboa in the Basque country. Anybody been there and have any intel on the girls, nightlife, food and girls?

You mean "Bilbao" in Spanish or "Bilbo" in Basque.

I have written some thoughts on the forum somewhere.

I was there only two days and one night so take it with a grain of salt, however, I saw nothing there that would really want me to return.

Guggenheim is beautiful, food is great, countryside is beautiful but I wasn't feeling the vibe, people or nightlife. No beach either.

I think one would be well advised to spend that time in Santander (Cantabria) or San Sebastian instead. Or maybe Vitoria-Gasteiz (capital of Basque Country), but I have never been.

[LaPastillaRoja]

(06-21-2013 03:27 PM)MidWest Wrote:  

Any Intel on Bilboa and the girls up there? I think my study abroad program is going will be in Bilboa in the Basque country. Anybody been there and have any intel on the girls, nightlife, food and girls?

Pais Vasco is known for its gastronomy, Both Bilbao and San Sebastian will have a lot of great food on offer, one thing that the region is known for are a kind of tapa called pintxo "pincho in castellano" which you can find in most bars. The playa de la concha in San Sebastian is also a pretty good spot to check out. Basque girls are an interesting mix of Spanish and French in terms of their look and can be very good looking, however the Basque people have a reputation for being very introverted. I feel this is a result of their language being so unique. That being said, in Bilbao they have a certain affinity for the British as they have had a lot of contact with the British through the ports. This is evident when you see that the local football clubs name is in English (Athletic Club Bilbao) I'm not so sure about the nightlife both times I went to the Basque country we just checked out some small bars. Although I can say with some certainty that Bilbao and Pais Vasco in general are not known as 'party spots' in Spain in general. Hope that helps a bit!

[Kid Strangelove]

Hey guys - the datasheets above are all quite incredible, so I don't have THAT much to add, however having just come back from the Euro Trip. here are my Barcelona inputs:


FOOD:
Quimet & Quimet - this is singlehandedly the best restaurant I've ever been to (if you could call it a restaurant). There are no seats, and the place specializes in small tapas on toasted bread - "sandwiches" on the menu. And WOW will your sense of taste explode. And the best part - I stuffed my face, had a glass of wine, and still pad about $20 Euro for a world class meal. The only thing to consider is that the restaurant has a bunch of people show up RIGHT when it opens, for both lunch and especially dinner - so best get there a few minutes before it opens up (7 for dinner i believe). This is a MUST GO



LOCAL Nightlife - Bars on Carrer de Blai.
Carrer de blai is an avenue where my friends and I rented our apartment. there is no car traffic, so the avenue is just lined with small restaurants with outdoor seating and beer for 1 Euro. Yes, 1 euro. Drinks with friends become insanely cheap, and you will see locals socialize there every night of the week.

TOURIST Nightlife - Plaça Reial, particularly around Karma and the bar next door.
My apologies for not remembering the name, but if you're a beginner, or don't know much except English, then the bar next to Karma gets really loud with all sorts of Anglo tourists later in the evening, around 9. There are also lots of street performers there ready to impress. One "opener" I used - saw a guy drawing caricatures of people, paid him 2 euro to draw a caricature of this hot girl a few tables away - worked like a charm.


Sightseeing - Sagrada Familia
This is the most incredible church I have ever seen - the world famous "unfinished" cathedral is being worked on even while tourists flock to it daily, so each time you visit the city, you see more and more of the finished church. It's a pain in the ass to see the inside unless you get your tickets online in advance. It is truly a monument to architectural genius. A must see


Since this was my first real trip outside the US, and I was with friends, I didnt get to do much gaming and was mostly doing tourist stuff, but I fell in love with the city, and I can't wait to go back and to it all over again

[LaPastillaRoja]

(07-16-2013 02:14 PM)Kid Strangelove Wrote:  

Hey guys - the datasheets above are all quite incredible, so I don't have THAT much to add, however having just come back from the Euro Trip. here are my Barcelona inputs:


FOOD:
Quimet & Quimet - this is singlehandedly the best restaurant I've ever been to (if you could call it a restaurant). There are no seats, and the place specializes in small tapas on toasted bread - "sandwiches" on the menu. And WOW will your sense of taste explode. And the best part - I stuffed my face, had a glass of wine, and still pad about $20 Euro for a world class meal. The only thing to consider is that the restaurant has a bunch of people show up RIGHT when it opens, for both lunch and especially dinner - so best get there a few minutes before it opens up (7 for dinner i believe). This is a MUST GO



LOCAL Nightlife - Bars on Carrer de Blai.
Carrer de blai is an avenue where my friends and I rented our apartment. there is no car traffic, so the avenue is just lined with small restaurants with outdoor seating and beer for 1 Euro. Yes, 1 euro. Drinks with friends become insanely cheap, and you will see locals socialize there every night of the week.

TOURIST Nightlife - Plaça Reial, particularly around Karma and the bar next door.
My apologies for not remembering the name, but if you're a beginner, or don't know much except English, then the bar next to Karma gets really loud with all sorts of Anglo tourists later in the evening, around 9. There are also lots of street performers there ready to impress. One "opener" I used - saw a guy drawing caricatures of people, paid him 2 euro to draw a caricature of this hot girl a few tables away - worked like a charm.


Sightseeing - Sagrada Familia
This is the most incredible church I have ever seen - the world famous "unfinished" cathedral is being worked on even while tourists flock to it daily, so each time you visit the city, you see more and more of the finished church. It's a pain in the ass to see the inside unless you get your tickets online in advance. It is truly a monument to architectural genius. A must see


Since this was my first real trip outside the US, and I was with friends, I didnt get to do much gaming and was mostly doing tourist stuff, but I fell in love with the city, and I can't wait to go back and to it all over again

The club you are referring to is Jamboree! Plaça Reial is a weird place, there is an after hours club in the square which is literally a pipe museum. I tend to avoid La Rambla like the plague so I really only go to Plaça Reial if there is no other option or I'm with a group that insist on going.

Also a note on Sagrada Familia, as it is a functioning church, you do not have to pay if you go in for a religious service, the schedule for which can be found online. Just a note to people who would rather save a bit of money that aren't too bothered on the architecture. I have the opposite opinion of it as this guy, I find it slightly vulgar. Parc Güell and Casa Batlló are much nicer examples of Gaudi in my opinion.

I'm heading back to Barcelona with a group of 4 aussie girls in the middle of August so if anyone has any particular questions about the city/nightlife/dining/etc now is the time for requests!

[Akula]

(07-26-2013 07:51 PM)LaPastillaRoja Wrote:  

(07-16-2013 02:14 PM)Kid Strangelove Wrote:  

Hey guys - the datasheets above are all quite incredible, so I don't have THAT much to add, however having just come back from the Euro Trip. here are my Barcelona inputs:


FOOD:
Quimet & Quimet - this is singlehandedly the best restaurant I've ever been to (if you could call it a restaurant). There are no seats, and the place specializes in small tapas on toasted bread - "sandwiches" on the menu. And WOW will your sense of taste explode. And the best part - I stuffed my face, had a glass of wine, and still pad about $20 Euro for a world class meal. The only thing to consider is that the restaurant has a bunch of people show up RIGHT when it opens, for both lunch and especially dinner - so best get there a few minutes before it opens up (7 for dinner i believe). This is a MUST GO



LOCAL Nightlife - Bars on Carrer de Blai.
Carrer de blai is an avenue where my friends and I rented our apartment. there is no car traffic, so the avenue is just lined with small restaurants with outdoor seating and beer for 1 Euro. Yes, 1 euro. Drinks with friends become insanely cheap, and you will see locals socialize there every night of the week.

TOURIST Nightlife - Plaça Reial, particularly around Karma and the bar next door.
My apologies for not remembering the name, but if you're a beginner, or don't know much except English, then the bar next to Karma gets really loud with all sorts of Anglo tourists later in the evening, around 9. There are also lots of street performers there ready to impress. One "opener" I used - saw a guy drawing caricatures of people, paid him 2 euro to draw a caricature of this hot girl a few tables away - worked like a charm.


Sightseeing - Sagrada Familia
This is the most incredible church I have ever seen - the world famous "unfinished" cathedral is being worked on even while tourists flock to it daily, so each time you visit the city, you see more and more of the finished church. It's a pain in the ass to see the inside unless you get your tickets online in advance. It is truly a monument to architectural genius. A must see


Since this was my first real trip outside the US, and I was with friends, I didnt get to do much gaming and was mostly doing tourist stuff, but I fell in love with the city, and I can't wait to go back and to it all over again

The club you are referring to is Jamboree! Plaça Reial is a weird place, there is an after hours club in the square which is literally a pipe museum. I tend to avoid La Rambla like the plague so I really only go to Plaça Reial if there is no other option or I'm with a group that insist on going.

Also a note on Sagrada Familia, as it is a functioning church, you do not have to pay if you go in for a religious service, the schedule for which can be found online. Just a note to people who would rather save a bit of money that aren't too bothered on the architecture. I have the opposite opinion of it as this guy, I find it slightly vulgar. Parc Güell and Casa Batlló are much nicer examples of Gaudi in my opinion.

I'm heading back to Barcelona with a group of 4 aussie girls in the middle of August so if anyone has any particular questions about the city/nightlife/dining/etc now is the time for requests!

LPR how did August end up?

Reason I ask is that I'm spending Christmas in Barcelona (with my mom ha ha ! ) and wanted to see what you found out.

I've thoroughly read this thread and G's too (printed them out for the trip to have at the ready as well) and will check out the clubbing website to find which place is good on a particular night, but wanted to see what other insights you might have. Am sort of concerned that Christmas will be a bit a bit dead but am sure something will be going on somewhere, might be less tourists, but more easy to 'mix it up' with the locals and practice my Catalan/Spanish. Thx.

Great thread BTW +1 from me!

[shotgun]

This is a brilliant data sheet and helped me getting laid in my 48-hour visit to Barcelona in August.

The two clubs I visited:

Opium Mar: Posh club. Dress well, get there early (before 1 AM) and start approaching right away. The club becomes a sausage fest as the night goes on. Lots of cute Eramus girls, and tourists from many different countries (I've met Russia, Latvia, USA, England, Brazil, France... Yeah, I approached like a machine). The bad thing about this club is that the staff is full of assholes, from the bouncers to the barmen, so beware. Music got turned off before 4:30 AM.

Razzmatazz: "Alternative" club. No need to dress up here, but getting there early is good. I've found that in Barcelona it is best to start approaching as soon as you enter the venue, girls are much more receptive early in the night. Venue is huge with a few floors and a terrace where people smoke pot. Young crowd. My bang came from this venue.

[Akula]

Good work shotgun. And sage advice which I'll try to follow. Hooked up last night in Russia so off to a good start already! But I just realized today that every girl I've been with since I moved to Russia has been from the CIS - that's about 5 years and counting. So I'm dying to get out there and meet some other types, but wondering if the Christmas holidays will completely shut things down for the most part, outside the locals (who are clearly a tougher nut to crack).

Also going to be interested to see how the clubs are this week. So far I plan on hitting up Apolo on Monday and then following the listagolden website...so far looks like they mostly have Opium Den, Razzmatazz and Shocko as the go-to places, but Boulevard, Soho and a couple others on the list too..we'll see..will report back as I'm running solo now...hoping it's not totally dead...

[Akula]

So finally in Barcelona and have to say what an incredible city. Tons of stuff going on and so much to see. Weather is great (compared to Moscow at least) and the city is decently decked out in holiday lights and ornaments too.

There are basically no tourists here right now. Did not hear any English at all or really even see a tourist until we went to the Mercat de la Boqueria today where there were a bunch but so far they all seem to be down there on the lower Rambla (which is kinda seedy and sucks - Boqueria is kinda cool though). I can only imagine that it’s the complete opposite of the summer months when the place is packed.

Last night I wanted to get out and see what the club scene is like here so I tried Apolo, but when I showed up it did not look like it was open, so I moved on to Shoko to give that a go. While waiting to get a cab I almost ran into two Chinese girls who were walking ahead of me and tried to open them up asking where I could find cigarettes. No response – didn’t seem to speak English nor Spanish when I tried that and they looked about 18 up close and just kept giggling so I moved on. No biggie, just wanted to get in the right mindframe.

Arrived at Shoko and first walked around a bit to familiarize myself with the area and check out the beach, where it turns out the drug dealer and other dudes were hanging out. Got back to Shocko and a host came up to me and started lobbying me to come in – I was rolling suited and I guess since there seem to be so few foreigners in town he wanted me in there? Anyway, when I got into the club another host showed me and then put me at a table in the back, which later turned out to be the VIP section (!) Cool thing about that is that you can smoke there after midnight which was great.

Unfortunately, it was pretty dead from when the restaurant closed at midnight until around 1:30 with basically no girls in there at all and just a few social circle groups milling about outside the VIP lounge. Even after than when things started to pick up it the ratios stick sucked - 70-30 guys to girls, with 10 of those girls being a group of 30-something 4s and 5s who'd had a dinner party at the club earlier and I'd scoped out. By 2 it was more like 65-35 I’d guess, but sure seemed like there were a ton of dudes in there and very few targets worth pursing.

As a few more girls came in (along with tons of guys) I'd say most were so-so and younger, early 20s (at best) college girls. Basically a bunch of high 5s with a few 6s maybe. It stuck me that I’m going to have to seriously start lowering my Moscow standards. By 2:30 there were a good amount of people there - all locals from what I could tell. That’s not a bad turnout for a Monday night two days before X-mas I’d say. But given how tough the locals can be and how young everyone was for the most part I wasn't all that motivated to approach and so didn’t get to do more than 2 sets, which both went nowhere. First one was to ask two pretty (but young) girls out on the patio for a light – they immediately pointed to the two dudes sitting down behind me and said they’ve got one (ouch), sort of ignored me and walked off. Then to add insult to injury the two guys both bummed cigarettes off me as well! Second set one was just a standard bar chat with the girl next to me when I was getting a drink. Went ok but no English, my Spanish is not up to par and she was sort of a ‘good from far but far from good’ kinda girl so I got nowhere and bailed out quickly. At that point I was tired and figured I’d had my fun so I packed it in around 3:30.

For sure I am going to have to recalibrate a bit here given the apparent slowness and lack of tourists. I figured Christmas time would be pretty slow and last night wasn’t great but I'm glad I got out. There is so much to see and do here and given that the club scene seems to be a bit slower and younger now I will most likely just focus on relaxing and enjoying myself, eating great food and seeing the sights I think. Not expecting much but not going to fret about it - the city is great and liking it a lot so can’t complain. But will try to check out a couple places Thursday – Friday to see if it picks up a bit.

RE the women here, I’d say that the locals all seem to dress pretty well and are fairly feminine - and there is nowhere near the amount of fatties that you see back in the US. Most girls tend to be in ok to decent shape, if not overly slender. The older women (35+) also seem to at least try to keep their figures as well for the most part. That said, there are not really many stunners here from what I have seen, and there are a lot of younger girls sporting the ‘hipster’ vibe with the big nerdy glasses look, funky tennis shoes, etc. But I’ve only been here a day so let's how I feel about it by the end.

[Akula]

Ok, turns out my gaming was pretty much non-existent due to spending an inordinate amount of time with my family while here and also due to the fact that the city pretty much shut down on the 25th and 26th for Christmas. I also got pretty smashed at our Christmas dinner and passed out around 9pm so that blew me up for a day. That dinner was amazing though - I had just about the best seafood of my life (def the best lobster I've ever had) at the Euro 50 all you can drink brunch at a restaurant in Port Olimpic. The food was amazing all over the city and frankly it was nice just to chill and enjoy eating a bit and walking around sampling different stuff.

Thanks to thedude for recommending Churreria Granja la Pallaresa on Carre Petritxol in Gotic. It's hard to find, and is closed from 1-4pm FYI, but it's got really good desserts and pastries and the coffee is excellent. Def recommend.

After getting a small taste of what this city has to offer I'm definitely coming back and spending some more time here. The city is chock-full of fairly slender 6s and 7s and I think the club scene would be amazing when you throw in the hordes of tourists come Spring/Summer. Unf. no holiday bang for me((( But I've got one night in Dublin on my own to get into trouble so hopefully I'll come out of the gate aggressively and at full strength tonight!

[Chase]

The Urbany Hostel (metro station clot) gives you free entry to the clubs Opium, Shoko, Sutton, CDLC every night until 2 am (Saturday until 1:30). At the entrance of the club say that you are on the urbany guest list and show the hostel key card.

There is also a sports center right next door with a fully equipped gym including kettle bells, a 20 meter pool, sauna and steam room that guests can use for free.

It is a pretty big hostel that also has private rooms (around 60 eur, small and nothing to talk about, you can probably get better hotel deals at agoda). For younger people on a budget, shared rooms can be had for as low as 8 EUR, including breakfast and the above mentioned free club entrance and the sports center. Location is a bit off, but the metro station is one block away and brings you to the center quickly.

Currently in the city until Saturday, enjoying the sun. If anyone wants to meet up PM. Cheers

[amity]

Guys, what can I say, this is some serious quality info in this thread.
Am heading there soon for a few days, no plans made as yet, bringing the gf so probably won't be banging strange (but you never know!)
Hoping to hit a show in Apolo when am there, they have some quality electronic acts/dj's playing.
Haven't booked accommodation yet, but will probably grab somewhere near the sea, plenty of good suggestions of places to stay/avoid, which is just what I need.

[Chase]

(01-04-2013 09:36 PM)LaPastillaRoja Wrote:  

Where to eat
(El Señorio) Metro Lines 5 and 2: Sagrada Familia
I am a HUGE fan of Peruvian food, and this is about as close to Lima quality as you can get according to my ex-girlfriend who was half spanish half peruvian. The menú del día is under 10 euros and for dinner the menu is amazing. The ceviche and lomo saltado there is incredible. Try the Anticuchos as well they are absolutely amazing.

Thanks for that recommendation, the cevice is indeed incredible. Made me happy! Heading there again now...

[rishboy77]

Great thread.
Any updates on good but inexpensive places to eat ? Does anybody know the best option to get to Valencia ?
I'm going to Barcelona on July 8th for about 10 days and meeting a 21 year old Russian girl for a week. Plan is 5 nights in city then head to Valencia for 2 nights. I have a have a few days after she is gone to try to game.

[amity]

First place that comes to mind is Caravelle
https://plus.google.com/1077749922243427...bout?hl=en
Really chill place, cool crowd, but not too cool, friendly vibe, mix of locals and tourists, tasty fresh ingredients, definitely worth checking out

[Lucky Luke]

I don't want to bitch too much, but I mostly disagree with every bar/club rating posted in this thread. I've been living in Barcelona for the last 7 years, gaming mostly foreign chicks, and my view is completely different. Hands down, the best club in Barcelona is Opium. In my first 5 years I had been going out downtown non-stop and always thought, "man, I should hit Opium more", but never did it. And then, last year I decided enough was enough and I almost go out there exclusively now. I will give a quick breakdown of a few places that were cited in this thread.

Opium (8/10) Not just one of the best clubs in Barcelona but one of the best clubs I've ever been. The talent level is quite high and the girls are super easy to approach if you have game. Dressing smart is important, to distinguish yourselves from the other guys (untucked white shirts, jeans and black shoes are the norm). The main mistake guys make there is to approach on the dance floor, you won't get anything there. Go to one of the two terraces and open there, be cool and energetic. The place is a hotspot for tourists so use it to your advantage. Girls usually go in groups, so bring friends or make instant friends to work out logistics. ONS are not as common as I'd like, but they can be done (even on the beach) and day 2's are super easy to arrange. The age range is pretty young so be prepared. Still, I'm 37 (although I look very young for my age) and pull every weekend on a consistent basis. If you go to Barcelona for just one weekend, don't go anywhere else. And get there EARLY, 1:30 at the latest, to avoid the lines.
Sutton (6/10): I fucking hate Sutton's guts. Why did I rate it with a 6? Because the talent level is very high. Why do I hate it? Because it's a club that it's completely oriented to the VIP areas. They are huge and almost every girl wants to go there, which can completely ruin your logistics if you're not on one of them. And even if you are, you can easily get outmatched by Catalan rich guys or Arabic sheiks who bring bottle after bottle. The best day for Sutton is Thursday, but be ready for disappointment as the girl you are almost making out is suddenly drinking champaigne in the VIP.
Bling Bling (6/10): This is a very good option, especially on Thursday as most of the people who are fed up with Sutton (it's next door) or couldn't get in end up there. The atmosphere is a lot more relaxed and there's a cool party vibe. On weekends, the crowd is older and essentially Catalans so it's less fun.
Shoko (5/10): Essentially a smaller, crappier, version of Opium.
La Ovella Negra (6/10): It's the bar where all the Erasmus students hang out one day or another. Good for meeting people and going with them somewhere else. The talent is on and off and logistics are a problem as there are big tables with large groups. Still, you can have great nights there.
Jamboree (6/10): The best club in Plaza Real for pick-up purposes. A very horny vibe but lots of competition and the quality level is also on and off (though better than the neighbouring places). It has a hip-hop dance floor and a pop-rock one, so dress accordingly.
Apollo (5/10): the hangout place for the alternative people in Barcelona. Lots of Swedish girls but the ratio is completely fucked up. It's possible to pick up there if you have a rocker vibe and tight game.
Moog (0/10): This is what shocked me the most of the original data sheet. What the hell, this is probably the worst place in Barcelona for pick up. The talent level is abysmal and the crowd is composed mostly of electro and minimal lovers. The music is so loud that you can't really talk (if you actually wanted to). Upstairs there is a smaller dancefloor with rock and funk which is a lot better but still the place is absolutely horrendous. Avoid at any cost.

There are A LOT more places in Barcelona. And it's possible to pick up on everyone of them, the city just has that vibe, especially in the Summer and in February/October (when the Erasmus crowd starts to get going). Of course, everything is open for interpretation and the places you like will vary depending on the kind of girls you like. But I insist, if you know how to dress up, have some game and want top quality, you better not leave Opium.

[draguer]

Luke, what are your thoughts on Razzmatazz?