The 12 Coolest Neighbourhoods in Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is filled with cool neighbourhoods – think hidden art galleries, cocktail bars, designer boutiques and hipster hangouts. Whether you’re looking for a stay in bohemian Gràcia, hip El Born, trendy Poblenou, edgy Raval, or somewhere else, here’s our pick of the coolest neighbourhoods in Barcelona.
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1. Gràcia
Architectural Landmark
2. El Born
Architectural Landmark
The narrow web of streets scattered around the old church of Santa Maria del Mar is known as El Born. Here, hidden down backstreets, sit some of the coolest spots in the city – clandestine speakeasies, hip coffee shops, trendy concept stores and hipster barbers. They’re interspersed with small art galleries and boutique shops, selling everything from handmade leather shoes and bespoke jewellery to unique fashion. Another lively spot for a night out, the main thoroughfare of Passeig del Born is lined with bars – ideal for a cocktail, beer or vermouth.
4. Poble-Sec
Architectural Landmark
5. Barri Gòtic
Architectural Landmark
6. El Raval
Architectural Landmark
If you’re more of a late-night bar than a nightclub kind of person, the El Raval has some good options for after-hours fun. Joaquin Costa Street is lined with cool bars and take-away eateries open until the early hours of the morning. One of Barcelona’s most multi-cultural neighbourhoods, El Raval is also where you’ll find a lot of Barcelona’s skater scene, as the MACBA is the city’s skateboarding mecca. There are also some great food shops for buying dry goods, spices and other exotic ingredients at affordable prices. Recommended by Tara Jessop.
7. Eixample
Architectural Landmark
The Eixample neighbourhood sits in the city centre and offers a different type of cool. It’s elegant, upmarket and luxurious, filled with designer stores and boutiques, refined hotels and fine-dining restaurants. The neighbourhood runs from Plaça Catalunya (just north of the Gothic Quarter) to Gràcia, and is divided by the grand boulevard Passeig de Gràcia. This is where you’ll find most of the designer shops and magnificent pieces of architecture, including two of Gaudí’s most famous works – the Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. One of the coolest parts of Eixample is the lower west side of the neighbourhood, a favourite hangout of the LGBTQ community. Here, there’s a party vibe with lots of bars, clubs and LGBTQ-centred hotels.
8. Sant Antoni
Architectural Landmark
9. El Clot
Architectural Landmark
As people have found themselves priced out of the most central Barcelona neighbourhoods, places like El Clot have become increasingly popular. A small neighbourhood located inland from Poblenou and not far from the Sagrada Família, El Clot has everything you could need for day-to-day living: green spaces, food shops, bars and affordable eateries. It may not be the trendiest or the most glamorous of neighbourhoods, but it’s friendly, safe, well-connected and very much the kind of place where people like to know their neighbours. Recommended by Tara Jessop.
10. Les Corts
Architectural Landmark
If you’re studying in Barcelona, there’s a good chance you’ll be attending classes in the large university city located to the south-west of the city. Located not far from there, Les Corts is a neighbourhood with both a modern and a more traditional side to it. Around the Avenida Diagonal, you’ll find modern apartment blocks as well as new shopping malls and a Corte Ingles department store. Move away from the main roads, though, and you’ll find some charming older buildings surrounding leafy public squares with a small-town feel. Recommended by Tara Jessop.
11. Sants
Architectural Landmark
There’s good reason to think that Sants is going to be the next hot neighbourhood in Barcelona, given its great combination of neighbourhood spirits, laid back atmosphere, independent shopping and proximity to the city centre. One of the best ways to get to know Sants is to go on a tour of its authentic bodegas for a vermouth or two on a Saturday afternoon. This is when you can best get a glimpse of the conviviality which sometimes feels lost in more central Barcelona neighbourhoods. Recommended by Tara Jessop.
12. Sarrià
Architectural Landmark
For many locals, Sarrià is synonymous with the upper-classes of Barcelona, a neighbourhood full of luxury homes and mansions. While this is true, it also has a village feel to it similar to its neighbour, the trendy Gràcia district. The Carrer Major is lined with small shops and boutiques, as well as Bar Tomàs which is rumoured to serve the best patatas bravas in town. Neighbours stop for a chat on the public square, while friends and families catch up on the terrace of their favourite café. Recommended by Tara Jessop.
You’ll need somewhere to hunker down during your time in the Catalan capital. See where to stay in Barcelona.
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