Barcelona beaches, bars and shopping

[jromeroslc]

My wife and I will be spending four days in Barcelona pre cruise. its our first visit. Looking for recommendations from locals/experienced travelers.

 

Beach:

Looking for a beach that is accessible by public transportation, safe, clean, and less crowded.

 

Bars:

Looking for a rooftop bar for before dinner drinks that has great views, shade and is not ridiculously overpriced.

 

Shopping:

Looking for a neighborhood/district that is packed with locally owned boutique shops, with an occasional bar or benches for me to relax while my wife does her thing. 

 

Thanks

 

 

[Harters]

I'd head for the beach at Barceloneta which is very central to the city (almost at the end of the Ramblas). Nice beach and general area. Lots of casual restaurants (with top quality seafood, IMO) and bars

 

Last time we were there, it was a major fiesta. Regular customers from the various bars dress up in costumes and parade round the area, stopping at each bar on the way round.

https://oldbcn.com/es/agenda/604-festa-major-de-la-barceloneta-2