urban oasis blog about barcelona, all the must sees, restaurants, shops, apartments and properties - Love Barcelona City By Carolina!

Tasty yet healthy!

24/4/2015

36. This is surprisingly lovely owen based restaurant with wonderful meat options for those keen on it and also vegetarian ones for those like me not meat friendly. Lovely baked aubergines no sauces no extra, just plain full of flavour vegetables. Great service in a friendly atmosphere. Reservations are recommended at BalmesRosello.

Location: Balmes, 129 bis (esquina Rosselló) Barcelona
Telf: 93 451 54 00
http://www.grupomaur.com/

Music to our ears and to you heart!

24/4/2015

20. The Gran Teatre del Liceu is the opera house located on La Rambla in Barcelona. The Liceu opened on 4 April 1847.

The auditorium is huge. Rebuilt after the 1994 fire it is a faithful rebuilding of the original auditorium with some improvements. With 2,292 seats it is one of the biggest opera houses in Europe. It is a typical Italian horseshoe-shaped theatre.

In the rebuilding some modern features were introduced. The eight circular paintings in the roof, and the three in the forestage, were all lost in the fire and have been re-created by contemporary artist Perejaume. The stage curtain is a work of the Catalan designer Antonio Miró.

A new foyer has been built under the main auditorium. It is a room where is the main bar and the restaurant are located and is used also to stage concerts, small format performances, lectures, cultural activities and meetings.

Wonderful operas like Carmen or La Traviata on this season and Otello or La Bohème coming up the 2015-16 season.

Location: Les Rambles, 51-59 - Barcelona
Telf: 934 85 99 00
http://www.liceubarcelona.cat/

The sun is shining every day in Barcelona!

24/4/2015

27. As with any property market, location is key. Given the price reductions since 2007 prime central locations in Barcelona represent excellent value and will be the first to see price rises when they happen. The traditional buyer nationalities from Northern Europe and the UK are still dominant but the major change in the last few years has been the significant increase in the number of non-European buyers, predominantly from South East Asia and the Middle East. New build properties are currently most sought after but due to the lack of construction in the last few years demand for the best properties is currently outstripping supply.

Prices have fallen by up to 40% in some areas of the city but, in the last 12 months, these prices have stabilized. Some recent figures suggest that, in some of the most desirable areas of the city such as Eixample and the beachfront, prices for the best properties are starting to creep up again. The key change in the Barcelona Residential market during 2015 will be the return of quality new build residential developments which have not been seen on the market for several years and where demand currently outstrips supply.

BARCELONA PRIME PROPERTY RENTAL MARKET Beachfront rental properties saw the greatest climb in average rentals in 2014, ending the third quarter on €22 per square meter, up from €20 per square meter in 2013. Ciutat Vella also increased by €1 to end the third quarter on an average of €19 per square meter. Zona Alta and Eixample both fell significantly; both districts averaged €16 per square meter at the end of Q3 2014, which may be affected by reductions in demand following the summer months. Calculations of gross rental yields for prime market properties were 4.32% in Ciutat Vella and 4.56% in Eixample.

TOURISM AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT The countries of origin of international buyers of Barcelona prime residential properties have been evolving over the past two years. While UK and Northern European buyers from Germany and France continue to purchase prime properties, interest from other key non European markets has fluctuated each quarter in 2014. The number of purchases by Russian clients has slowed, while the number of transactions with Middle East, Asian and US clients have increased again. The Middle East, China, Australia and Switzerland remain particularly strong new growth markets, with Middle East buyers accounting for 12.5% of all purchases in 2014.

[Article written by Pablo Ruiz - Urban Oasis Business Partner]

Catalan St. George´s Day: St. Jordi! (23rd April)

23/4/2015

17. St. Jordi is the annual Catalan Rose and Book festival, with similarities to Valentine's Day. Men give women roses, and women give men a book to celebrate the occasion. Roses have been associated with this day since medieval times, but the giving of books is a more recent tradition originating in 1923, when a bookseller started to promote the holiday as a way to commemorate the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel Cervantes and William Shakespeare on 23 April 1616.

In Barcelona's most visited street, La Rambla, and all over Catalonia, thousands of stands of roses and makeshift bookstalls are set up for the occasion. By the end of the day, some four million roses and 800,000 books will have been purchased.

Catalonia exported its tradition of the book and the rose to the rest of the world. In 1995, UNESCO adopted 23 April as World Book Day.

Charity Special Roses:
Roses may be purchased at 3€ where a portion will de donated to the Charirty "Ayuda en Acción" and dinner´s gift vouchers are being gifted for a value of 30€ each!
You may contact Miquel on 639 36 51 51 to buy yours.

Be your own Chef! A Healthy one though...!

23/4/2015

26. Today I discovered the most chic bakery in town. This sweet shop known as CHEFS is located in calle Aragon and is quiet eye catching for its colours and healthy looks. When you first see the shop you think it is a bakery but its more than that...! It has not only organic bread but also has cute paper bags with ready to cook recipes, all healthy and nutritious.
The shop also organises cooking classes and is proud to be known as the "healthy kitchen for busy people".
I personally bought some blue organic pasta which were tagliatelle amortized with seawead.

Location: Calle Aragón 310 - Barcelona
Telf: 935 313 696
www.chef-s.es

What are you plans for the weekend?

17/4/2015

28. Whatever your plans are this weekend, wether it is to hit the gym, cook that special recipe, meet friends, spend time with family or just chill out at home, don´t forget to google www.urbanoasis.es and see all the latest news and properties in Barcelona. Be the first one to know!
Happy weekend!

The Versailles Gardens of Barcelona... Park Güel!

17/4/2015

21. Oh how I love to walk through this unique park! The Park Güell is certainly one of Barcelona´s landmark. Designed by the same architect as the Sagrada Familia, Antonio Gaudi is the master of this special gardens where it even use to be his home. Once can visit his house where they still keep his personal objects, furniture and keepsakes. Interesting to visit a must to remember! I recommend purchasing tickets online. You can do so here.

Location: Carrer d'Olot, s/n - Barcelona
Telf: 902 200 302
http://www.parkguell.cat/

Cataluña´s Best kept secret... calçots!

17/4/2015

11. Have you every tried calçots? have you ever even heard of them? These tasty onions are not normally served within the city´s city center. They can normally be found in olf family houses known as Masia´s in the outskirts. i have luckily been in various but one of my favorites in Can Portell. They serve lovely calçots with a wonderful romesco sauce. This sauce is typical and is made with a base of tomato almonds, hazelnuts, bread and garlic , vinagre and olive oil. In these kinf of restaurants they also typically serve bread with garlic and alioli (typical form Cataluña which is mayonnaise with garlic). Mmmm must try!

Location:Carretera de Vallvidrera, km 6, Molins de Rei
Telf: 936 68 84 50
http://www.lamasiacanportell.com/

The only one missing is... YOU!

17/4/2015

29. Spring is finally here! Barcelona is witnessing the thousands of tourists invading its streets. Sunglasses, shorts, caps and cold drinks are becoming daily the only thing you see now. the economic recuperation is now a reality. The Spanish economic Ministry has recently released last years figures with more than 47 million euros invested in real estate last year and Barcelona is one of the main cities where this investment is happening. The vibrance, cosmopolitan feeling, the location and how easy it is to get here form any point of the world are just a few reasons why Barcelona is becoming the MUST place to visit and live in Europe. Visit the latest properties in Barcelona at www.urbanoasis.es

Fancy Japanese sushi? I got your place!

17/4/2015

12. Right on my favorite area (eixample) I have recently discovered a sweet- undergroupd japanes restaurant, with so far, the best sushi in town! Miu is located in calle Valencia and is simply distinguished by its turquoise blue awning. Once downstairs, you are quickly seated and the menu is really affordable with various types of sushi and makis. i should certainly mention the miso salad - absolutely superb. the sushi is really tasty and well prepared and served in cute blue stylish rectangular plates. Its more of a lunch option rather than a dinner one. Great for he week while you are working as a treat!

Location: Calle Valencia 249 - Barcelona
Telf: 93 193 23 00
http://www.grupandilana.com/es/restaurantes/miu

Barcelona´s Icon: La Sagrada Familia

17/4/2015

22. It has been probably more than 15 years since I last entered this magical place. I couldn´t remember being so beautiful, so bright, so colourful, so magical! Thansk to the visit of my Best Friend Adeline, we organised a day out to visit Barcelona´s most important touristic places and the Sagrada Familia was certainly one of them. We got tickets thanks to a friend and I was so relieved as the queue for those without tickets was endless. I strongly recommend getting tickets over the internet a couple of days before and you can get them here. Once you enter your heart beat starts raising and all of a sudden you stop talking, you look up and your spirit becomes flooded in light and color. Every window, every column, every corner of this sacred and incredible building is just overwhelming.
More than a 100 years work with many architects following trying to understand this genius´s work: Gaudi.

Location: Calle Mallorca 401 - Barcelona
Telf: 935 13 20 60
http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/

The beach, 5 star hotel, amazing restaurant... all in one!

17/4/2015

13. I love discovering the culinary revolution in Barcelona and how all the 5 star hotels choose their Chef to represent their brand. In this case I wanted to share my experience at Bravo 24, a wonderful romantic and sophisticated restaurant inside the vanguardist Hotel W. The location in my opinion is absolutely the best in Barcelona. This incredible city is known for it s privilege location right next to the sea and the Hotel W is a witness of it. This futuristic landmark is now in our must visit place not only for its fabulous terrace but for its gastronomical offer.
The Hotel has two restaurants headed by Carles Abellan a wonderful chef which caters Tapas 24 and Bravo. The dishes are pieces of art and the calamares with mahonesa de azafran are to die for. It is just worth going for a drink to try these while enjoying the beach views with the lovely noise of the waves.

Location: Plaza Rosa del Vents 01
Telf: 93 295 26 36
http://www.carlesabellan.es/restaurantes-bravo/

Anything you need....they got it!

17/4/2015

24. Anything you want ...they´ve got it! Anything you need... they´ve got it! In this case the song becomes a reality!! In this 5 story shops right on the Eixample there is every little piece and item you need for your household. I have found things I couldn´t even think they existed!! Im joking but it is just so huge! Its a mall only for bricolage and household items. Its name? Servicio Estación. A little secret very few know is that from the 1st floor you can go into their terrace and enjoy the famous Casa Batllo form behind! Very conveniently located, this shop is a must know!!

Location: Calle Aragón 270-272 - Barcelona
Telf: 933 93 24 10
http://www.serveiestacio.com/

Cheap, tasty and classy... what else?

17/4/2015

14. Right next to Plaza Catalunya, next door to Starbucks there is a cute restaurante which name fascinated me: Corxus. This wonderful place seems quint however once inside is endless. Lovely menu del dia which surprisingly and uncommonly includes (pan con tomate), very well presented dishes, minimalistic, healthy and well cooked. A great place to have a light lunch in style!

Location: Rambla Catalunya 12 - Barcelona
Telf. 93 170 11 32
http://corxusbarcelona.com