What to drink in Barcelona (including the healthy options)

A little bit of cultural data is never wrong...

Coffee

First warning: the Spanish believe that, in coffee, they are only second to the Italians. So, prepare for very strong coffee and a general disliking of Starbucks. Every bar or restaurant in Barcelona, however humble, will have an expresso machine and will serve you excellent coffee. Some slang:

• Cafe solo (or just solo): very strong expresso, served in a very little cup.
• Cafe americano: the same that above, but with more water, generally looked down by the locals.
• Cortado: literally, "cut coffee", alike to a macchiato with more milk. Served in a slightly bigger cup or a very small glass.
• Con leche: like to a cafe latte, served in a bigger cup, but always smaller than the Starbucks or Costa Coffee equivalents. Warning: while any kind of coffee will be served all day long, "con leche" is considered a breakfast coffee, it's unlikely to be drunk after midday, and asking for one after dinner is the mark of the "guiri" (the Northern European tourist).
• Cafe con hielo (pronounced "yellow"): perhaps it will be a little early for it, it's a typical summer coffee. If you ask for it, they will serve you a "solo" and a glass with icecubes. The idea it that you put sugar in the coffee, and pour it over the icecubs, drink quick before the ice melts...
• Descafeinado: decaf, do not be ashamed to ask. Spanish coffee is strong, and after 6pm decaf is recommended to people who tend to sleep light. You can be greeted with the question "de maquina o de sobre", so either machine decaf (recommended) or nescafe (yuk!)
• Carajillo: this one was typical of old gentlemen, but I am told it is making a comeback. It is just a solo with a shot of strong liquor, brandy or rhum being the favourites.
  

Local soft drinks

The universal coke (ask for coca cola), schweppes, soda, etc are available everywhere. But there are some local specialities, some of them not always liked by the foreigners:

• Cacaolat: cocoa drink, served hot in winter and cold in summer. Do not mistake it for the chocolate a la taza or deshecho, a hot chocolate cream/drink that is a dessert in its own right (It's like the chocolate sauce you add to ice cream)
  
• Granizado: local version of granita or slush puppy, but without the childish implications. If you see in a bar, on the counter, a machine that moves ice and a yellowish drink, you can ask for a granizado de limon (other flavours are orange, or even coffee). Quintessential summer favourite, it's perfect in a very hot day.
  
• Orchata: very sweet vegetal milk that foreign people tend not to appreciate, but you can have a try...

Beers

Spanish beers are very good, typically a little bit stronger than British ones, and always served chilled. In fact, the idea of a warm beer is a joke here. Una canya is a half pint, and the popular local brands are Damm, Estrella, Mahou... Coronita or Sol, Mexican beers, are also very popular, but regarded as "for girls". In general the choice of beers will be quite limited, except in some bars.

A clara, will be the local equivalent of a shandy. It's very popular in summer to have one in a terrace, with some olives and crisps.

Wines

Spain is a land of wines, and if you will check in your luggage, it's the perfect souvenir. In restaurants, the price of wine will not be as inflated as in British ones, so enjoy! Wine bars where you can taste them by the cup are increasingly popular. We encourage you to search beyond the usual Riojas (however good). Some very big and good DO (Denominacion de origen) are Ribera del Duero, Penedes, Somontano or Priorat. Some very small DO are emerging, with great success: Montsant, Costers del Segre, Jumilla, Toro, Albarinho, Emporda, Campo de Borja, etc, etc. Lately the dessert wines are making a comeback and good reataurants will have a selection by the glass in their cartas.

Liquors

As with wines, liquor prices are very good because of lower taxes. This is reflected in the cocktails. If you ask for a gin tonic, the waiter will pour down the gin until you say "stop", or nearly. So be careful.

Local liquors are anis (local version of ouzo or Marie Brizard, but stronger) or orujo (firewater).

Happy drinking!

PS: We will have "free bar" at the wedding reception.