Platja de Garraf — Beach Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Give us the wide-angle view: what kind of beach are we talking about? Situated at the foot of a national park, below a rail track, Garraf is a 380-meter-long stretch of fine golden sand. One village south from Castelldefels, it’s separated from its neighbor by a rocky hill—a permanent marker dividing the ocean. This pretty cove is at its prime in spring and fall, before the summer throngs descend. Lovely. How accessible is it? With the train line so close, rail is the obvious choice for the 30-minute scoot from Barcelona. From Sants or Passeig de Gràcia stations, take the R2S to Garraf (toward Sant Vicenç de Calders). Pro tip: Buy a return (" ida y vuelta ") ticket in Barcelona; Garraf doesn’t have a ticket machine or counter to do so. Got it. Decent services and facilities, would you say? You’ll be struck by the postcard-prettiness of the line of white huts curved along the beach. Once used to store fishermen’s tools, today these cool cabanas, with their white picket fences and green roofs and shutters, are available to rent. They’re also a favorite backdrop for fashion shoots, and possess a photogenic appeal that didn’t go unnoticed by Soho House, which converted the bay’s once-ramshackle 1950s hotel into Little Beach House Barcelona. For members, its 17 bedrooms and private sun-loungers open for the season from 31 March. Non-members are welcome at Soho House’s beachside bar, La Caseta, where staff as cool as the setting dish up salads and seafood to the beat of (bare)foot-tapping tunes. How’s the actual beach stuff—sand and surf? Safe and secluded, but keep an eye out for occasional jellyfish. Anything special we should look for? Eat at La Cúpula Garraf up in the cliffs. One part restaurant, one part bar, the place does wine and paella right. If we’re thinking about going, what—and who—is this beach best for? This is a secret cove that’s simply too pretty to stay secret: The arrival of Soho House sent its stock—and visitor numbers—soaring." - Gemma Askham