I was recommended to get a place in Gracia by a friend. The apartment is an ideal location if you like to do small streets wandering; on our first day while looking for a lunch place nearby, we ended up at tapas bar in a plaza 5 min. away from the apartment, it was very lively and relaxing. We used the subway often to visit the rest of the city and it was really easy! If you want to be right outside of the main tourist area, I advise you go bit further East (closer to the water), but the city is small enough, that it doesn't really matter. I would come back again!