Babe.... Barcelona from me Moms... cuz she's been there... 
Best Place to Relax: The beach near the Villa Olimpica
The Olympic Village is not to be confused with the Olympic Stadium area (which is also worth a visit). The village is the hotel district, which was built to accommodate all the tourists who came to watch the 1992 Olympic games. Visiting the beautiful beach located near this area is a pleasant way to escape from the bustling city.
Best Sangria: La Oveja Negra
This place is great. Not only does it serve the best sangria in the world, but the atmosphere is one of a kind. Known as a "rustic tavern," it is certainly no ordinary pub. There is no actual bar inside, but rather long tables, the tops of which are thick slabs of wood, giving the place an almost medieval essence. They only serve beer or sangria, and you have to buy it by the pitcher, but you can't beat their prices! While La Oveja is well known among the natives, it seems to be a gathering place for British tourists especially in the late summer. It is perpetually filled by a large but amiable crowd, and it's easy to make lots of new friends just standing in line (or queue as the case may be)! If you want to have a table to sit at though, I recommend getting there at about 10:00 p.m.
To get there, take the Metro to Placa Catalunya. From there, begin walking down the Ramblas, turning right on the first street you come to. From there turn left on the first street you find. That should be Calle Sitges. La Oveja Negra will be off to your right. Enjoy!
Best Ice Cream
Right off La Rambla on a little side street called Santa Ana is the best ice cream shop in the whole world! With flavors like coconut, mango, black berry, pistachio, leche marengada, and many more, this place is the best ice cream shop in the whole city. To be honest, however, I didn't pay attention to the name of the place. To get there, just look for La Calle Santa Ana off La Rambla, and look for a 3 foot wooden ice cream cone outside the door. Trust me; it's worth the trip!
Best Restaurant
4Gats is by far the best place to get a taste of real Catalan food and real Catalan culture. This is the very place where Picasso, Russinol, and other modernist artists used to hang out. Picasso himself drew the design on the menu, and several dozen of his original paintings adorn the walls. The food is excellent and very authentic to the region, and sometimes, you might even be able to catch a live musical act while you eat.
Best Night Life
The Maremagnum is by far the most popular spot for a night on the town. This complex is relatively new; it was established in 1997, and it has something for everyone. A one-building complex, it contains shops (over-priced, but fun to window shop), ice cream parlors (quite good), and a huge variety of restaurants, discotheques, and bars. One thing that really annoyed me in Spain was that everyone seems to smoke, which can make an otherwise fun night very uncomfortable. One thing I really liked about Maremagnum was the open area on the roof. You can relax and enjoy a drink, grab a bite to eat, dance, or even play mini golf up there. The bright neon lights at night create a beautiful atmosphere, and the open air makes for much easier breathing.
Most Beautiful Church: The Cathedral
The Cathedral of Barcelona is a must see attraction. It is a beautiful place to attend mass, and also a magnificent example of Gothic architecture. Be sure to also check out Santa Maria del Mar (another Gothic church) and some of the others such as San Just I Pastor. While the Gothic cathedral is the most famous, the others are also quite beautiful and worth a trip.
Best Park: Parc Guell
Parc Guell is one of the most impressive parks you'll ever visit, and it is a "must see" attraction for anyone visiting the city of Barcelona. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get there. Anyway you go you're in for a long, tiring hike. When Gaudi built this place, he decided to work with the natural terrain rather than try to modify it. The result is a very impressive park in the side of an exhaustingly steep hill. Take note of the clever irrigation system Gaudi created. The water comes down through the pillars of the pavilion (underneath the place with the contoured benches), and the water comes out at the lizard fountain . . . and while I'm all for going off the beaten path, every visitor to Barcelona just has to have their picture taken next to the lizard fountain!
Best Art/ Entertainment: Las Ramblas
For people watching and artwork, nothing beats La Rambla, the most infamous street in Barcelona. It stretches from Placa Catalunya all the way to the Mediterranean port. There you can see vendors selling canaries, people posing as statues (if you throw a coin, they'll move around), people playing music of all types, and toward the end near the port, artists selling their wares. Many will even do personalized artwork for you while you wait!
Best Architecture: The Guell Tour
If you enjoy modernist architecture, you'll love this city. Antoni Gaudi is perhaps the most famous of all Barcelona's modernist architects, and his last work, El Templo de la Sagrada Familia is a must see attraction. He worked on it for 42 years before his death about 70 years ago, and construction continues today. Gaudi's other works are also worth a visit, but I especially recommend taking a tour of the Guell Palace. Given the confined conditions he had to work with, his use of space is truly amazing! To get to Sagrada Familia, just take the #5 (purple) Metro line to the station with that name. To get to the Guell Palace, go down La Rambla and Turn right on La Rambla Nou. You'll recognize the Palace by its two giant parabolic arcs at the entrance.
Have a great time!
ps: FC Barcelona.. Football Club Barcelona : this is a must GO!!!
HRC Barcelona.. buy me the shot glass from HRC aight!
Italy coming up!
