Barcelona Design Tour

Phenomena Experience (168 Sant Antoni Maria Claret; +34-932-527-743) draws cinephiles to one of the biggest screens in Spain, with multi-dimensional sound that makes everything larger than life. Offerings run the gamut, from classics to the latest blockbusters. Popular, too, are VO (version original) cinemas, which show mostly indie films, and in the language in which they were originally produced. One of the most popular is Filmoteca de Catalunya (1-9 Plaça de Salvador; +34-935-671-070), which is run by the city's Ministry of Culture.

Ideal for long strolls amid the greenery, Parc de la Ciutadella (21 Passeig de Picasso; +34-638-237-1150) has a regal air about it. Maybe it's because the Parliament of Catalonia is located here, but it is far from stuffy. The large park is also home to Barcelona's zoo and the Museum of Natural Science. For a lighter experience, head to Tibidabo (3-4 Plaça Tibidabo; +34-932-117-942), the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola, where the draw is a more than 100-year-old amusement park. If you haven't had your fill of Antonio Gaudí, visit Park Guëll (5 Carrer d'Olot; +34-902-200-302). The architect was hired by an industrialist, Eusebio Guëll, to build a miniature city on grounds he owned on a hillside. Gaudi used mosaic tiles in just about every space imaginable.

One of Bénédicte Bodard's favorite places is Drap-Art (1 Calle Groc; +34-932-684-889), which promotes works created from discarded materials, and hosts festivals of recycled art gathered from around the world. Another example of re-use is a former textile factory that has been transformed into a museum. While the exterior of CaixaForum Barcelona, (6-8 Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia; +34 934-768-600). is reminiscent of a medieval castle, what's inside is anything but ancient. With one of the most robust contemporary art collections in Barcelona, CaixaForum has more than 1,000 works by almost 400 artists representing 37 countries.

Today, Bénédicte Bodard's lives in Sants, in an apartment building that was a former soap factory, and shares the building with her atelier, Mesa Bonita. The working-class neighborhood has the feel of Barcelona 100 years ago. Small, family-owned shops line Carrer de Sants, while Las Arenas (373-385 Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes; +34-932-890-244), a bullring turned into a shopping center, is nearby. Head to the fifth floor, where a circular terrace offers 360° views of the entire city.
Graciá is where the hipsters hang out, and one of the trendiest neighborhoods in town. Carrer de Verdi, the neighborhood's main street, is a cool exploration of artsy shops and vintage stores, plus cozy cafés. Bordering Graciá is Sarriá-Sant Gervais, one of the most expensive residential neighborhoods in the city. You'll find lots of locals milling about in this non-touristy area, and many visitors find the area maintains a small-village ambiance, with its abundance of green parks, and narrow, quiet streets.

To eat in Barcelona is not only to experience authentic Catalan cooking, but to take in the flavor of the city. For Bénédicte Bodard, the smaller, neighborhood eateries are the way to go. Café de L'Academia (1 Carrer de Lledo; +34-933-198-253) set in a tiny square in Plaça de Sant Just, is meant for a leisurely lunch on the terrace, perfect for lounging and people watching on sunny days. Close to the Sants Market, La Bodegueta de Cal Pep (12 Carrer de Canalejas; +34-933-393-037) is an amazing journey into Catalan culture and cooking through and through. The family-run restaurant has a regular clientele who come for a seasonal menu that changes daily, made up mostly of seafood. Inside La Boqueria market, wait your turn for a place at the 14-seat tapas stand, Bar Pinotxo (Mercat del la Boqueria, 89 Carrer la Rambla; +34-933-171-731). There's even a book about the place, God is in the Garbanzos, which tells classic stories about the famous tapas bar, and doles out 31 recipes for cooking enthusiasts to try at home.