A gay solo traveler goes bear-hunting in Barcelona

Back in 2023, I took a trip with 25 of my family members across five countries in two weeks, which was planned by a travel agency in the Dominican Republic that my mom and aunts used on a trip to Dubai two years earlier. But after this hellish trip (mainly due to my extended family’s big personalities), I decided I’m never traveling with them again — so I needed a do-over. This solo trip back to Barcelona truly delivered everything I was craving and more.

On our family vacation from hell, we stopped in Barcelona, but not for long enough, so my cousins and I decided to stay an extra day to celebrate my cousin’s birthday. We went to Paradiso, which is currently ranked the fourth best cocktail bar in the world by World’s 50 Best Bars. We also did a day trip to the gayborhood of Sitges and popped around the city to grab some tapas and visit a museum or two. It was my favorite part of the experience, and I craved more, so I decided to pull the trigger and go on a solo trip to Barcelona to rediscover what I loved most about the city and its nightlife.

I flew out of JFK in New York City at 11 p.m. on a Friday. While that detail may seem insignificant, it’s important to note that there were barely any people at the airport. I flew on LEVEL, which operates in partnership with Iberia, the airline I flew to Spain in 2023. This time, checking in was a breeze. I was given the opportunity to fly premium economy, and as someone who is 6 feet 7 inches tall, that extra legroom was necessary for the eight-hour trip to Barcelona and back.

Room at the Moxy BarcelonaMoxy Barcelona

I landed in Barcelona in the afternoon and headed over to the Moxy Barcelona, the first hotel by the Moxy brand in Spain, which just celebrated its first birthday last month. The rooms were spacious and felt brand-new. But being that there’s enough to do on the property and in the city, I didn’t spend much time in the room other than sleeping, showering, and getting dressed.

The first night in Spain, I had dinner at Bonavista, the rooftop restaurant which is owned by Grup Confiteria, the hospitality group that owns Paradiso. Even though I’m not the biggest fish eater, I was served an assortment of seafood dishes because lest we forget (or at least I did), Barcelona is a coastal city. The food was phenomenal; there wasn’t a single dish I didn’t enjoy. After dinner, it was time to peruse the gay bars in Barcelona and get a taste of queer Barcelona nightlife.

Bonavista at Moxy BarcelonaMoxy Barcelona

I’m very particular about going out, and I have a list of things I enjoy — especially if it’s a queer space. One, does it feel inclusive? This, to me, means that there’s a sense of welcoming to anyone and everyone — so no stank faces when a stranger approaches, please. Two, is the clientele diverse? If it’s all skinny, white, muscular, or conventionally attractive gays in expensive outfits, I’ll pass. And three, is the music good? It doesn’t have to be Top 40 hits and pop music for me to enjoy it, but if other people aren’t feeling the sounds and having a good time, how can I?

I’m proudly picky when it comes to going out, and if I’m not enjoying myself, I’ll leave and not think twice about it. Being that I live in New York City and there’s more than enough parties to go to, I’ve started to entrench myself in the bear community there. So when I started researching for this trip, I knew that I wanted to find bear-specific spaces to try. I also had a list of parties/bars that I wanted to experience, but because of time constraints, I only made it out to three. I first made my way over to Bacon, a bear bar in the Eixample neighborhood of Barcelona, which is known for its queer nightlife. For it being a Saturday night at 1 a.m., the bar wasn’t that lively, and it skewed a bit older, making for a much more laid-back vibe. Which if that’s what you’re looking for in a night out, this is the place for you.

The second place I went to isn’t exactly safe for work, but just know I spent about €15 to get in, and I had a pretty decent time. I got to the second spot around 2 a.m. and stayed for about an hour. When I looked at the clock about an hour in, I noticed that the time still said 2:00 a.m. Thinking I was in the Twilight Zone for a second, I shook my watch, and realized it was Daylight Savings Time. I had an extra hour to party! So I made my way to my third and final destination: Imperial Meeting Point. The venue was still open so I decided to pop in for a quick nightcap. However, my plans were thwarted when I was met with a line that barely moved, people cutting the line, and a €25 cover for a spot that I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy, so I went back to the hotel and got ready for bed.

Sunday was my exploring day, and I got up bright and early for a guided tour of the Fundació Joan Miró, a modern art museum honoring the life and work of the Spanish artist Joan Miró. After the museum, my group walked over to a cable car that offered panoramic views of the city, and we ended the tour at Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc, where Dua Lipa shot her “Illusion” music video. Besides the Dua Lipa of it all, the spot is a popular hangout for locals to enjoy and have some drinks while overlooking the city. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re going to Barcelona.

View from the top of Montjuïc (left) and view of the city from Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc (right)Moises Mendez II

Lunch on Sunday was at Restaurant Gala, a chic eatery in the middle of the city that had a colorful, eclectic design aesthetic and just as eclectic of a menu, providing one of my favorite meals of the trip. After lunch, there was more sightseeing to be done, and I had to stop by to check out the awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló, designed by the world-renowned architect Antoni Gaudí. I then dined at Rabbits Bar, a glamorous tapas restaurant with a delicious selection to choose from. After dinner, I walked back to the hotel, which was about 20 minutes away. Even late at night, the streets were almost dead silent.

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I can’t recommend Barcelona enough, because there was too much to see and a weekend doesn’t do the city justice, especially when it comes to the queer nightlife. After trying a few spots in Spain, I came back to New York City, excited to get back into the bear spaces here in the Big Apple. I got to spend time at the Moxy in the Lower East Side and had a bit of a staycation in Manhattan (I live in Brooklyn). But the LES location has more than enough activities for solo travelers — the hotel boasts the club Loosie's and the Silver Linings Piano Bar. For a sexy, solo night out, there’s also the Highlight Room rooftop cocktail bar that attracts a decent crowd throughout the week, and Sake No Hana, an unbeatable modern Japanese restaurant on the lower level of hotel that creates the perfect environment for a sleek, stylish night out.

The Highlight Room Bar at Moxy Lower East SideMichael Kleinberg

If you’re coming to New York City soon and looking for some queer nightlife activities catering to the bear community, might I suggest Goldiloxx, one of my favorite parties here in the city. It’s at Red Eye in Manhattan, and it’s the perfect balance of fun and sexy. There’s two floors filled with hot bears dancing to tunes by the fabulous rotation of DJs, one of which includes adult film star Boomer Banks. If you’re looking for a more chill vibe, on Thursdays, there’s Bear Happy Hour, which circulates between a selection of gay bars in Manhattan — Hush, The Dickens, Atlas Social Club, and The Eagle. My friends and I usually go to The Eagle because that’s the most spacious. For the Black and brown bears, I would also suggest Bear Milk, a party that usually takes place at The Deep End on the border of Bushwick and Ridgewood. The Moxy has hotels in the city that are close to all of these parties, namely their Chelsea, Times Square, and Williamsburg locations.

A room at the Moxy Lower East SideMichael Kleinberg

As someone who considers themselves an extrovert, I never thought I’d do a solo trip. But after doing this excursion, it definitely got me more comfortable with doing things on my own. I’m used to going to parties solo (because my friends are boring and decide to stay in), so what’s the big deal with going to a new country?

The writer was invited by Moxy Hotel to cover the hotels in Barcelona and New York. Learn more about hotels at moxy-hotels.marriott.com