Along the most popular street in the city sits the oldest cocktail bar in Barcelona, and if you’re not paying attention, you’ll walk right by it. Las Boadas occupies a tiny corner on Las Ramblas; it’s very unassuming with a small door and simple lettering on the outside.
Las Boadas
However when you venture inside, you feel as though you’ve taken a step back in time. The bar opened in 1933; the owner was a Cuban born Catalan who learned to make drinks at Hemmingway’s favorite bar in Havana, El Floridita. Las Boadas is still family run and it doesn’t look like much has changed since the 30’s. 
The Drinks
Bartenders wear bow-tie tuxedos and serve all the classics, there is no menu. Nick got an Old Fashioned and since I didn’t know what to order, the bartender suggested a cosmopolitan. The drinks aren’t the cheapest in the area (€6-10) but they were strong and tasted great.
For being on one of the most touristy streets in the city, Las Boadas was filled with mostly locals. A group of girlfriends in their 80’s wearing fur and jewels laughed in the corner while businessmen sipped their cocktails at the bar. Photos of their celebrity clientele from throughout the years fill the walls. Apparently Las Boadas is also a popular hangout for local politicians.
Las Boadas is really small so I’d recommend stopping by earlier in the night if you want to relax and grab a seat. It’s the perfect place to start your night.
