Jaume Collboni's City Council is moving forward in defining what Barcelona's new Rambla will be like, which has been undergoing a major transformation for months. This Monday, the council announced that they have already initiated the procedures to declare this emblematic Barcelona avenue as a "terrace excellence zone." In practice, this means that the terraces installed on La Rambla after the works will have to have the same aesthetic style and a homogeneous design.

Midsummer is here, and with the heat of these August days, there's no doubt that the best plan for the day is to get away from the big cities and head to the sea to cool off. The Costa Brava is the top destination in our country, and from one end to the other, you'll find plenty of beautiful beaches to lay out your towel, swim, or sunbathe. However, before or after a swim, you can't miss the precious moment of sitting on the terrace of a good bar or restaurant, with spectacular views of the sea, and enjoy some tapas, have a vermouth, have a cocktail, or order a fish and seafood rice dish that will leave its mark.

Summer is the time of year when you most want to go out for lunch or a drink on a terrace with a great view. We suggest four of Girona's coastal and inland regions.

The restriction of opening hours on terraces threatens to choke the Barcelona City Council. If in November 2023 it had to do reverse and to annul the measure around George Orwell Square and Joaquim Costa Street due to procedural defects, has now received the first contrary ruling. The city's 12th administrative court has ruled in favor of the Restaurant Guild and has overturned the reduction in hours on the terraces in Plaza del Sol, in the Gràcia neighborhood.

When Barcelona City Council announced it would allow most of the extra outdoor seating bars and restaurants were allowed to set up during covid to remain, it also warned that there would be exceptions. Streets considered "saturated" would have to remove any extra tables and chairs. At that time, the example of Enric Granados was given, where before covid there were already 76 bars with outdoor seating (a total of 331 tables). During covid 38 bars set up new outdoor seating or expanded existing areas (to a total of 87 extra tables), to the point that it became a street with as many outside bar areas as blocks of flats. Until now, Enric Granados was the only street named where tables and chairs would have to come off the streets, but this Friday Eixample councillor Pau Gonzàlez named six areas which would be affected in this district, where 30% of the city's restaurants are situated. Extra tables will also have to come off Parlament street, the lower part of Muntaner street (below Aragó), almost all of Aribau (it is included within the scope of restriction on Enric Granados, as well as a stretch of Provença and Mallorca), Rambla Catalunya, Passeig de Sant Joan and in Avinguda Gaudí.