Secrets of Barcelona // Speed-dating the city

Speed-dating the city: 

the 5 essential things to do when spending just a weekend in Barcelona 

1. Atmosphere: Plaça de Sant Felip Neri 

Take a stroll through the city’s historical centre and try to find Plaça de Sant Felip Neri. This square, a bit hidden amid the meandering streets of the Gotico district, is named after the church that dominates it. The church walls show the scars of a nearby bomb explosion from 1938. It killed 40 people, mostly children that had been hiding in the church cellars. Moreover, the entire square used to be a cemetery, back in the Middle Ages. There's a lot of death here, and yet it's a haven of peace in a tourist-heavy zone. (You can see the square in this music video.)

2. Culture: Palau Güell 

Leave El Gòtic, cross the Ramblas (tourist trap alert! don’t stay here!) and you’ll find yourself in the neighbourhood called Raval. Here you can visit an undervalued creation by Antoni Gaudí. This intercity palace, designed by Gaudí for the same industrial who commissioned the Parc Güell, looks surprisingly stark from the outside. Inside it's a movie set: the dark gray stone, the ribs-like columns and generous use of dark wood give it a decidedly gothic flavour. Unlike any other of Gaudí's creations, Palau Güell feels alien. [Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5, www.palauguell.cat] 

3a: For a quiet Saturday evening: Hoja Santa 

Mexican cuisine is not known for its subtlety. Hoja Santa is a reminder things can be different. The menu of this restaurant, a blend of classic and daring, was created by Mexican chef Paco Méndez and Catalan superstar Albert Adrià. The place is also specialized in mezcal, an upmarket version of tequila that will blow your mind with its variety and intensity. [Avinguda de Mistral 54, www.hojasanta.es] 

3b: For a party time Saturday night: Moog.  

A long narrow bar, ending in a square dance floor. Moog (originally: Moog Electronic Dancing Club) is the coolest place imaginable to dance yourself into a sweat. It boasts being the starting point of many DJs. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a DJ expert or not: this is a place to party hard. [Carrer de l’Arc del Teatre 3, www.masimas.com/moog] 

4. Best place for a Sunday morning brunch 

Brunch at Brunch & Cake is such a pleasure, on Saturday and Sunday mornings you'll see the people queuing in the street. Expect lots of protein: several variations on eggs Benedict, turkey bagels or a pulled chicken cronut. Too heavy? Try the "super food salads". Not enough? Venture a dessert: the cakes are tempting and come in large portions. [Carrer Enric Granados 19, www.cupcakesbarcelona.com/shops-brunchcake] 

5. Some art in the afternoon: MNAC 

The Catalan National Art Museum MNAC is the imposing building that tops the Montjuïc Fountains. It contains a rather stunning collection of Catalan art, from the medieval period to modern art and photography. The Romanesque Art, which in Catalonia is much more vivid than in other European countries, is a particularly beautiful treasure. MNAC is situated on Montjuïc hill – a great place for an afternoon stroll – and from the museum’s entrance, you’ve got a mesmerizing view of the city. The ideal place to plan your next visit, really. [Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, www.museunacional.cat]

This was a list you won't find in my guidebook to Barcelona's beauty. Find the book here.