LAS RAMBLAS – Barcelona

enero 20, 2017 by staff

Las Ramblas is an emblem of Barcelona, it is 1.2 Km to the first port of this city. Tourists make their way to the with a walk through Las Ramblas.

Las Ramblas is divided into 5 sections, each section has their own story to tell.

Rambla of Canaletes is located at the top of Las Ramblas beside Cataluña square. Canalete´sFountain has an emblem, this can be seen as soon as you begin your trip into las Ramblas.Rambla de los estudios, when you travel through this part you will find the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts recognized as the old General Study or University and also known as the bird´s market. Academic studies took place here many years ago. In 1891 an electric clock was installed which continues to display the official time in Barcelona.Rambla de las flores, it is filled with vibrant colors and glorious smells which send your sensations into overdrive. This was the only place in the 19th century in Barcelona which sold flowers and this tradition remains in full force today.We should to make a stop in Sant Josep´s Market, it is place where we have to look on different kind fresh product. It is colorful market with over 300 little shop, we would say. It is complicated not find a product that we are being looking for. The boqueria market is other obligation tourist point in your Trip to Barcelona.Before to keep going through of Las ramblas, we should mention, two areas very popular in Barcelona. The Gotic & Raval´s streets. A species of maze with restaurant, shops, hostels in Barcelona to enjoy it.Rambla de los Capuchinos, also knows as center of ramblas. It was given this name for a Monastery of friars. We will find the Grand Theater of the Opera of Barcelona.To finish this travel through of las ramblas, we arrive to Rambla de Santa Mònica, knows for Statue of Colon. It is the begining the walks of Barceloneta. We will arrive to the principal port of Barcelona.Amistat Beach Hostel Barcelona we would like to help you to get to these attractive places in your travel to Barcelona. we have our own guide tour to let you to spend the most amazing experience in Barcelona.

We are waiting for you….

TAPAS GRATIS! FREE TAPAS!

abril 28, 2016 by staff

YES! It’s true! there is some bars in Barcelona that offers FREE TAPA with your drink! Unbelievable? right?

We have been working hard for you! We have been walking around looking for the free tapas bars! Honestly most all the times we ended up a bit drunk but with a happy and fully belly!

Find below the best free tapas bars:

Caporal – C/ Escudellers, 5

This local serves both vermouth and gin and tonic. The best is to access to their free pintxos bar.

Casa Lolo – C / Arizala, 5-7They will get a free beer with each tapa that you order, very original, right? They have their own merchandising products, which match with their kitsch decor.

Xula Taperia – C / Mare Deu dels Desemparats, 18

We recommend to have a wine instead of a beer to accompany their original tapas. Tapas are very original (coca tataki tuna or salmon tartare ), but also have a classic a Patatas Bravas or Tortilla de Patatas.

Cal’l Chusco – C / Almirall Aixada 5

If you want to take free tapas in Barcelona and you like football, this is your place. Broadcast all matches of the Champions League and accompanied by homemade ration.

Gata Mala – C / Rabassa, 37The dimensions of this local are not suitable for claustrophobic people because it is so small but worth it to be. A cold Mahou beer is always well accompanied with potato omelette, potato salad (amazing) or bravas prepared baked and homemade salsa. Ñami, ñami….

In previous post you will find more information about free tapas bars in Barcelona. As you know spanish culture is about share, as we share tapas, we share moments!

Also you can share accommodation and save some money staying in our hostel in Barcelona. Amistat Beach Hostel Barcelona offers you dormitories with 4, 6, 8 , 10 or 12 beds. The perfect combination to invest your money in experiences, not just in accommodation.

EAT CHEAP IN BARCELONA

marzo 24, 2016 by staff

In Amistat Beach Hostel we are always searching for new tasty and cheap places because we want make happy our guests. Afte more than one week walking around and experiencing wonderful flavours here we have list some peculiar and cheap places to eat.

1. Tacos Tacos. Those who have tried the tacos we in Mexico we find it difficult to find places with the same taste. Tacos Tacos prepare authentic Mexican tacos at a great price. Tequilas 1.5 € !!

Where: Tapioles, 9 near the Metro station Paral.lel.

2. Temaki-ya. Japanese are not that expensive, you know that? The restaurant is described as “the first healthy fast food Japanese Spain”. Specialists Temakis is a type of sushi that is rolled into a cone shape. Be attentive to your promotions because Thursday is the day of ‘temakólatra’ and the second temaki leaves you alone for 1 €!

Where: Gignàs 28, near the Plaza Post Via Laietana. Metro Barceloneta or Jaume

3. The dog is hot. Artisan bread, sausage imported from Germany and more than 20 different ingredients. Also for vegetarians (with tofu)! From 2.60 € the basic hot dog. They have a store in the neighborhood of Gracia and one in the Raval.

Where: Gracia/ Fontana, 40 Metro Fontana or Joanic and Raval/ Calle Joaquin Costa , 47 Metro Universitat

4. Frank-burg. Easy, fast and cheap if you are in the area of Glorias and Sagrada Familia you may be interested. They serve burgers and sausages. Lunch menu for € 4.90 includes sandwich the house, drink and fries. So cheap!

Where: At the crossroads of Arago with Padilla. Metro: Monumental Sagrada Família, Glories and Encants.

You don’t have excuses to keep a healthy economy! If you are staying in a hostel in Barcelona or in Amistat Beach Hostel don not hesitate to ask for further information at the reception team.

But if you really want have fun an a cheap cooking lesson of traditional spanish dishes you have to join at night to our cooking team in our hostel Barcelona. Starter+main dish+ fun+friends+soft drink just 6 euros! Do not miss it!

FREE TAPAS & BARS

marzo 18, 2016 by staff

Traveling doesn’t need to be expensive. Barcelona is a city that offers expensive experiences but also affordable ones.

You can enjoy a romantic and sophisticated dinner in a Michelin restaurant but also you can have some tapas for free with a beer in a very local and trendy bar. As we know that you like to invest in experiences here we have listed for you a few bars with FREE TAPAS:

Ambiente del Sur:

A tapa can be from a squid in batter until sausage , trought , summer salad or potato salad.

Try the omelette! it can feed a family for a week, the portions are surprisingly generous .

Where: Floridablanca, 88

Gata Mala:

A place where the priority is to feed yourself well with a 100% home made cooking , you feel good and therefore there again more often. La Gata Mala will gradually change your tapa with every drink , so get out dinner for less than 10 euros.

Where: Rabassa, 37

Tapa La Canya:

Tapa La Canya is the ideal place if you are looking for a place to go for tapas with friends , family or couple , as they have covered terrace throughout the year , to enjoy the best tapas with a refreshing beer . Do not hesitate and book now !

Where: Comte d’Urgell, 42

Cal Chusco:

The place where you can still find a slight tradition of tapas free. And a reference in the field for many years is funny Cal Chusco, where the beer just cost (2 € ) or small beer ( € 1.20 ) , you can have a serving of ham or cheese to spicy , sausage , trout croquettes . Isabel, who practices homemade cuisine, can also serve you with a good dose of fried , and every day has five or six different tapas to serve the food .

Where: Almirall Aixada, 5

Any indications or more information, please do not hesitate to ask us for more information if you are staying in our hostel in Barcelona. Our receptionist team will help you to find this amazing places!

Enjoy your stay! Enjoy the city! Enjoy your stay in our hostel in Barcelona!

Vermouth time!

febrero 19, 2016 by staff

Vermouth time is the time for terrace, sun, friends, tapas,..etc. Vermouth it’s a classic in Barcelona , it’s the practice of meeting friends at lunchtime to share.

It is believed that vermouth was brought to Spain from the hand of Flaminio Mezzalama, who owned the famous Café Torino in Barcelona, and he was precisely the manager of Martini & Rossi.

We have listed for you the best vermouth bars in the city center. Easy to reach them by walking from our hostel in Barcelona, Amistat Beach Hostel.

Balius

Balius is a vermouth cocktail bar specializing in cocktails and vermouth, which offers a repertoire of salted food, tapas and small plates. The cuisine is uninterrupted, and the product is local and organic as much as possible.

Where: Pujades, 196 ( 5 min walking from our hostel in Barcelona).

Bodega L’Avi Manel

This little girl winery was founded in 1960 initially only bulk wine shop and grocery. It is a charming winery establishment where you can enjoy a vermouth just for 1,75€.

Where: Consell de Cent, 416

Bar Electricitat

This winery is one of the great classics of Barcelona: fin best bombs, spanish omelette, Russian salad and homemade vermouth those that create fans.

Where: Sant Carles, 15

La Plata

Also known as Los Pescaditos for its blue fish freshly fried. They Perucchi vermouth of the house, the oldest in Catalonia. Just prepared fried fish, tomato salad and sausage stick, but delicious.

Where: Mercè, 28

Bodega 1900

Looking for quality food and nice vermouth?

Salazones (salted products), comfits, marinades, preserves and chargrilled cuisine form the basis of the offer at Bodega 1900; one that changes form as time passes by, like all, old and good vermuterías.

Where: Tamarit, 91

Mix yourself with the spanish culture, experience as a local. Any questions or indications you can ask to our receptionist team. Enjoy!

What to do for Christmas in Barcelona

diciembre 14, 2015 by staff

Barcelona shines in December more than ever! Lights and outdoor Christmas markets around the city brings a special vibe to the city.

Many things to see and many things to do during these days. The most important outdoor markets is Fira de Santa Llúcia located in front of the Cathedral in Plaza St. Jaume and Fira de Nada de Sagrada Família. Apart of these, you can find more little markets in some neighbourdhoods and other towns around Catalonia and Spain.

During this period you can shop from Monday to Monday, nomally the shops are closed on -sundays but on December are most of them open 7 days a week. This period is the receiving and giving gifts so you need time to buy them!

If you are visiting Barcelona for Christmas period you can know some of our traditions.

In our hostel, Amistat Beach Hostel you can find Christmas decoration and a nice Christmas vibe. We make a nice New Year’s Eve dinner for our guests. We like to celebrate it every year with our guests and offer them a great local experience!

In Catalonia we have 4 festivity days and this is how we celebrate them:

Christmas Eve (24th Dec)

On Christmas Eve the bird of Jesus is celebrated. Families have a dinner all togheter and after the most religious persons go to Midnight Mass and the most party guys to the most trending club in the city. 🙂

Christmas Day ( 25th Dec)

This day is bank holidays. All the business are closed. Families and friends have a special lunch together.

Saint Esteve (26th Dec)

This festivity is a bank holidays just in Catalonia. In the old times people use to join their families to celebrate the Christmas days but they used to live far away from the family and mostly of the people couldn’t get at work on time.

New Year’s Eve (31th Dec)

The most celebrated day! New Year’s Eve is called ‘Nochevieja’ or ‘The Old Night’ in Spain and one special tradition is that you eat 12 grapes with the 12 strokes of the clock at Midnight! Each grape represents a month of the coming year, so if you eat the twelve grapes, you are said to be lucky in the new year.

Join us this Christmas! come to our hostel to celebrate New Year’s Eve! Fun, friends, food, music….

Looking forward to receiving your visit!

Merry Christmas!

To eat cheap in Gothic Quarter

noviembre 12, 2015 by staff

El Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), located in the very center of Barcelona, is one of the most famous places in Barcelona. This District is made up by a fusion of buildings dating from many different times, from Roman settlements to 20th century structures. This is one the most interesting places to visit in Barcelona, it brings you to past times.

The Gothic Quarter has narrow streets , ancient building and absence of traffic. Many of the streets are for pedestrians. There is an interesting historical novel that use Barcelona medieval time as a scenario, this book is Cathedral of the Sea.

We recommend you to visit the Catalan Government, the Palau de la Generalitat, the

Cathedral and other Gothic churches, as Santa Maria del Pi , also visit Plaça de Sant Jaume and lost yourself walking this narrows streets.

You can find a lot of intersting shops and multitud of bars and restaurants. We have designed a list for you with some of the cheapest bars and places to eat in Gothic Quarter.

1- TASCA Y VINS.

You can have a menu for 7€ and try a traditional catalan sausage dish for 5,95€. Cool, isn’t?

Where: Between Bruc and Girona

2- BUN BO VIETNAM

You can try vietnamese food for 7€/ dish. We recommend the strawberry mojito for 3,5€. Find this place in Carrer dels Angels, 6.

3- SANTA PIADINA!

Small place to taste an italian piadina with fresh products. A piadina cost between 3€ and 5€.

Where: Plaça San Pere 11.

4- LA REPÚBLICA

Argentinian restaurant where you can find very delicious empanadas and meat sandwitches. Very cheap from 3€ to 15€.

Where: Calle Mercé, 13.

5- THE DOG IS HOT

A fully menu of hot dog + nachos + drink cost between 5€ and 6€. Great deal!

Where: Calle Joaquin Costa 47.

6- PIM PAM BURGUER

Good fast food.High quality of meat. You can have an hamburguer just for 4,5€.

Where: Calle Sabateret, 4.

Not excuses now for saving money for clubbing at night. 🙂

If you need indications or more information how to get to this places ask our staff.

Enjoy your stay in our hostel and your visit!

Ñami, ñami….best burgers in Barcelona

septiembre 17, 2015 by staff

Barcelona is not just about tapas! We list for you the best burgers in the city! Are you hungry?

Negro Carbón

An amazing Argentinian restaurant. These Argentineans serve stupendous barbecued meat and generous burgers made from premium beef. Where: Pla de Palau, 16 (Born-Ribera)

Santa Burg

One of the city’s venues that is committed to turning the humble hamburger into a quality dish that’s healthy and, above all, delicious. Don’t miss the Richard Burger, with onion confit, foie gras and egg. Alain Guiard, world champion catering chef, always makes sure the meat is top-quality, and he’s always on the lookout for the best products for this cosmopolitan neighbourhood spot. Where: Carrer de Vallespir, 51

El Kiosko

El Kiosko is a gourmet burguer restaurant. Try any of the delicious recipes with special chutney sauce, home-cooked fries and you’ll know what I mean. Where: Marquès de l’Argentera, 1 (Born-Ribera)

Timerburg

All the hamburgers, sandwiches, fries and desserts ingredients are carefully selected, fresh and tasty. Try it! Where: C/Pujades, 168 (Poblenou)

Every Thursday at Poblenou: Beer+tapa 1,95€ Do not miss it!

julio 17, 2015 by staff

Poblenou Neighborhood is one of the most overlooked areas in Barcelona, and in our opinion has many great things to offer and a very high quality of life, that’s why Amistat Beach Hostel is located here. Amistat means friendship and this is what we are spreading in our hostel!

Walking in Poblenou streets you can have a real taste of local life. You can see terraces full of people having some tapas with a cold beer, kids going to school or playing, mums and daddys doing the shopping and young designers established in old factories creating new redesigned spaces and creative spots.

Not far from the centre, Poblenou has the best beaches of Barcelona, Bogatell beach and Marbella beach. The perfect location for enjoying the sun and the Mediterrenean sea. The best scenario for a picnic, get toasted or playing some water sports.

But pay attention! now a new thing makes Thursdays nights more interesting!

Every Thursday from 19-22 h, with the participation of 33 restaurants and bars in the district you can enjoy a drink+tapa just per 1,95€!!

Are you up for a slowly cooked chorizo with cider and served on country-style toasted bread or for a Scrambled eggs with prawns with garlic and wild mushrooms on toasted bread. These are just a few examples. Delicious tapas and a nice night walk.. what else you can ask for?

Would you like to see how nice look the tapas? check it out: http://www.triatapes.cat/en/index.html?b=5

You can download the map also in the previous link.

Enjoy!! Ñami, ñami….

LOW COST ACTIVITIES in BARCELONA

julio 10, 2015 by staff

Wondering to spend some time in Barcelona? If you have a little money or you are broke still you can enjoy a fantastic holidays in this amazing city. Here you are some tips!

Weather is generally good all year around. When the sun is shining it is easy to control your spending; instead of shopping you can go to the beach and relax yourself with a nice bath and some friends; an expensive dinner can be remplace by a picnic in the park.

Many streets and squares such as the Ramblas and Born, you can walk around or simply sit on a benche; there are many parks in a city that is relatively small in size – they can be found in Montjuïc, Arc de Triomf and along the beach.

Many of Barcelona’s most popular attractions can be seen without a single euro. Gaudí’s famous Parc Guelll is very cheap to get in, something as 7 euros. This is a magical and rambling space near the top of Barcelona. The famous Spanish architect filled a garden space with random mosaic statues, cavernous caves and terrace spaces to take in views of the city. It is a not-to-be-missed way to spend a sunny afternoon, skint or not.

You can visit some MUSEUMS for FREE:

Museu Picasso
Free on the first Sunday of every month

Picasso Museum
Montcada, 15-23
08003 Barcelona, España.

Metro: Jaume I (Yellow Line, L4)

Set deep in the heart of the area of El Born, this is one of the world’s best Picasso museums. This is a popular museum and queues begin early on its open day, so try to get there before 10:00 to ensure that you don’t miss out.

CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporánia de Barcelona)
Free on the first Wednesday of every month

Metro: Universitat (Red Line, L1) or ( Purple Line, L2)
CCCB
Montalegre, 5
08001 Barcelona, España.

This Museum of Contemporary Culture holds exhibitions on an array of topics, from the World Press Photography Award winners to modern cities. Holds many film screenings, debates and lectures, which are often free.

Museu de la Xocolata (Chocolate Museum)
Free on the first Monday of every month

Museu de la Xocolata
Calle Comerç, 36
08003 Barcelona, España.
Metro: Arc de Triomf (Red Line, L1)

For the chocolate lover in all of us. Here is your chance to see everything from the Sagrada Familia to Disney characters made entirely out of chocolate.

Low cost FOOD:

In Raval neighbourhood you can find a place named POLLO RICO, you can have a spit-roast chicken, but other meats are also available served with rice and salad. Visitors come for the atmosphere and the local characters as much as for the food. A plate of meat and rice will cost less than €5.00. Pollo Rico: Carrer de Sant Pau, 31

In Gracia neighbouhood there is a place named WOKI. Simply select a noodle or rice base for €4 and then add ingredients (starting at €1.30 each). Finally, choose a free sauce, which can be anything from Thai, Hoi Sin or the “House Sauce.” WOKI: Asturies, 22

Located in Eixample we found La Central. During the lunch rush, they do offer reasonably priced deli wraps, sandwiches, and some pasta salads. All items range from €6 and up. LA CENTRAL: Calle Mallorca, 237

An emblematic place is the Xampañeria in Barceloneta. This dark and smokey bar is tucked away down a small side street. Do not be afraid to find your inner-Spaniard to fight the crowds for a place at the bar. Whole bottles of cava can be purchased for €3.00 and are accompanied by an obligatory and delicious sandwich. El Xampañeria :Carrer Reina Cristina, 7

But if you want to create your own food or buy delicious ingredients for your picnic the best option is to visit LA BOQUERIA MARKET. It is one of Europe’s largest and most famous food markets and is the home of many of the world’s most weird and wonderful consumables.