A Clásico is not something you watch on the sofa. You watch it surrounded by people who jump up at the same moment, shout the goal before it goes in and argue about offside with the next table. If you have no ticket for the Camp Nou, the plan is a bar with a big screen, and Barcelona has plenty to choose from.
On Sunday 25 October at 9 pm FC Barcelona host Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou, on matchday 10 of LaLiga. Here are the seven bars I recommend for watching it with atmosphere, spread across the city.
El Clásico basics
When Sunday 25 October, 9 pm · Where Spotify Camp Nou · TV DAZN (channel 55 on Movistar Plus+ and 113 on Orange TV)
Heads up the clocks go back that night, but kick-off is still 9 pm local time
| Bar | Neighbourhood | Booking | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| L’Ovella Negra Marina | Poblenou | No, first come first served | Big atmosphere, groups who arrive early |
| Sonora Sports Tavern | Poblenou | No, limited capacity | Plan B two streets from L’Ovella |
| L’Ovella Negra Ramblas | Raval, off La Rambla | No, first come first served | The central one, a step from the Gothic Quarter |
| Belushi’s | Eixample, by Plaça Catalunya | Not always for big games | Central, lots of screens |
| CocoVail Beer Hall | Eixample | Form on its website | Craft beer and wings |
| Sotavent | Sarrià | Not on big days | Local Barça crowd |
| The George Payne | Plaça d’Urquinaona | Yes, for groups | Large groups who want a table |
L’Ovella Negra Marina, the Poblenou warehouse
What is it? A former industrial warehouse in Poblenou turned into a giant beer hall with huge screens.
Why go? It has the biggest atmosphere in the city for a big game.
- WhereCarrer de Zamora, 78, Poblenou
- SundayOpens at 7 pm
- PriceBeer from €3.20
- BookingNo, first come first served
L’Ovella Negra Marina is around 2,000 square metres of warehouse with 22 taps, long tables, table football and pool. For a Clásico it is packed to the rafters, and that is exactly what you want: when Barça score, the whole place shakes.
It does not take bookings. Arrive at least an hour early, around 8 pm, because once it reaches capacity nobody else gets in, even if your friends are saving you a seat inside.
Sonora Sports Tavern, the plan B two streets away
What is it? A neighbourhood sports tavern in Poblenou.
Why go? It is a short walk from L’Ovella Negra, so if one is full you try the other.
- WhereCarrer de Pamplona, 96, Poblenou
- SundayOpens at 12 noon
- MenuMore than 40 beers and burgers
- BookingNo, limited capacity
Sonora Sports Tavern is smaller and calmer than L’Ovella, with more than 40 beers and a menu of burgers and bar snacks. My Poblenou trick: if you get to L’Ovella Negra late, do not waste time in the queue and head straight to Sonora, a couple of streets away.
L’Ovella Negra Ramblas, the city-centre classic
What is it? The original L’Ovella Negra, a tavern with long wooden tables in the Raval, just off La Rambla.
Why go? Same spirit as the Poblenou warehouse, but right in the centre, a step from the Gothic Quarter.
- WhereCarrer de les Sitges, 5, Raval
- SundayOpens at 5 pm
- PriceBeer from €3.30
- BookingNo, first come first served
L’Ovella Negra Ramblas is the older sister of the Poblenou warehouse: a cellar-style tavern with long wooden tables and a mix of students and people from everywhere. If you are around La Rambla or the Gothic Quarter, it is the easiest place to watch El Clásico with atmosphere. They do not hold tables, so get there around 8 pm.
Belushi’s, the most central
What is it? A big, very international sports bar by Plaça Catalunya.
Why go? You can see the game from every corner: three projector screens and nine TVs.
- WhereCarrer de Bergara, 3, Eixample
- SundayOpen from 11 am
- MenuBurgers and drinks deals
- BookingNot always held for big games
Belushi’s is bigger inside than it looks from the street, with 3 projector screens and 9 TVs spread over several areas. Lots of visitors, a party atmosphere and a perfect location if you are meeting people coming from different parts of town. Call first: for big games they do not always take bookings and a queue forms well in advance.
CocoVail Beer Hall, for beer lovers
What is it? An American-style beer hall in the middle of the Eixample.
Why go? 24 craft beer taps and wings in 17 sauces.
- WhereCarrer d’Aragó, 284, Eixample
- SundayOpens at 1 pm
- BookingForm on its website; for big games, arrive early
CocoVail is my pick when the game is the excuse and the beer is the plan. It has 24 craft beer taps, big sharing tables, screens everywhere and wings in 17 sauces that go very well with nerves. You can request a booking on its website, but for a Clásico do not count on it and leave yourself time.
Sotavent, the Barça bar in Sarrià
What is it? An old-school neighbourhood bar in Sarrià with a projector, pool and darts.
Why go? The crowd here is 100% Barça.
- WhereCarrer Major de Sarrià, 61, Sarrià
- Sunday6 pm to 11 pm
- MenuDrinks only, you can bring your own food
- BookingNot on big days
Sotavent is the opposite of a chain sports bar: a Sarrià bar with a cinema screen, pool and darts, where you watch football with the locals. The best part is one of its habits: they only serve drinks, so you can bring your own food. Pick up something for dinner on the way and walk in with it under your arm. They do not hold tables on big days, so arrive early.
The George Payne, for groups
What is it? A huge Irish pub in a former cinema on Plaça d’Urquinaona.
Why go? It is one of the few that books tables for groups on big match days.
- WherePlaça d’Urquinaona, 5, Eixample
- SundayOpens at 7 pm
- ScreensLarge projector and 10 HD screens
- BookingYes, for groups, paid in advance
The George Payne occupies a former cinema and it shows: a large projector and 10 HD screens. If there are lots of you and you do not want to gamble on the queue, it is the safest option, because they book for groups on big match days. They ask for an advance payment per person, mostly credit for food and drink; check the exact amount when you book. For sharing there are platters such as the Black Out Tray.
Before you leave home
What works
- Arriving around 8 pm at the bars without bookings
- Calling ahead to check they are showing the game
- Having a plan B nearby, like L’Ovella and Sonora
- Booking early if you are a group
What does not
- Turning up at 8.55 pm expecting a table
- Driving around Les Corts that night
- Forgetting the clocks go back that night
As it is a home game, the area around the Camp Nou and Les Corts will be gridlocked from mid-afternoon. If you are not going to the stadium, stay in your own neighbourhood.
And if you want to make the most of Sunday before the game, this weekend’s plans include the 48h Open House and plenty more ideas.
Where are you watching El Clásico? If you know a local bar with great atmosphere that is not on this list, message me on Instagram @barcelonainspira and I will try it for the next game.
Keep discovering Barcelona with me
More plans for going out in the city: where to eat well and cheaply away from the tourists, the neighbourhood bodegas where I have tapas and what to do this weekend in Barcelona.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Barça vs Real Madrid on Sunday 25 October and where is it shown
FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid, matchday 10 of LaLiga, kicks off on Sunday 25 October at 9 pm at the Spotify Camp Nou. It is on DAZN, which is channel 55 on Movistar Plus+ and 113 on Orange TV, and bars show it through LALIGA TV Bar. The clocks go back that night, but kick-off is still 9 pm local time.
Which Barcelona bars take bookings for El Clásico
The George Payne, on Plaça d’Urquinaona, takes group bookings with an advance payment that is mostly credit for food and drink. CocoVail Beer Hall has a booking form on its website, although for big games it pays to arrive early. L’Ovella Negra, Sotavent and Sonora Sports Tavern are first come, first served, and Belushi’s does not always hold tables for big games.
How early should you get to a bar to watch El Clásico
At the bars that do not take bookings, such as L’Ovella Negra, Sotavent or Sonora, it is wise to arrive at least an hour early, around 8 pm. For a Clásico they fill up before the build-up starts and, once they reach capacity, they let nobody else in even if friends are saving you a seat.
What is the best bar to watch El Clásico with a group in Barcelona
For large groups, The George Payne, because it is one of the few that books tables for big games and it has sharing platters. If the group would rather not book, L’Ovella Negra has around 2,000 square metres and long tables, but you need to get there well ahead of time.
