On Friday the first thing I’ll be looking for is the ‘Menu Del Dia’, a weekday deal offering three courses for around a tenner. In the days of Franco this used to be a legal obligation imposed on all restaurants, allowing everyone a taste of the high- life; now it’s just a tradition. I’ll head for Dos Trece (Carrer Carme, 40 08001 Enq: +34 933 01 73 06, dostrece.net/,@dostrece) for its outside terrace before checking out design- savvy Hotel Pulitzer (C/ Bergara, 8 08002. Enq: (+34) 934 81 67 67, hotelpulitzer.es/en/, @PulitzerBCN).

The first of two bars as you head through the front door is my favourite, with no less than eight variations on the classic Bloody Mary, and they’re all bang on. I recommend the Bloody Smoke (Islay Storm Whisky, spiced tomato juice, and lemon juice)
for its sheer, well, smokiness – delicious. A cracking view of Barcelona awaits on the roof top bar, where they specialise in gin, a bit of an in–town trend for the moment.

When I’m feeling like somewhere more upbeat, I’ll eave the respectable folk on the terrace and step up to Boca Chica, (Passage Concepcion, 12 08008. Enq: +34 934 67 51 49, bocagrande.cat/), a seriously cool cocktail bar with a secret. Head downstairs to the toilets, and you’ll find a DJ and bartender.

Saturday here always starts with a serious caffeine hit at Satan’s Coffee Corner (Grey Street Barcelona, Called Peu de la Creu, 25. Enq: +34 931 74 35 06, facebook.com/GreyStreetBarcelona/). Marcus the barista brews his own blend - which will kick you right into shape.

Next up, I’ll explore La Boqueria, (Rambla, 91 08002. Enq: +34 933 18 20 17, boqueria.info/, pinfo@boqueria.info). It’s Europe’s largest food market and there’s more fresh produce here than even Gwyneth Paltrow would know what to do with. Pinotxo (Rambla de Sant Josep, 91, Enq +34 933 17 17 31, pinotxobar.com) is the best bar in the market by far. All tiny and authentic, I’ll drink a caña (small beer) before heading to La Champaneria (Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 7, 08003 Enq: +34 93 310 08 39, canpaixano.com/, @Cavascanpaixano). Spanish to the core, La Champaneria is the place to forget everything your mama taught you about table manners. Order cava (home brewed wine with some fizz) drink it with your elbows on the table and get down with the locals. To be on fine form for Saturday evening’s proceedings, a siesta is in order. I’ll sleep off the bubbles before heading to Resolis (Carrer Riera Baixa, 22, 08001. Enq: +34 93 441 29 48, barchick.com/find-a-bar/barcelona/resolis) for dinner. The black tempura prawns here are extraordinary. Next, the Harlem Jazz club (Carrer de Comtessa de Sobradiel 8, 08002. Enq: +34 933 10 07 55, harlemjazzclub.es/, zingariaproduccions@yahoo.es) is where the night really gets started.

Down the road I’ll find what will probably be the final destination of the night: Pipa Club (Plaza Reial, 3 08002. Enq: +34 933 02 47 32, bpipaclub.com/). You know this place will be naughty from the second you pass the doorman - a scattering of rooms are filled with the hot young things of Barcelona and they’ve got the house-party-with-a-license thing down to a T.

On Sunday there’s no time for a long lie- in: brunch, beaches and booze await in Barcelona and I don’t want to miss any of it.

First up is Marmalade (Carrer Riera Alta, 4-6 08001. Enq: +34 934 42 39 66, marmaladebarcelona.com/home.htm), where they serve the best brunch in town till a staggering 4pm. Next, I’ll take it to the beach for a chilled afternoon at El Chringuito Relevant, (Playa La Mar Bella, 08005. Enq: +34 933 568 872, barchick.com/find-a-bar/barcelona/el-chringuito-relevantchiringuitobcn.com/, @chiringuito_R,) a sexy little bar on a nudist beach. I’ll need to schedule in some tapas time at Bornmuth, (Rec 31, 08003. Enq: +34 933 102186, facebook.com/bormuthbcn?fref=ts#, bormuthbcn@gmail.com). A refreshingly modern take on the traditional favourite, these guys have really got it right.

BarChick only recently discovered Makamaka, (Passeig de Joan de Borbó Comte de Barcelona, 76, 08003. Enq: +34 932 21 35, facebook.com/MakamakaBcn?fref=ts), a beachside bar with a niftily covered terrace. Cocktails, beer, vino, bubbles… it’ll all go down a treat. Funky music, cracking people and some interesting décor make this the ultimate party place. When I’m done dancing, I’ll scribble something on the wooden cutlery and pin it to the wall.

BarChick scours the world to find the hottest spots to drink, dance, and have a good time, then posts them on her site: http://barchick.com/ to let us know where to find them.