If you are in town this week and have a slight interest in sailing vessels, I suggest you to visit The 3rd PUIG BARCELONA VELA CLÀSSICA Regatta for Vintage and Classic boats. 

The Real Club Náutico de Barcelona will be hosting the third Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona Regatta from 14th to 17th July 2010. A large number of top-level boats and crews from the international circuit of classic sailing regattas will be taking part in this international competition lending the event great prestige. Wooden boats from the vintage division built before 1950 will be taking part, along with boats from the classic division built between 1950 and 1975. The Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona Regatta is part of the official competition calendar of the International Committee of the Mediterranean. The Real Club Náutico de Barcelona and Puig have joined forces so that this new regatta will become further established as a key sailing event in Barcelona.

More info on the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona's website.

Every week I get the same question. What is the best tapas restaurant in town? I can't limit to only one favorite, because even though they all serve tapas, the variety in the menu and style is so different that it makes it hard to choose only one. This is one of the best ones: Tapac24, one of the famous Catalan chef Carlos Abellan's successful restaurants. What I love with this one is the great quality of the produce, their creative new way of preparing the traditional tapas, and the warm and noisy atmosphere you get welcomed with when you step inside. This is a perfect lunch stop when walking on shopping street Passeig de Gracia and well worth a try. More info and location here. 

To Tapac24's website here.

More of my tapas-favorites coming soon..

One of my favorite places to escape to when in need of relaxation or just some fresh air from the city life, is the Miramar bar in the La Florida Hotel. The view is simply breathtaking and somehow, to be able to see the city from such a distance, helps you to open up your mind for new thoughts. Read more about Miramar here.

One amazing newcomer on left side of Eixample is the adorable Cup&Cakes. Finally these American sweethearts has arrived into a delicate shop, right where we need it. To check out more favorites on the very same street, read on here. To come to Cup&Cakes website, click here.

Last week I visited the Australian architect Kim and her famous home-networking-dinners. For two years she's been inviting International people to her home or other locations for a networking night in style. Her spectacular loft makes place for this mingle event that appears once every month and the crowd is mixed strangers from all over the world with old friends of hers. The concept reminds me of Jim Hayne's dinner in Paris. Jim also brings together a bunch of strangers for a well made French dinner, but at Kim's place the atmosphere is more of a sophisticated mingle style. Her home made buffet is impressive with salads, main course and desserts. You can easily tell that she brings her heart into the night and it seems like everyone is having a fantastic time. Actually this is a perfect way of making new contacts and enjoy a night in International people's company, yet very unpretentious.

The dinner takes place one Saturday every month in the cultural area of Raval and attracts a fun mix between a few who visits Barcelona for the first time and residents alike. The Spanish people loves it, Kim says when I ask her about the clientele. What makes someone want to bring home 60-80 strangers in ones private home, I ask myself. I'm proud of my home and what I've created, Kim tells me, I want to share the beauty with others and meet new people. That makes sense. And obviously this is the perfect location for it, with the rooftop terrace and the beautifully decorated loft style apartment of hers. To attend next event and for more information, read on here.

I visited the elegant Peony Herrera Sy, at her saloon The Pink Peony last week. The Pink Peony has quickly established as one of the most exclusive and credible nail saloons in town with the perfect mix of a NYC-style manicure-pedicure salon perfectly put together with the standards of Asian hospitality and European elegance. The saloon offers traditional manicure-pedicure, facials, eyelash extensions, massage and hair removals (the most painless Brazilian in town!) and you're free to either pre-book your appointment or drop in when time suits you.
Peony has been in Barcelona for the last 11 years so I took the change to ask her if she could share with us what is her favorite places in town: "Honestly I don't go out much. Like in other cities I visit, I just like to get to be one with the city. To see how the real people spend their time. I like sitting at Mauri or Farga for example, two Spanish institutions where the Spanish and Catalans go for their coffee."   "Something  I also love is to ride the bike around the city. To get a view of how to city is connected." "My favorite restaurants? I would say Shojiro, which is a fusion/japanese/catalan place with wonderful food. And Cal Boter on Calle Tordera. Both located in Gracia."

The Barcelona Guide is not only a City Guide where to find information of what to do and what to see in Barcelona. We do also cooperate with the most successful and credible event and concierge companies in town to be able to deliver perfect solutions for the ones who are visiting Barcelona and are in need of planning their vacation in style. As the summer season just started, we have prepared with a list of exclusive yachts for rental and are offering not only the boats but also the best of hospitality, well oriented skippers, hosts and whatever you might be in need of. Do you want to enjoy the city with a beautiful view from the sea and be free to go wherever you'd like among the Mediterranean neighbors? Maybe you'd like to find those hidden places which are only accessible from the sea. What about a stylish lunch in Sitges, maybe a trip over to Ibiza and back in Barcelona the next day.

We believe in excellent hospitality and do not let any bookings pass by without having everything set for perfection. Small details such as fruit and refreshments always complementary for all yachts are some of those small things that makes your wonderful journey even better. Both motor and sailing yachts available. We look forward to meet your requirements for a wonderful vacation. Email us for more info: info(at)thebcnguide.com.

Every time I stroll around in the upper parts of Eixample, I tend to end up here. The memory of that delicious solomillo on a crispy bread along with a glass of excellent wine always tempts me to get back so I guess they did something good here. The friendly staff and the relaxed ambiance makes this place, with of course the beautiful selection of well made tapas and wine, to a winner. More info of La Bodegueta Provenca here.