A plethora of world famous brands woven between it’s own unique offerings, Barcelona is fast emerging as a key destination for leisure travellers in Europe. Recent years have proven so popular that the local government has issued a restriction on the amount of hotel rooms available each night in the southern Spanish city, as people head to the cosmopolitan paradise for its exceptional weather and unique culture. 2016 saw amongst others Soho House group open their first venture in the city, whilst just shy of 32,000 visitors headed to Barcelona to sample its food, culture, sunshine and nightlife. With so many things going for it, its no wonder Barcelona is fast becoming Europe’s newest party hotspot.

Arriving in Barcelona El-Prat airport you’re only a short 20 minute car journey from the city centre, which is positioned in such a way that you’re never too far from the beach. As air fares to Marbella & Ibiza continue to rise, daily flights to Barcelona from London are as little as £30 each way. Whilst visitors to the city have grown in number of the previous few years, hotel prices remain reasonable.

Highly recommended are W Hotel, positioned at the top of Barcelonaeta beach, featuring the Eclipse bar on the 26th floor with panoramic views of both the beach and the city. The W hotel also has its famous wet deck, famous for summer pool parties beginning in May. At the other end of the beach stands the Arts Hotel, towering over the world-famous Pacha nightclub which sits alongside Opium, CDLC and Shoko, each venue operating as a lounge/restaurant during the day and seamlessly transitioning into a restaurant at night. These clubs attract a diverse but predominantly tourist crowd, with each open up to 7 nights per week. Dinner is eaten slightly later and the club sections don’t open until midnight, but stay open until gone 5am. All are large, big room clubs, meaning if one isn’t busy its convenient to visit another of its neighbours. Shoko on Mondays and CDLC on a Tuesday are favourites at the beginning of the week. Table minimum spends are from as low as 250 Euros and entry is complimentary before 2am, although its very easy to get carried away.

Heading away from the beach and into the city centre, Gatsby offers a unique, cabaret dinner and party which is a must-go. An exquisite, open plan restaurant feels like you’ve walked straight onto a film set in 1920’s New York, as dancers and singers perform on the main stage. As the plates from dinner are cleared, the party steps up a notch and all inhibitions are lost, going through until 3am. The cities most revered club, however, has to be Sutton club. Located on Carrera de Tuset, Sutton club is the pinnacle of Barcelona’s growing luxury nightlife scene, and whilst table spends are slightly higher, its most certainly worth it. The crowd here is slightly more European and the dress code a little stricter. Guests are advised to arrive closer to midnight, but expect to stay through till 6am!

The city comes alive at nighttime and as such the day starts a little later, although there is plenty to do. Transport is easy and Uber has grown hugely after being mass adopted by locals and tourists alike. The famous Las Ramblas road into central Barcelona is a heavy tourist area, with many small cafes & restaurants to be discovered off its main road. Designer shops and jewellers adorn the side streets into the city centre, with plenty of intricate bars to uncover throughout the daytime. The unique characteristics of the cities architecture make it unlike any other city, whilst the close proximity of the beach to the city allow visitors to experience a city break and a beach escape all in one. Its affordable pricing, variety of hotels, bars, clubs and restaurants, and diversity of its populace, are sure to make Barcelona the go-to leisure destination in 2017 and beyond.