Carpe Diem Lounge Club

CDLC or Carpe Diem Lounge Club has been open for over 5 years now and although it is beautifully decorated it has had its share of ups and downs within the nightlife scene of Barcelona. Partly owned by ex Barcelona football player, Patrick Kluivert, the bar opened with great success and was jammed almost every night but then was closed for one year due to licensing laws. However the bar has just been redecorated and recently had a high profile re-launch party which included famous guests including Beyonce and Jay-Z.

The bar itself has a lot on offer. Firstly the elaborate oriental decoration is an eye opener to first time visitors. It seems like the owners have created a little piece of Thailand in Barcelona. There are numerous Buddha statues, wooden carvings and other South-East Asian paraphernalia adorning entrance and bar itself. As you walk down the entrance staircase and enter the bar itself on the right you will find the VIP area, the DJ booth and one bar. In total there are 4 bars and a terrace with waiter service. There are also 5 separate small futon VIP areas where you can lie back with a group of friends and take in the atmosphere. The terrace has an eating area and again more futon style areas to relax but remember you have to take off your shoes beforehand.

I really like the decor of the bar but unfortunately there seem to be some confusion as to the type of clientele the bar is trying to attract. One night you can go there and be surrounded by foreign businessmen and then the next night the bar can be full of young trendy locals and ex-pats. It´s quite hit and miss.

The bar prices vary and food is also on offer. The food is actually very good and not overly priced. The menu is Mediterranean/Oriental and there are a wide range of choices from exotic salads to sushi. I have eaten there numerous times and have not been disappointed. In fact on one occasion I was munching on a salad and suddenly I felt a crack and pain. My tooth had broken on a chicken salad which is not very plausible but the restaurant manager was extremely helpful and in the end the bar paid for a new 600 euro crown for my tooth. Result!!!!

One can eat a starter, main course and desert and a bottle of house wine for under 50 Euros. Long drinks and cocktails cost between 10 and 14 euros and a bottle of beer 6 to 8 euros. 14 euros is too much in my opinion for a cocktail but remember in Spain the bar staff pour straight from the bottle so 3 or 4 cocktails is enough to start feeling the alcohol.

Personally I like the bar during the day. Its right by the beach so its perfect to sit on the terrace and sip a cool drink around 6pm and watch the world go by. There are different club events and Djs every day and Fridays seem to be a popular night.

To conclude, Carpe Diem is worth a visit just for the decor. I would advise dinner and then having a few drinks before going on somewhere else however if you hit the right night, then there will be no need to move on. So go check out Carpe Diem and Seize the Day.