Boadas, Barcelona

Because the Jarvis pays for his drinks in cash, he is obliged to carry a large quantity of money on his person when he sets out for an evening of carousing the bars of a fine city. When the city in question has more thieves than bars - undoubtedly the case in Barcelona - the Jarvis must exercise caution, especially because the best bars are often in the areas most frequented by malcontents as well as serious drinkers. So it's always a breath of fresh air to duck into the eminent cocktail bar Boadas for a spot of marvelous mixology with a dash of panache. Boadas' elegance is at odds with its surroundings, but the prices are more than reasonable and the service is splendid.