Cheapest pubs in Barcelona
Barcelona is a great city for travellers. Thousands flock here from all over the world to soak up the sun on the beaches, take in the huge variety of culture and enjoy the bars and restaurants. But if you are coming here on a budget, watching what you spend is of course important so you can have enough to carry on your travels. Europe is relatively expensive to travel but as always it is knowing where the cheap places to go to eat and drink. Cheap bars can be difficult to find amongst the tourist traps that every city has so here is a list of some of the cheapest bars in Barcelona to save your pennies.
33/45
Carrer Joaquin Costa, 4, Barcelona, Spain
Located in Raval in the city centre this spot is the ultimate place to kick back, relax, and have a beer. 33/45 offers a laid-back atmosphere, perfect for a chat with friends over a cheap beer or two. The bar is decorated in a modern/industrial style with vintage furniture and lots of big comfy couches. The front of the bar is usually a bit crowded but once you make your way towards the back, the crowd thins out and you can pick out your favorite sofa to sit on and enjoy your beer. There are not many bars in the city that can boast a mojito for just 5 euros!
L’Ovella Negra
Carrer de Zamora, 78, Barcelona, Spain
Carrer de les Sitges, 5, Barcelona, Spain
With two locations, one in Marina and the other a few minutes from La Rambla, L’Ovella Negra is a favorite among students, locals, and backpackers on a budget. The clientele is perfect as well if you are travelling on your own as it is a very social bar and can bump into many fellow travellers and swap stories! Here you can grab a caña for as little as €1.20 or a jarra for just a little bit more, with a bowl of popcorn included. This bar is like a mix between a German beer hall and a medieval bar for Vikings, with stone walls, long wooden tables, and dim lighting. Depending on the day you visit, you can hear music or catch a Barça game on TV and cheer on the team. After a round of drinks, you can challenge your friends to a game of foosball or darts with the loser buying the next round!
L’Antic Teatre
Carrer de Verdaguer I Callis, 12, Barcelona, Spain
Walk too quickly and you just might miss this hidden gem near Palau de la Música. On the outside, this place doesn’t look like much but once you walk down the steps and go to the patio you will find a charming little garden, the perfect spot to have a drink and relax. With beers for 2 euros this is a effect little getaway and a beautiful spot to impress a loved one with your knowledge of the city! L’Antic Teatre is a recycled space where there are different types of performances such as dance, juggling, or film. With small tables, strings of lights, and big shady trees, you will feel like you are miles away from the city while actually in the heart of Barcelona.
Marsella Bar
Carrer Sant Pau, 65, Barcelona, Spain
Of course the cheapest way to get drunk is to drink the strongest alcohol! Absinthe is still illegal in many countries in Europe, thankfully this is not the case in Spain!
Opened in 1820 (which from the look of the decor was the last time it was renovated!) Marsella Bar is believed to be Barcelona’s oldest bar. Located in the heart of El Raval, Barcelona’s most culturally diverse neighbourhood, it has been frequented by artists and writers like Dali, Picasso and Hemingway and continues to attract Barcelona’s more bohemian revellers. Its Modernist decor is kept intact, giving the venue an old-school glamour that has been enchanting Barcelona’s late night revellers for generations.
Espit Chupitos
Passeig de Colom, 8, Barcelona, Spain
Carrer de Aribau, 77, Barcelona, Spain
This is a fantastic place for a few cheap shots to kick-start your evening. With over 200 shots (chupitos) costing a mere 2.50 euros this is the mother of all cheap bars in Barcelona. The fun doesn’t end there though, each shot comes with its own “gimmick”, often including fire and flames on the bar. A favourite is the marshmallow shot where the give you a marshmallow on a stick, then place a shot with two different types of liquor in front of you. They pour alcohol on the bar and set the bar on fire. Quickly toast your marshmallow, dunk it in the shot, eat the marshmallow then down the shot! If you have a friend with you and are feeling particularly mischievous order them the Mona Lewinski. I’m not going to describe what happens you just have to see it to believe it! The original bar is on Passeig de Colom. There is also another by the nightclub Otto Zutz so grab a couple of top up shots before heading to one of the most banging clubs in the city to dance the night away!
Bar Manchester
Carrer de Milans, 5, Barcelona, Spain
This is a great little bar frequented by both travellers, expats and locals. It is dimly-lit and equally as cosy. You can expect to hear tunes from the most famous Manchester bands including Joy Division and The Smiths – hence the name Bar Manchester! If you’re looking for a cheap bar in Barcelona that serves tasty drinks and plays good music, Bar Manchester is your go-to place! Happy hour runs from 7-10pm when you can enjoy 1.50 Euro beers and offers on cocktails.
If your budget really is incredibly stretched and you need even cheaper beer in the city you are in luck as Pakistani men line the streets all night long offering cans of Estrella beer for just 1 Euro per can!