Barcelona...( without kids) what not to miss?

[unicorn]

Very excited... am going next week for my 40th (eek) with an old school pal.
Have never been before.
So... we have 3 days... what MUST we do/see (apart from relaxing in the Spanish sunshine!)
Any recommended restaurants/bars etc etc
(and anything NOT worth doing that all the books suggest?)

Anybody been??

unicorn - there are quite a few threads on Barcelona. Just do a search for threads with Barcelona in the title.

casa batlo (can't go in normally but view from outside)
walk up the ramblas
train to Sitges - great for beach, beauty, lovely cafes, seafood
Quatro Gats for lunch
Picasso museum
seafood restaurants
wonderful catalan food -my knowledge is out of date for restaurants, but usually rough guide/time out guides good..
cathedral
seeing dancing - sardanas ?? i think in the main square

Eat at Hostal de Rita (good with kids too), very cheap (but is quite smart looking) and very popular, lots of regional dishes.

Go to Parc Guell, I'm less impressed by Gaudi's house (and is a pain as you queue to get tickets to go back later!)

Sagrada Familia

Drink cava

There's a v. good restaurant right on the beach at the far end of the prom (the end by the marina and the posh hotel). Can't remember it's name - it's a trendy place, good vfm and fab food. We went for a late lunch and stayed for the afternoon.

The cable car from the beach to the left hand side of the city is a must-do - fabulous views. We went at the last push-up and got it to ourselves.

The food market off the Ramblas is definitely worth a look if you're a foodie - a dedicated mushroom stall for example, plus a superb fish bar for a stand up lunch.

I was disappointed in the Sagrada Familia tbh - it looks kinda unfinished and quite small. Of course you've got to see it but don't expect a 7th wonder of the world as I did!

HTH - enjoy!

Stroll down the Ramblas to the port. Sit and have lunch in one of the harbour restaurants and watch the world go by. Go to the Sagrada Familia and look at the other Gaudi houses. Stroll round the old quarter (Barri Gotic). Take the cable car up to the hilltop park bit. Great food market at the top of the Ramblas. Buy leather goods - we found great shop towards to of Via Laietana. Go to the beach.
We had a couple of great dinners at Cafe de l'Acedemia (buzzy), Taxidermista (bog brasserie type place in fab square) and Pla (more experimental but great food and place) and a rather disappointing one at Can Culleretes (depsite its being recommended in the Time Out guide).
Have a great time - it's a brilliant city.