Barcelona Restaurant Week

Get ready foodies, because it is the Restaurant Week in Barcelona. You don’t know what that is? Well, no worries! We can tell you all about it!

During this week, a total of 32 restaurants considered to be haute cuisine are offering the menu for as little as 25€. That means that if you happen to be in the city between the 28^th March and the 6^th April, you can try our best restaurants (which normally would cost between 40 and 80€) and not end up in the bankruptcy. Cool, right? 

The restaurants where you can find these gastronomic bargain are: Windsor, Osmosis, Restaurante Galaxó, Antigua, El Cangrejo Loco, 1898, Loidi, Visual, Silvestre, Casa Darío, Fonda España, Ávalon Restaurant by Ramon Freixa, Forestier, Daps, La Terraza del Claris, 3, Le Quattro Stagioni, La Balsa, Indochine (Muntaner), Marítim Restaurant, Dos Torres, Balmes 103, El Rebedor del Racó d’en Cesc, Citrus, Suquet de l’Almirall, La Jacaranda del Dos Torres, El Jardí de l’Abadessa, Chez Cocó, Milo Grill, Café 1907, El Mall and Ura Restaurant & Lounge.

But that’s not all, because 1€ of these 25€ that you pay, will be destined to the foundation Menudos Corazones, an association that helps kids and teenagers with heart diseases. Could that get any better?

Click the link, check the menus of each restaurant and make a reservation!

And if you were not supposed to be in Barcelona these days but can’t resist joining the promotion, come and stay with us! Here you can find our website, choose one f our hostels and book a bed, we look forward to have you over!

Spring plans in Barcelona

The spring has just started and we want you to enjoy every second of it. That’s why we have decided to write down our favorite plans for Barcelona during these days when the sun shines and it feels good to stay outside. And, what’s more, all for free or at a really low cost!!

Picnic in La Ciutadella. Any food tastes better than when you have made it yourself and you are enjoying it sitting on the grass with great company. That’s why we love going to picnic in La Ciutadella Park, where there are loads of spots you can sit and relax. It is the perfect place to rest from all the sightseeing; an oasis you won’t believe it’s in the middle on a big city like Barcelona.

    Walking on the beach. It is the perfect time for a beach walk: it’s not boiling but you won’t be cold. Feeling the grains of sand under your toes and seeping through your fingers, a part of being pleasant and it is good for your back and feet. What more could one wish for? Do yourself a favor, stop, sit and lie on the sand and stare at the vastness of the sea.

Bike ride at the sea promenade. If you have some time off and you’d like to do a bit of exercise while having fun, going for a bike ride along the sea promenade is the best plan. We suggest starting right from the bike-rental store and going all the way down to the sea; from there you can cycle through the promenade. There is a cheap bike-rental store called rent-a-bike, where you can rent one for as little as 9€ per day. But if you are more laidback, the best option is an electric bike, so you can enjoy without all the hard work!

Have a drink at a terrace. Here in Spain we also eat between breakfast and lunch; it’s called vermut and taste like holidays and happiness. Spanish people usually have it on the weekends, but as you are in Barcelona for vacations, treat yourself to the vermut!

   The recipe is easy: first of all, find a lovely terrace. In Gracia's neighborhood there are plenty of them; but if you are close to the city center, the Bliss is the best option. Last but not least; sit, relax and order something.

   Admire Barcelona from a very special view point. There is a hidden View in Barcelona, frequented by the locals, where you can sit and enjoy the amazing view. Actually, Barcelona of full of places where you can get a great view of the city, but that one is special for the history of it. If you are in Els Búnkers (The name of the viewpoint), you will be standing on the bunkers made in 1937, during the Spanish civil war.  There are many hills in the city, ask us for directions!

  

Picture made on Els Búnkers by Dwayne Miras

History THE HOSTEL BOX

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Javier had heard this saying and he took it seriously: after he parted ways from his job and a long-time relationship ended, he decided to make some lemonade. He had some money and had enough time to start working on his dream, and so he did.  

He had in mind a new idea of a hostel, which he would make out of a three ingredients recipe: the Japanese idea of capsule beds and the international willing of cheap travelling were the basis. After it, he added the most important ingredient: high comfort and privacy. So, the recipe was ready but needed more money to make it real and that was no small feat.

“It’s not easy at all. When you explain it to someone, it sounds fun and effortless but it’s not. Behind raising a business like this one, there are doubts, complications, frustrations… You must want it real bad.”

The project won the CETT University School of Tourism prize and Javier considers that was crucial. It gave him the push he needed to realize the project was worth it and that others liked it too.

After a long way through every bank, he decided to look for a partner to share this adventure with.

He finally ran into Carlos, a friend of his who also felt it was time for a change. Since then, they have been working together, side by side.

When 15^th August 2012 they opened the first hostel, The Hostel Box – Port, they could believe the moment had arrived: they finally had their own business.

“Everything was new and exciting. We were doing every single step for the first time: hiring someone, buying the furniture, getting the webpage ready...”

But they were not alone; family, friends and friends of friends helped them at their best. The architect, the lawyer…, they were all friends, ready to give a hand.

Less than a year after the opening at The Hostel Box – Port, they opened The Hostel Box – Gaudí and now, a year after this second opening, they are about to open The Hostel Box – Diagonal. Each one a bit different but all following the same essence: creating a room in a room and thinking about the common area as a meeting point. And, the most important, it is affordable (so everybody can travel and discover Barcelona).

“We see every day people from all over the world having dinner together; they share their stories and explain to the others their culture. Sometimes there is a person of each continent seating at the same table, and they all laugh about the same things!”