Ocana
Ocaña is a multi-level restaurant, bar, and club on the west side of Plaça Reial, occupying one of the square's grand porticoed buildings across three floors plus a street-level terrace. The ground floor runs as a café and restaurant with tables spilling onto the square under the arcades. Above, a cocktail bar and lounge space covers the first floor with high ceilings, large windows overlooking the plaza, and an interior design that mixes ornate mirrors, chandeliers, and contemporary furniture. The basement houses Apotheke, a small club and bar that opens Thursday through Saturday with DJ sessions running until 03:00. The terrace, with its view across the palm-lined square, is one of the most sought-after outdoor drinking spots in central Barcelona, and tables often require reservation during high season. Drink prices sit at the upper end for Barcelona but below what the location might suggest: cocktails 11-13 EUR, beer 5, wine 5-7 by the glass. The crowd mixes tourists with a genuine local contingent, especially on the upstairs lounge on weekends. Service is attentive but can slow when the terrace is full.
What to Expect
A grand terrace under the Plaça Reial arcades, an ornate first-floor lounge with chandeliers and mirrors, a basement club with low red lighting, and waitstaff moving between three levels.
Polished, slightly glamorous, the most dressed-up option on the square.
Lounge, deep house, Latin house, disco in the basement club
Smart casual minimum. No athletic wear, no flip-flops.
Couples on a nice night out, groups wanting a terrace view, travelers looking for a one-stop evening across dinner, drinks, and a dance.
Cards and cash both accepted; minimum for card payment often applies
Price Range
Beer 5 EUR, wine 5-7 EUR by glass, cocktails 11-13 EUR, tapas 8-15 EUR, Apotheke entry 10-15 EUR
Beer ~$5.40, wine ~$5.40-$7.55, cocktails ~$11.80-$14, tapas ~$8.60-$16.20, Apotheke entry ~$10.80-$16.20
Hours
12:00-02:00 Mon-Wed, 12:00-03:00 Thu-Sat, 12:00-00:00 Sun
Insider Tip
Reserve a terrace table for peak evening hours through the Ocaña website. The upstairs lounge is less crowded than the terrace on busy nights. Apotheke downstairs is a separate entrance and opens later, 23:00 onward.
Full Review
Ocaña occupies a prime corner of Plaça Reial, and the terrace seating under the arcade is the most visually striking drinking spot on the square. The tables sit between the stone columns of the portico, with the palm trees, 19th-century lampposts, and the square's fountain all in the line of sight. On the Saturday evening I visited, every terrace table was full by 20:00, and the bar inside the ground floor was doing similar numbers with walk-in guests.
I had a reservation on the terrace for a drink, which is the only reliable way to secure a seat at peak hours. The service came efficient enough: a gin and tonic with Citadelle and Fever-Tree arrived in a balloon glass with a twist of orange for 12 EUR, and a plate of iberian ham with pan amb tomaquet ran 14 EUR. Neither was extraordinary, but both were done well, and the view from the table did most of the work.
Around 22:00 I moved upstairs to the first-floor lounge, which is a dramatic room: tall windows facing the square, ornate plasterwork, oversized mirrors, chandeliers, and contemporary sofas and armchairs arranged in conversational clusters. The crowd upstairs was older and more local than the terrace, mostly Catalan and Spanish couples in their 30s and 40s. The music sat at conversational volume, and the bartenders worked with more care than the terrace service could provide.
Downstairs, Apotheke opens later with a 12 EUR cover and runs DJ sets through the night. The basement club is smaller and more intimate than Apolo or Razzmatazz, suited for an after-dinner dance rather than a full clubbing night. Ocaña works best as a full-evening anchor: terrace drinks, upstairs lounge, basement dance.
The Neighborhood
Plaça Reial is the palm-tree-lined square just off La Rambla in the Gothic Quarter, surrounded by porticoed 19th-century buildings and lined with restaurants and bars. One of central Barcelona's most photographed spots, busy from noon until after midnight.
Getting There
Metro Liceu L3 (green) is a three-minute walk from the square. Enter through the narrow archway marked Plaça Reial from La Rambla. Taxis drop on La Rambla and you walk the final 30 meters.
Address
Plaça Reial 13, 08002 Barcelona
Where to stay in Barcelona
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
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Jamboree
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Tarantos
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