BLOG: Lynn Gilmartin Shares Her Favorite Spots in Barcelona

By Lynn Gilmartin The World Poker Tour is heading to Barcelona next month for what will be the largest poker festival Europe has ever seen. Powered by partypokerLIVE, Casino Barcelona will host WPT500, WPTDeepStacks and World Poker Tour events with a combined guarantee of over €5,000,000. Yep. FIVE MILLION! Wowsers. Barcelona is one of the…

Matt Clark
Feb 11, 2019

By Lynn Gilmartin

The World Poker Tour is heading to Barcelona next month for what will be the largest poker festival Europe has ever seen. Powered by partypokerLIVE, Casino Barcelona will host WPT500, WPTDeepStacks and World Poker Tour events with a combined guarantee of over €5,000,000. Yep. FIVE MILLION! Wowsers.

Barcelona is one of the most eclectic cities I’ve ever been to. I absolutely love it. If you’re joining us in March, then here are some spots you must see, with snaps I took during my last visit.

Casino Barcelona’s location is perfection, right on top of Port Olimpic, and backed by a long strip of bars and restaurants along the beach, Platja de la Barceloneta. I remember busting out of a tournament early in the day, walking out of the casino, and spontaneously stopping at a bar for a drink on the beach. It was a beautiful way to decompress, let go of whatever frustration I had from the tables and reconnect with how lucky I was to be sitting right there. On the beach. In Spain. #lifesgood

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One of the many bars along Platja de la Barceloneta 

Every corner you turn reminds you that Barcelona is a hub of creativity, but nothing more unique than the Gaudi masterpieces sprinkled across the city like Park Güell, Casa Batlló or Sagrada Familia, the unmissable church that bursts through the skyline. When you get up close to his work, it looks as though the buildings have been rendered in wax because there is not one single sharp edge to it. It’s pretty extraordinary.

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Casa Batlló — Gaudi

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Architecture on Passeig de Gràcia

You must hit the most famous street in Barcelona, La Rambla. Tucked behind it is Mercat de La Boqueria, a ginormous market with loads of fresh produce stands. The vibrant colors of all the fruits will surely lure you in. Plus it’s a great spot to grab a bite to eat on the go. I remember sitting at a corner sharing sangria and tapas with friends amidst the chaos of the market. It was Spanish bliss. Or for a lunch to remember, Plaça Reial (or Plaza Real) is the most beautifully Spanish square you could possibly sit in for lunch, located just off La Rambla.

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One of the many juice bars at Mercat de La Boqueria

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Plaça Reial  

Also close to Casino Barcelona is a small region called El Born, an extension of the Gothic Quarter. This is a little gem that you must check out if you love quaint, cobblestone streets, boutique shopping and cozy bars to spend the night in.

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The quaint streets of El Born

Lastly, the World Poker Tour festival also happens to align with some matches at the famous Barcelona FC Camp Nou (https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/tickets/football). I went to a match between Barcelona FC vs Malaga CF a few years back and the energy was sensational. I took this picture from our pretty sweet seats — it was a full house of 100,000 football fans roaring and singing all night long. I loved it!

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Barcelona FC vs Malaga CF @ Camp Nou – 2015

WPT Barcelona Festival

Online on partypoker: 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 10th March 2019

Live at Casino Barcelona: 8-17 March 2019

WPT500 Barcelona – €1,000,000 Guaranteed

Buy-in: €500+€50

Dates: March 8-12, 2018

Play online Day 1s on partypoker: March 3/4/5

WPT Barcelona Main Event – €3,000,000 Guaranteed

Buy-in: €3,000+€300

Dates: March 11-17, 2019

Play online Day 1 on partypoker: Sunday, March 10, 2019

WPTDeepStacks Barcelona – €1,000,000 Guaranteed

Buy-in: €1,350+€150

Dates: March 14-17, 2019

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View from Hotel Arts


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