#barcelonawinebar
DATE NIGHT STORY #307
“We could go grab some dinner” is how it started over messenger. He had recently lost his wife of almost 30 years and at the same time, I had divorced after almost the same time being married.
Alan was my first love. We grew up together, were inseparable as teenagers, and then ended up drifting apart as we grew into young adults when we went to college. Although both from Minnesota, we had each made our way to Atlanta with our families and had been here for 25 years. He, a local chef and culinary instructor, with lots of crazy tattoos and still skateboarding after all these years. Me, an IT executive, who was now an empty nester with kids out of the house. Our March 2024 “first date” had us on the Atlanta Beltline not far from my house. Dropping into various bars and finally deciding to stop for food. I said “we can go to one of my go to spots.” It was Barcelona.
He told me that he never stopped thinking about me over all the years. I said that I was never really out of love with him. We have been together ever since.
And although we have been to Barcelona many times this last year – it was on the same day in March 2025 that we went back, sat in the same spot, in the same clothes and celebrated our one year.
August & Alan— Atlanta, GA
DATE NIGHT STORY #107
How is THIS for a story?! I met my husband at Barcelona, almost 8 years ago. Better yet, we met by total fate and divine timing.
He was walking out of Barcelona as I was walking in. He cancelled his uber because he wanted to come talk to me, and the rest is history. We have dinner there and sit in the same seats where we met every anniversary.
Thanks, Barcelona!
Cleo & Alessandro— Brookline, MA
DATE NIGHT STORY #027
Last time I took a first date to Barcelona Wine Bar, my go-to date spot, in walks a gal I went out with a couple of a few months prior…she’s clearly on a first date only a table away. Awesome. Awkward. No eye contact from her. 15 minutes later, a gal that I had JUST stopped chatting with sits at the table beside me and is ALSO on a first date. I’ve now got to power through my new first date with former flings on my left and my right. I guess my secret is out… tapas are for lovers…and BWB crushes at first dates.
Taylor— Dallas, TX
DATE NIGHT STORY #018
Back in November 2023, I stopped by Barcelona with two friends. None of us had been out in a while and this was our first stop. We walked in, and though it was packed as usual, I immediately spotted a very tall guy in the crowd in a nice jacket. I grabbed my friend’s arm and told her he was SO cute- and that was supposed to be the end of it.
Turns out, we ended up at a table with him and his group not long after. I’ll admit there was a bit of maneuvering on my side to get that spot, but luckily he thought I was cute too, and we spent the rest of the night out together… until he told me he had to get on a plane back to Abu Dhabi in a few hours. He told me he’d book me a flight too, if I wanted to go.
I’m not crazy enough to get on a same-day international flight with someone I just met, but I will admit I went to see him in NYC in early December, then caught that flight a few weeks later to visit him over NYE in Dubai. We’ve been inseparable (except for two continents and about seven thousand miles between us) ever since and celebrated our first anniversary at Barcelona in November 2024.
We’ve now been to ten or eleven countries together and visit as often as we can. All thanks to you.
Sydney— Washington, DC
DATE NIGHT STORY #003
Five years ago, I showed up to Barcelona Wine Bar for a first date with a cute guy named Rowan. It was prime time, 7:30pm on a Thursday, and the place was absolutely buzzing. Every table packed, bar overflowing, energy electric. One small problem: Rowan hadn’t made a reservation. Cue my Type A, slightly OCD meltdown. But the staff was kind and let us wait at the bar with a sliver of hope. An hour later, we were just about to call it quits when a host literally ran after us as we were walking out: “Wait! A table just opened up!”
We landed what I still believe is the best seat in the house. Two bottles of red wine, endless patatas bravas, deep conversation, and a lot of laughter later… it turned into the best date night of my life. Fast forward to today, Rowan is my husband. We both still talk about that night as the moment everything changed.
Without Barcelona, there might not have been a second date. And definitely no wedding.
So yes, I guess you could say I have a little gossip for you: Barcelona made me fall in love.
Hailey & Rowan— Washington, DC
DATE NIGHT STORY #077
I met the love of my life at Barcelona Wine Bar
We matched on Hinge and immediately felt a powerful connection – Kate actually asked Lee to go out the next night but they already had plans, so we ended up having to wait for two weeks because Kate was away on a family vacation. Attempting to play it cool but eager to keep the connection going, we ended up texting every day she was away. Months later, Kate would tell Lee that she decided that week that we were already dating (even though we hadn’t actually met yet)
Kate recommended Barcelona in the South End for our first date. It is one of her favorite restaurants and the go-to destination for all her special events (she had actually been at the restaurant in Brookline the night before for her best friend’s birthday!)
Lee remembers walking up to the restaurant and seeing Kate for the first time and being completely blown away by her. She was gorgeous, warm, authentic, kind and entirely captivating. She even convinced Lee order beets for the table (not normally one of their favorite foods, but they couldn’t say no to her – and the beets were delicious!)
We ended up losing track of time and outstaying all the other tables around us – Kate even missed the last commuter train and had to take a long & expensive Uber back to her apartment (“it was worth it!”). Lee called their brother on their walk home to the train tell him how excited they were, and when they got back to home, they looked at themself in the mirror and said “…that’s your wife”
We celebrated our anniversary this past summer (at Barcelona Wine Bar, of course) and moved into our first shared apartment at the top of the year.
Lee & Kate— Boston, MA
DATE NIGHT STORY #607
Barcelona has been part of my love story from the very beginning — literally. I met my fiancé, and long term partner, Will, at Barcelona, and six years later, it’s still our favorite date night spot.
Like any great love story, it involves sangria, cheese, and a little bit of chaos.
Six years ago, my college friend dragged me to Barcelona for a group dinner, swearing she had the perfect guy for me to meet. Enter Will: a cute, slightly nervous guy who, within five minutes, managed to spill half a glass of red sangria directly into my lap. A strong start. Trying to recover, he panicked and grabbed the nearest napkin, only to knock over another glass of water. I’m pretty sure the entire restaurant turned to stare as he apologized profusely while I sat there, soaked in sangria and water, wondering if this was some kind of cruel setup. But then, as I was considering whether to make a dramatic exit, Will looked at me and said, “I figure we have two options: I buy you another sangria and we pretend this never happened, or I buy you another sangria and we call it our meet-cute.” I had to admit, that was a pretty good line.
Six years later, we still go to Barcelona all the time……..except now, Will has learned to keep his sangria in the glass (mostly haha)!
Margot & Will— Cambridge, MA
If you’ve got a dating story of your own to share, send it our way at hello@barcelonawinebar.com
