Speakeasy Bar Tour & VIP Nightclub

Barcelona’s most memorable nightlife trick is not a fancy cocktail menu. It is the doorway you almost miss. This four-hour crawl takes you from an Irish pub to a bar entered through a vending machine, then on to an Argentinian cocktail bar and Monk’s VIP nightclub, tucked inside a convenience store.

I like the easy social setup, with games and drinking challenges that help strangers talk before the night gets loud. I also like the route through Barcelona’s Old Town, since a guide can handle the walking and keep the group moving between venues.

The main thing to clarify is the drinks package. The experience promises three free drinks, but one poor account says the participant received only three shots and none at the final stop. At $47.18, that detail matters, especially if you are comparing this with simply choosing your own bars.

Key points to know before booking

• The night begins with games at Flaherty’s, making this a good choice if you are going out alone or want a ready-made group.
• Supermercat is entered through a vending machine, giving the second stop a playful secret-bar feel.
• Porteno brings an Argentinian cocktail-bar setting, with the third included drink described as a shot.
• Monk is the late-night finale, a nightclub hidden inside a convenience store.
• The group is capped at 20 people, large enough for energy but small enough for a guide to manage.
• The tour is English-language and for adults over 18, with a 7 p.m. start in Ciutat Vella.

Why this Barcelona night works best as a social experience

This is not a quiet cocktail tasting. It is a guided night out built around meeting people, moving through several venues, and ending at a club. If you want to sit with one companion and study a carefully made drink, this may feel rushed. If you want help getting started in Barcelona after dark, the format makes sense.

The first hour is designed to break the ice. Flaherty’s Irish Bar is the meeting point, at Plaça de Joaquim Xirau in Ciutat Vella. You begin with a free drink, drinking games, and simple introductions. That structure solves a common problem with nightlife: standing in a crowded bar while nobody knows how to start a conversation.

The social side receives the strongest praise in the available feedback. Guides named Tereza, Vinny, and Adam are singled out for keeping conversation moving, explaining the venues, and helping the group find its way. Guide quality can vary from one date to another, but the experience clearly depends on that personal touch.

The maximum group size is 20. That is not an intimate private outing, but it is more manageable than a huge pub crawl. You should still expect a mix of ages, personalities, and drinking styles. The games may feel slightly forced for a shy person, yet they give you an easy way to join in without having to make the first move.

Flaherty’s Irish Pub, an easy place to start

Flaherty’s serves as the warm-up rather than the main event. You receive your first included drink and take part in icebreakers and drinking challenges. The point is to get the group talking before the venues become darker, louder, and more difficult for conversation.

I like this choice for the opening stop because an Irish pub is familiar and less intimidating than starting in a secret club. You can arrive, find the guide, and settle into the evening without needing to understand Barcelona’s nightlife customs straight away.

The tradeoff is that Flaherty’s is not an unusual local discovery in itself. Its value comes from the people and the organized start. If you already have a group and feel comfortable choosing bars on your own, you may not need this first hour.

The meeting point is in Ciutat Vella, so wear shoes suited to walking on old-center streets. The tour starts at 7 p.m., a useful time if you want dinner before the crawl or need a little rest after sightseeing. The published duration is about four hours, but the final stop can run late, so do not plan an early morning activity the next day.

Supermercat, the vending machine entrance

The second stop is Supermercat in the Gothic Quarter. Its entrance is disguised as a vending machine, which gives the place its main appeal. This is the kind of detail that makes the evening feel like a small city adventure rather than a basic sequence of bars.

Inside, you receive the second included drink and listen to a live DJ. The mood shifts here from conversation and introductions toward music and dancing. One hour is enough to get a taste of the place, though not enough for anyone who wants to settle in for a long DJ set.

The secret entrance is fun, but keep your expectations sensible. The attraction is the theatrical entry and party setting, not necessarily a long cocktail session. You are moving on to another venue, so this works best if you enjoy variety.

This stop also shows why a guide adds value. A first-time visitor might walk past the entrance without realizing what is behind it. The guide takes care of the route and timing, leaving you free to focus on the group and the night.

Porteno for an Argentinian-style change of mood

Porteno Cocktail Bar changes the tone again. After the Irish pub and DJ-led speakeasy, you step into an Argentinian-inspired cocktail bar with a more polished, dressed-up feel. The description calls the setting bougie, so you should expect a sharper contrast with the casual opening stop.

The included drink here is described as the third free shot. That wording is important. The overall experience is promoted as including three free drinks, but the stop-by-stop details specifically identify a shot at Porteno rather than a full cocktail. If you are booking mainly for drinks, ask the guide or provider what form each included drink takes.

I like this stop because it prevents the crawl from feeling like four identical pubs. The evening keeps changing shape: casual pub, secret DJ bar, cocktail venue, then nightclub. You get a quick look at several parts of Barcelona’s Old Town nightlife instead of spending the whole evening in one room.

The drawback is time. With roughly one hour at each stop, you will not get a full evening at Porteno. Treat it as a stop for atmosphere and a drink, not as a dedicated cocktail tour.

Monk, the convenience-store nightclub finale

The night ends at Monk Barcelona on Carrer dels Abaixadors. Its entrance is hidden inside a convenience store, and the venue is presented as the tour’s VIP nightclub finish. The promise is a more exclusive feel, with the party continuing late.

This is the part most likely to appeal to people who want a proper night out rather than an early bar crawl. Ending at the club means you do not have to leave the group at the end of the organized portion and then search for another venue. The guide can also help with transport back to your accommodation if needed.

The available information does not clearly say that a fourth drink is included at Monk. That is the source of the biggest value concern. The tour summary says three free drinks, and the stops account for a drink at Flaherty’s, one at Supermercat, and a shot at Porteno. Do not assume the nightclub includes another drink simply because it is the final venue.

Monk is also a place where your own preferences matter. If you dislike loud clubs, long nights, or crowded dance floors, the grand finale may feel less appealing than the earlier stops. If you want the night to build toward a club, it is a logical ending.

What $47.18 buys you

At $47.18 per person, the price is reasonable only if you value the structure. You are paying for a four-hour guided route, access to four venues, three included drinks as advertised, party activities, and a social group. You are also paying to avoid the usual trial and error of finding nightlife in an unfamiliar city.

The value is strongest for a solo visitor, a small pair, or anyone arriving in Barcelona without a nightlife plan. A guide who knows the route can save you time and may get you into places you would not notice alone. The benefit is less clear if you already know the Gothic Quarter, have local friends, or prefer buying drinks one at a time.

Price also depends on what you consider a drink. A full cocktail, a beer, and a shot do not have the same value. Since one account describes receiving only shots at three locations and nothing at the fourth, I would confirm the package before committing. That complaint appears to be an exception rather than the general pattern, since the overall score is 4.9 out of 5 from 155 ratings and 99 percent of participants recommend the experience, but it is still a fair question to ask.

You should also budget for any drinks beyond the included three. The information provided does not state that all drinks are covered, so assume extras are your responsibility.

The walking, timing, and group size

The route stays in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella, beginning near Plaça de Joaquim Xirau and ending at Monk in the Gothic Quarter. Exact walking times between stops are not supplied, but the venues are presented as part of one Old Town route. Wear comfortable shoes and keep your phone charged for the mobile ticket.

The tour lasts about four hours, with one hour allocated to each stop. That schedule keeps the evening moving, but it also means the tour is a sampler. You will not spend a whole night at Flaherty’s, Supermercat, or Porteno.

A group of up to 20 gives the night enough momentum for games and dancing. It may also mean waiting for people to regroup before moving on. Guides such as Adam have been praised for keeping the route organized and the conversation flowing, which matters when a group is crossing busy evening streets.

The tour is offered in English. Most participants can take part, but the activity includes alcohol and clubs, so it is restricted to people over 18. The information does not provide detailed accessibility specifications. If you have mobility needs, contact the provider before booking rather than relying on assumptions about Old Town streets or venue entrances.

Who will enjoy this night most

I would choose this experience if you fit one or more of these descriptions:

• You are visiting Barcelona alone and want company for your first night out.
• You want a guide to introduce you to the Old Town nightlife scene.
• You enjoy party games, casual conversation, and dancing.
• You like unusual entrances and changing venues more than a single polished bar.
• You want to finish at a nightclub without organizing the second half yourself.

I would look elsewhere if you want a serious cocktail education, a quiet evening, or precise control over every venue and drink. The pace is set by the group, and the mood is social. You should be comfortable with alcohol, music, and a late finish.

The tour also suits a pair of friends who want to meet other people. It may be less useful for a larger private group that already has its own plans. With a maximum of 20, you are joining a shared night, not booking a private host.

Booking and cancellation details that matter

You receive confirmation at booking, and the ticket is mobile, so you do not need to print anything. The meeting time is 7 p.m. at Plaça de Joaquim Xirau. The evening finishes at Monk Barcelona, not back at the starting point.

If you need help returning to your accommodation, the guide can assist with transport. The provider also offers free cancellation when you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

The experience can be canceled if poor weather affects the activity or if the minimum number of participants is not reached. In that case, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. Since this is a nightlife outing, weather may matter mainly for the walking between venues.

Should you book the Speakeasy Bar Tour and VIP Nightclub?

Book it if you want a ready-made social night with four distinct stops, three advertised drinks, and a final club. The vending machine entrance at Supermercat and the convenience-store entrance at Monk give the route a playful Barcelona angle, while the guides help with introductions and navigation.

Before paying, confirm exactly what counts as the three included drinks and whether any drink is provided at Monk. That one question protects the value of the booking. At $47.18, the experience makes the most sense when you value company, guidance, entry arrangements, and variety as much as the drinks themselves.

FAQ

Where does the Speakeasy Bar Tour start?

It starts at Plaça de Joaquim Xirau, Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, at 7 p.m.

Where does the tour finish?

It finishes at Monk Barcelona, Carrer dels Abaixadors, 10, in Ciutat Vella. The guide can assist with transport if you need help returning to your accommodation.

How many drinks are included?

The experience includes three free drinks. The stop details describe a drink at Flaherty’s, a second drink at Supermercat, and a third free shot at Porteno. The information does not specify an included drink at Monk.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket.

Is there an age requirement?

Yes. You must be over 18 because the experience includes alcohol and visits clubs.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted, and weather or insufficient numbers can also lead to a rescheduled date or full refund.