This bar was visited by Picasso and Hemingway. I feel like it is frozen in time. Ceiling is not maintained, old bottles with dust and most likely cob web are displayed on a shelf near the ceiling. But this makes the bar so unique. Drinks are really good, definitely get the absinthe. You get complimentary potato chips. Friendly staff. Within walking distance from La Rambla. The surrounding area is a bit shady because it t is in el Raval neighborhood, which is not a nice part of the city. read more

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Best gin and tonic you're ever gonna get. And the ambiance is exactly what you'd expect. read more

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Neat experience! Definitely an old place but pretty cool to hang out there and have a drink. The Absinthe mojito is really good and the sangria is dynamite. read more

Ok so total tourist. So what. I had wanted to try absinthe for a long time and when searching for things to do in Barcelona this bar kept popping up. Old place for sure. I don't think the ceiling has been cleaned since Hemingway and Picasso got hammered here a 100 years ago. But hey, that's the charm - right. They have five different drinks with Absinthe in it, most of them are near impossible to drink. Go for the basic one that you have to prep like your going to shoot it up or something. Good times~ The crowd runs the gamuit from tourists, locals and a lot of people that could be the bad guys in a Jason Bourne movie. Bartender was easy going - it may take a few minutes for him to make the drinks, so chill out and roll with it and take in the surroundings. Can recommend~ read more

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5 Stars for the oldest bar in Barcelona. Don't go there expecting some lavish old tourist bar. Marsella is run down looking yet when you walk through the door, you feel as though you have walked back in time to a spectacular place that has been visited by famous artists such as Dali and authors such as Ernest Hemingway. Why 5 stars, because Marsella is the real deal. It is exactly what it is supposed to be. A place with history, a place to drink Absinthe and a place to just sit and take in the moment. Don't be afraid to ask how to use the fork, sugar cubes and bottle of water with the pinhole as there will be plenty of patrons there that will be happy to assist. My son was excited to go here and I was hesitant at the time however I am glad we went. read more

Marsella - Pubs Near Me - Barcelona, B

Out of the way , and very old. The vibes are clearly for the idea that it's such an old bar . They haven't cleaned since 1900, however, the drinks are very good. I got an absinthe cocktail which is a must . read more

This completely run down (by U.S. standards), peeling paint, cobweb-laden, shabby bar is historic beyond belief and full of life behind the completely closed off exterior. Marsella embodies a bar with history, one of the oldest in Barcelona. It opens at 10:00 p.m. and if you go, don't get anything but an absinthe. It's an experience. Glass, fork, sugar cube, bottle of water. That is what you'll receive with your absinthe. The rest is up to you to figure out. Hint, the pinhole in the cap of bottled water is there for a reason. read more

Marsella - Absinthe: the reason to frequent Marsella. - Pubs Near Me - Barcelona, B

Sought out this spot based on a recommendation from John Gorham, of Toro Bravo in Portland, OR. Good on him for this find. It's a gem. This historic bar is packed with all sorts of eye candy for anyone who cares about seeing old things. Collections of old booze, fixtures, decorations, etc. The bar is just plain old and it shows it. But with plenty of character. We visited on a weekday night and it was surprisingly dead in there. I think maybe we were early or late for whatever crowd dominates this place. I went for the absinthe but the wife doesn't get down with the licorice flavor. The bartender offered her a G&T, a drink she also does not like, and guaranteed her that she would enjoy it. He turned her. Nordis Galician gin with blackberries and a high end tonic. Absurdly good. I think she had at least two. My absinthe service was great. Interesting selection, done right. Friendly bartenders, great atmosphere, tasty drinks. Bona fide history. read more

Such a cool bar with very rich history. Also, they make incredibly good gin drinks and they do have absinth if you are up for it.

You go for the history. Stay for the absinthe and the borderline gimmicky sugar melting schtick. But nothing much more to write home about. read more

We accidentally ran into this place having no clue it was the oldest bar in Barcelona (or at least one of them having opened in the 1800s). We also did not know that the drink of choice was absinthe. So disgusting as it always is, but kind of fun to pour water over a sugar cube into your cup and drink it in such an old place. Definitely check it out. And worth noting that it is open pretty late every night of the week. read more

Marsella - Pubs Near Me - Barcelona, B

This was a unique experience because apparently... Hemmingway and Picasso frequented this joint. Known as the oldest bar in Barcelona, built in the 1820s. Maybe they didn't keep up their appearance because of this? Quite torn up and dirty, but maybe that's just for the ambiance! We ended up ordering their famous drink, the absinthe. It came in a glass of liquor and a sugar cube in which you're supposed to pour water on it to dissolve. We also lit the cube on fire which then we got a lecture for, but hey, it was worth the excitement! The drink was rather licorice-y in flavor. Price was about 8.50 euros for two which isn't bad. Pretty cool experience traveling back in time... maybe the alcohol helped with that. read more

Just wow. A bar since 1820. Try local gin La Tribute with their tonic. Blows my mind. Not a trendy place but if you have a good company to have a drink and talk, not many places beat this. No music allowed. read more

Old. Like dust everywhere. They have liquor still in sealed bottles that look easily 100 years. Perfect place to drink absinthe. Forget imitation speak easys this is the real deal. Definitely order it straight up with a sugar cube and water and take in the atmosphere (but just don't breath too deep, that might be black mold) read more

Marsella - Pubs Near Me - Barcelona, B

So first things first, this place is in an terrible neighborhood. The southern end of La Rambla has its share of pickpockets and stoned college kids to begin with-- but to get to Bar Marsella, you have to take a side street for about 500 meters while weaving through women in face veils, south asians trying to sell drugs, and a multicultural assortment of prostitutes. Finally you get to Bar Marsella--but if you get there before 10:30, you will be greeted by a closed corrugated steel door. So you come back at 10:30 and the bar is open. Undeniably, the ambiance is drenched with Lost Generation cool. The tile floor in exquisite pattern, the marble bar, the cabinets filled with decades old bottles of gin and liqueurs (all of which, if still holding their original contents, must be ruined by the heat and improper storage--nevertheless, the cabinets are locked), the dark brown ceiling, even the hokey chandeliers that look like they came from your grandma's house circa 1975, all of it makes you feel like Hemingway or Fitzgerald-- but let's face it other than a few locals showing off to their friends, most of the other patrons are ridiculous American sorority girls or cosmopolitan elites who are doing the Erasmus program. Nevertheless, those people can't spoil it. They might be talking about the next bar their going to (American girls are never happy where they are--there always has to be a next bar that everyone is planning, and that will be SO much better) or discussing articles in the Economist, but if you make it to this bar, you should try to be a little more American Mercury than American Idiot. (and if you're European, be German or French or Greek and not European) Sorry for that descent into elitism, but you'll understand when you meet the people behind the bar. There is a rotating cast of Spanish bartenders who are very friendly. There is also a heavyset guy who wears a baseball cap there every night. He seems to be an American, though he claims to be from Barcelona. He may or may not be the owner of the place. He isn't very forthcoming with information about the bar, other than that it is 194 years old. Maybe he'll like you more than he liked me. It goes without saying, the reason people come here is for the famous absinthe drip (una absenta in Spanish). The glasses of absinthe are already poured, and the absinthe comes out of a big glass jug with a spout at the bottom. Rumor has it that the bar makes the absinthe or has it custom-made. (As an aside, absinthe was banned in the USA and much for Europe for most of the past 70 years. Until very recently, it was only available in Spain.) The absinthe here isn't mouthwash green, which is a good thing, because it probably doesn't have artificial coloring. The taste is pleasant enough--strongly anise with a slightly bitter aftertaste. You pay 5 euros for a glass of absinthe, two cubes of sugar, a fork, and a bottle of water. The bottle of water has a hole punched in the top with an ice pick. What you do is put the sugar cube on the fork (which suspended across the rim of the glass), and drip the water through the cube until it is dissolved. This serves two purposes: 1) the dissolved sugar sweetens the bitter drink, and 2) the water throughs the wormwood and anise and other oils out of solution with the alcohol and brings out their flavor. An appropriate amount of water should be no more than the amount that will make the drink cloudy (I like a bit less water than that). Finally, there is some debate as to whether the sugar cube should be first dipped into the absinthe and then set on fire on the fork. Some say it is a gimmick. I say it looks cool--go for it. read more

Marsella - It's the real deal. - Pubs Near Me - Barcelona, B

This is such a classic local spot and is said to be one of the oldest bars in Barcelona. The most popular offering is absinthe, which is something that everyone needs to try once in their life. It certainly doesn't taste good (like STRONG black liquorish) but the process of lighting the sugar cubes on fire and melting them into your drink is fun. And this drink will last you hours because it is so strong! Also, the vibe in the bar is so relaxed and nearly everyone is a local. The area is beautiful as well. Thursdays are good if you want a seat but it will be packed on the weekends. read more

Don't be fooled by the instagram-filtered pics and the history. This place is garish. Instead of expecting a restored bar that pays homage to the history, you walk into a giant room that looks unkept since the days of Hemingway, and thus looks like a rotting carcass. Picture images of the Costa Concordia or titantic, after it sunk and was being salvaged. The serving staff is acceptable, but dressed in street clothes and hand you a glass of absinthe with a plastic bottle of water with a hole punched through to pour it on the sugar cubes. There is zero presentation Seating is sparse, uncomfortable, and cramp with lighting that is horribly ugly. Come here just to say you've been, but afterwards go anywhere else for better atmosphere and drinks. After, you are at a bar for the experience, because you could make drinks at home for much less. read more

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I love Marsella! Something about this place really does it for me. Is it the crowd that comes from every single corner of Barcelona/Spain/the planet? Is it the incredibly old furnishings, decor, everything (apparently Hemingway frequented this place)? Is it the ready-poured glasses of absinthe waiting to be consumed? I don't think I'll ever be able to come to a final answer, but the combination therein at Marsella is absolutely terrific! This is not a place to dance (there's no music), nor a place to 'ligar' (the lighting is quite bright, if not unforgiving). Marsella is one of those classic, old, enchanting spots you just go to experience, either alone or with friends. Yes, the area's seedy, and yes pickpockets/prostitutes swarm the entryway. But the experience of enjoying an absinthe while in this beautiful bar is, if anything, worth all of the dectractors. If you're visiting Barcelona, Marsella is a must. If you live here, let me know when you're going--I can't get enough of this place :) read more

Fine for absinthe and historic atmosphere, but good luck ordering anything other than an absinthe with water or a beer. Went to the bar and ordered a sazerac, a fairly common absinthe/whiskey cocktail. Bartender looked at me funny, handed me a menu, and said "this is an absinthe bar. We offer absinthe and absinthe cocktails". Menu included, among other things, a sex on the beach. 5 stars for absinthe/history, -1 for condescending bar staff. read more

Bar Marsella has some serious history. Hemmingway used to come hang out here, drink absinthe, and write his short stories. The bar is in the Raval, which is not the nicest part of town, you may get accosted by some bums or working girls on the way there, but it is worth it! The absinthe is great, you get the whole experience with the fork, sugar cube, and they give you a bottle of water. The water is very important because the absinthe is pretty strong. A couple glasses and you will be hanging out with Salvador Dali in no time. I have no recollection of how much each glass cost, when I lived there the Euros were like Monopoly money to me. Definitely more affordable then most clubs in Barcelona though. This is a great place to come with friends, or even by yourself during the day with a good book, Hemmingway perhaps... read more

''In a warm summer day, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) and Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) combatively trickle out of the bar and start shouting out to each other in a reckless manner in the presence of people walking by in El Raval.'' This is the third most entertaining fight scene from the movie Vicky Christina Barcelona that took place in the city's reputably oldest boozer Marsella. The bar is said to have been the famous writer and artist's popular spot for inspiration well before the revolutionary wave hit France and long before the development of United States. It has almost 200 year old history. Can you believe it? But what gives the bar its ambience is its infamous house drink: absinthe or 'absenta' in Castilian/Catalan. Marsella and Absinthe are synonymous. It is not a hyperbole. I mean it! Unlike the prohibition in some European countries, in Spain it was never banned and Marsella stayed as the main haunt for drinking Absinthe. When you enter the bar, a very wide space will welcome you. Everything from posters to bottles that were once placed as a decor in 1802 , naturally all faded into brown color. I literally didn't notice them until my friend told me. But I surely noticed those big chandeliers that gave me a time travel feel. We had gone there at 10 pm and was closed. Some people on the street told us the bar doesn't open until 11 pm. There is no music but the non harmonic high pitched voices of Spaniards. My friends were a bit annoyed but I found it authentic and enjoyable. Since you obviously do not go to Marsella for dining, let's look into Absinthe. Their absinthe is 55 percent ABV(Alcohol By Volume). Here they value the joy of drinking and probably want to avoid people seeing the 'Green Fairy'. I agree the fact that you shouldn't rush the drink and the ABV should be likefor votka and whisky. If it is your first time drinking absinthe, you can ask the bar how to prepare it. Basically, a glass of Absinthe comes with a bottle of water, a sugar cube and a small fork. Place the sugar cube on the small fork. Then place the fork on top of the glass. You will see a tiny hole in the cap of the water bottle. Drip the water from the hole to dissolve the sugar on the fork. There you go. You are probably asking ' What about the fire?' . It is not necessary, really. Even some call it 'modern gimmick'. read more

I don't know if I was in any real danger, but I definitely wanted to get a drink and get the hell out! Marsella's is a lot "divier" than I expected -- sort of like the Munsters mixed with Rocky Horror. But the neighborhood I walked through was even more sketchy. Perhaps it was because I went there the day before Halloween (but it was only about 10 pm) but after my walk took me past the safe La Rambla and l'Hospital streets, I witnessed: (1) at least a half dozen young prostitutes, two offered me their services, (2) a gentleman relieving himself in the middle of the street, (3) a female (prostitute?) performing a certain act on a gentleman, and (4) Mossos d'Esquadra (the police) take down a gentleman. Undaunted by this drama, I was determined to be a tourist and drink an absinthe where Hemingway did! And drank I did! They have several brands of absinthe, but I'm not very sophisticated with absinthe, so I didn't specify. They did the traditional pour, complete with a sugar cube. Pretty cool. Absinthe packs a good kick, but I drank mine fairly quickly, as I was remembering the events during my walk. However, I didn't think Hemingway would stop with one, so I asked for another bibeda! I drank the second one even more quickly, paid, and headed back to my hotel. I don't know if it was because I was partially under the spell of the green fairies, but I didn't notice any drama on my walk back! I wasn't sure what rating to give Marsella's. My four star rating is, frankly, generous. However, perhaps the little green fairies had a lingering effect and influenced my rating. read more

The bartender was such a jackass. Completely nasty and rude. I was so excited to go there since Hemingway is one of my all time favorites but be ready to be treated rudely if you walk in without a man companion. He pretty much said to leave him alone. If I could give zero stars I would. read more

Other reviews had me literally fear for my life going here, and though the Raval can be a bit dangerous and you want to keep your wits about you and there are tons of pickpockets in Barcelona by all accounts, getting to Marsella wasn't that bad. The guy in the baseball cap seemed friendly enough, though we ordered from a server at the table. I didn't set the cube on fire, just let water drip on it till it dissolved. Their absinthe is no joke. read more

Marsella - Bar Marsella - Pubs Near Me - Barcelona, B

"Been there bought the T-shirt" More or less the title says it all, the bar is nicely badly kept so that it looks shabby and full of history, bartenders have the absinthe prepared at the bar, so that they don't even have to pretend to pour it, it's a place to visit but do not expect anything great. Absinthe is nice if you are into strong beverages. read more

Marsella is most notable for being Barcelona's oldest bar! They produce their own absinthe (we were even able to take an empty bottle as a souvenir.) The alcohol was extremely potent, very herbal. It was fun experimenting with the levels of water dilution and amount of sugar cubes. read more

Marsella - Pubs Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Tucked away close enough, but still off the beaten and bustling path of the tourist-frenzied La Rambla, this Absinthe bar is awesome. It was fascinating to watch the bartenders mix extravagant cocktails with fresh herb garnishes taken right off the stems, fresh fruit taken out of a supermarket bag and cut right in front of you, and even scenting a cocktail glass with a bushel of sage. The mojito de absenta was delicious and I found myself wandering back to this bar for one multiple times during my stay in Barcelona. The interior is antique and preserved. Decorated with antique bottles, peeling wallpaper on the ceiling, and simple wooden tables and chairs, the atmosphere was unique and enjoyable. I absolutely recommend this place. read more

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Great place for drinks. Highly recommend the mojito with absinthe.

"Absinthe, Artists and Apparitions a la Bar Marsella" - An absinthe with the ghost of Picasso, Dali and Hemingway - we sat at the same table at the oldest bar of Barcelona! Bar Marsella, and what an experience to be in the oldest bar of Barcelona where Picasso, Dali and Hemingway used to frequent, and drink Absinthe?! 1:30AM, the place is still rocking, a must visit place! read more

a total classic. full stop. but as others have said its on one of the worst streets in barcelona, so keep you wits about you going in and especially out. no joke. read more

The bartenders were SO rude. My friend tried to order a drink and one of the bartenders straight up said no. She then tried to order again and they took her money but wouldn't make her the drink. She waited at least 45 mins and then after I went up and demanded that she gets a drink since she paid, and they finally made it. Wasn't worth the money anyway, barely put any absinthe in the mojitos. Also, the bar takes card but for some reason were still demanding cash from us. We didn't have any so we ended up paying with card, but they were being very rude about us not having cash. This bar accepts card so I don't know why they were throwing a fit. Horrible service, wouldn't go again. There are other absinthe places. read more

Love this place. You don't notice the disrepair after a couple absinthes. Instead you are transported back in time. The oldest bar in Barcelona. Awesome ' read more

Authentic and a nice little spot to soak in the history and grab a cocktail / absinthe

This bar is a jewel in Barcelona! In the last few months it has struggled and as you can read above it says CLOSED - please sign this petition if you'd like to visit this haven of absinthe and intellectual thought (dali and hemingway were both patrons of the bar) - please follow this link and sign the petition to save this wonderful place. https://www.change.org/es/peticiones/propietario-de-la-finca-del-bar-marsella-y-al-ayuntamiento-de-barcelona-que-se-paralice-su-cierre#share Thanks read more

Yup a neat little absinthe bar. Interesting interior, has that whole old prohibition feeling going on. Nice to go have some absinthe, stop by if you're near. Other than it's supposed historical significance, not sure it's worth detouring for. read more

Super talented bartender & away from the tourists unless they were sent here by a local. Just a cool spot for a drink.

This place deserves 0/5 because they give a rat's ass about when they are open .....so honestly i started my trip to barca satursay morning about 9 am...after being out all day was trying to get to marsella about 7pm...walked in and idiot bartender said they are closing by 10pm and will not seat any one at this time.....i mean come on your idiotic wooden broke ass bar can seat 2 people ...absinthe may be your calling card but servise definetely is not.......hype + power equals this stupid spot...please do not become another number. read more

BAR MARSELLA IS STILL OPEN!!! My favorite bar in Barcelona. Great atmoshere, fn crowd, and entertaining employees! The bar owners are negotiating with the building owners and it is still open....10:30 pm- 3:00 am. on the corner of San Pau and San Ramon. read more

I just read that Bar Marsella is closed. Can someone tell me if this is true or not. I hope and pray it is not true for I have yet to experience this place. read more