NYCReview
photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick
Barcelona Bar
Included In
Since 2005, Barcelona Bar has been operating on the sacred principles set forth by the poet Lil Jon: “Shots. Shots. Shots. Shots, shots, shots.” At this Hell’s Kitchen dive with a neon shot glass in the window, the beer is cheap, and the jukebox tempting, but most importantly, their menu of more than 100 shots is unlike anything else in the city. The infamous “theme” shots are really audience-participation skits, complete with music, props, and costumes. Consider the Pokémon shot: The bartender clutches a Squirtle doll and blasts a bubble gun before serving up a generous, pale-pink pour that tastes like a too-sweet, mystery-fruit juice box you’d have been psyched to find in your lunch bag—or possibly liquefied Jigglypuff. It’s perfect.