Lilipep
Things don't get much quieter than at this artsy German/Catalan cafe, where whispering couples come for hot chocolate and coffee and studious laptoppers nurse pots of exotic Asian teas. A large stack of books adds to the library ambience, but no one will tell you off for tucking into chocolate cake and German Frühstücke.  

Address: 8 Carrer del Pou de la Cadena | Telephone: 93 310 6697 |

Tournesol
A curious find, full of alcoves and furnished with retro junk, this charismatic bar is much loved by locals. Pull up a wicker chair to check your emails or play board games in the afternoon, and you're likely to end up getting slowly sozzled on house cocktails until late.  

Address: 11 Carrer Vic |

Café Vienés Jazz Club
On Thursday nights from 9.30-11.30pm, the five-star Hotel Fuster's gorgeous Modernista café hosts a live jazz concert, which you can accompany with drinks or dinner.

Address: 132 Passeig de Gràcia | Telephone: 932 553 006 |

Antic Teatre
This exciting cultural space serves up a potpouri of performances on an almost nightly basis - and live music is just one string in their bow. You're just as likely to see comic and physical theatre, video screenings or even the odd "queer poetic cabaret" (drop by on 11th December for the latter).

Address: 12 Carrer Verdaguer i Callis | Telephone: 93 315 2354 |

Maumau Underground
This basement bar in Poble Sec gets lively around midnight and is a great place to end or start the night (depending whether you're on normal or Spanish time). Hipsters lounge around on white sofas sipping gin and tonics, while rare grooves drift from the speakers. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights only.

Address: 35 Carrer de Fontrodona | Telephone: 93 441 8015 |

Moog
A tiny space, tucked away just off Las Ramblas, Moog is arguably the best techno club in the Old Town and a favourite with fun-loving backpackers. Guest DJs from Berlin often play on Wednesdays.

Address: 3 Arc del Teatre | Telephone: 93 301 7282 |