8AM: Wander among the stalls as La Boqueria market opens, taking in the hustle and bustle before the crowds arrive. Feast on empanadas for breakfast: hot pasties stuffed with Barcelona’s prime foods, from chorizo to spinach and ewe’s cheese.

10 AM : Be dazzled by the closet-chapel in the Palau Güell beyond rosewood doors adorned with marquetry, brass and tortoiseshell, then visit the Palau itself, one of the seven Works of Antoni Gaudí, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

11AM: Get measured for a bespoke suit, shirt or jacket at Santa Eulalia. Originally a textile store, Barcelona’s 180-year-old luxury brand emporium still has an old-school couture atelier. Twelve artisans apply their flair and expertise to tailoring fully customized items.

1PM: “Fem un vermut”: have a vermouth at Bodega Marín at the ritual hour with family or friends, preferably at the weekend. Hop on a stool outside and order this aromatic wine that is the pride of Catalonia. Add green olives and some simple tapas – a few anchovies and pan con tomate will do. Then let time go by…

3PM: Admire the perfectly preserved wall paintings from Romanesque churches at the Museu Nacional d’Art. The palace houses one of the most extensive collections of medieval wall paintings in the world.

4PM: Enjoy a crema catalana amidst the gilded adornments of the Cafè de l’Òpera. This historic café is the veritable cultural and political soul of the city. Spend a good half hour drinking in the mood of Barcelona.

5PM: Rise to new heights on the Montjuïc cable car. Take a taxi to Montjuïc park, just next door to the Fundació Joan Miró, then ride up to Montjuïc castle to enjoy the breathtaking view. On the way down, stop off at the Mirador de l’Alcalde, a garden overlooking Barcelona’s industrial port.

7PM: Gaze at the sunset from the terraces of Salts. Housed in the former Olympic diving pool, this bar deserves a gold medal for its view of Barcelona. Beyond the discreet entrance, locals and savvy visitors share a drink, eyes trained on the blue pools and the panoramic vista.

8PM: Watch a contemporary dance performance at Mercat de les Flors. Housed in an elegant Noucentist building in the Poble Sec, dating from the 1929 World’s Fair and which was once a flower market, this dance temple draws the world’s greatest choreographers and is a reference as one of Europe’s leading dance venues.

MIDNIGHT: Drink a Tina Turner cocktail at MutiClub. This curious coctelería was imagined by Barcelona’s advertising guru, Kim Díaz, in memory of David Bowie. It has a menu called Let’s Drink and cocktails named after the Thin White Duke’s friends: Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Pink Floyd, John Lennon, et al.