The Architect: Guida Ferrari

Architect, jewelry designer, cultural events organizer—and a swing dancer “addicted to shoes”—the 25-year-old Guida Ferrari exemplifies Barcelona’s creative spirit. Ferrari says she admires the Barcelona Contemporary Culture Center as much for its swaggering glass-clad façade as for the thought-provoking exhibitions inside, and adores Gaudí’s iconic Casa Batlló. On her shopping rounds, Ferrari checks out Iguapop Gallery, an art gallery that doubles as a hip clothing shop; peruses the footwear at Casas International; buys architecture and design books at Galería Ras; and prowls carrer Verdi, in the Gràcia neighborhood—“a one-street destination for young designers’ boutiques.”

The Chefs: Sergio & Javier Torres

Barcelona-born twin chefs Javier and Sergio Torres recently opened Dos Cielos (dinner for two $210) to instant critical raves for their inventive riffs on Catalan food. On their days off, the brothers often eat breakfast at the legendary Pinotxo counter (breakfast for two $25) inside the Boqueria market. Run by another set of twin brothers, Xemei (dinner for two $110) is “a fun, funky Venetian spot with great music and fantastic squid-ink pasta.” For “renovated tradition,” it’s Via Veneto (dinner for two $213), a grand classic helmed by an exciting young chef, Carles Tejedor; and for super-fresh tapas, especially seafood, it’s Bar Mut (tapas for two $69).