ScenicaerialviewofPortVellfromthetopof
Columbus Monument — Barcelona, Catalonia, Spainstreetfromoneofthecity’sfinesttapasbars,ElXampanyet,where
the housecavaanda plateof pulpo(octopus)dousedwitholiveoil and
spikedwithpimentónwillgroundyou.Makeyourwaytotree-lined
squares like the Plaça de la Barceloneta, the site of the 18th century
SantMiqueldelPortchurch.Andleaveyourpietyhereasyou
headtothebarrioBarceloneta.
Heretapasandhistorygivewaytothesultryinf luenceofIbiza,
whichrevealsitselfinthebarrio’sclubs,onitsbeachesandatits
marina.GlobalnightclubgroupPachaholdsprimerealestatehere
juststepsfromthe sand(its founderis a Barcelonanative).Herein
theshadowofthemassiveFrankGehrysculpturethatmarksthe
OlympicMarinabuiltin1992,you’llfindmodernBarcelonabeach
clublifeinfullswing.ItinerantDJsholdcourtwhileclub-goerssip
champagneandnibbleonglobalistfingerfood.
BackatPortVellisCafédelMarLoungeBarcelona,the
localoutpostof Ibiza’spioneering’80snightclub.Thesprawling
13,000-squarefootmultilevelclubisknownforitspalmtree-and
lounger-linedpooldeckthathostslegendarydayparties.Backby
thebeachisthearcingWBarcelona,a shiningexampleofIberian
modernismjuttingseawardwheretheWetDeckSummerSeries
ofpartiesaffordsguestssweepingviewsofthecityandthesea.
Whiletheportremainsa commercialhub,inrecentyearsit’s
becomea gatheringplaceforthesuperyachtsoftheMediterranean.
BarcelonaisoneofthefewEuropeancitiesthatoffersthearrayof
nightlifeandculturewithinsuchcloseproximityoftheharbour.
TheOneOceanPortVelldevelopmenthasbecomea premier
Mediterraneanmooringforsuperyachts,andrecentlysolda 525-ft.
berthtoa privateclient,bigenoughtoaccommodateoneofthelargest
yachtsintheworld.Theyachtlessneednotworryaboutgettinga
tasteofthisquintessentialcontemporaryluxuryBarcelonaexperience,
however.ThebaraffordscloseupviewsoftheyachtsandcomeMay,
thevenueishosttotheannualSuperyachtShowwhereticketholders
cangainaccesstothefinestvesselsintheworld,whoseownersgather
to show off and live it up on the coast of this superlative city.