Activities and hotspots for every taste
One afternoon in Barcelona's iconic neighbourhood El Raval
01/2023 - Barbara Keller
One thing is for sure: Barcelona definitely doesn’t lack tourist attractions. However, the city’s most popular places often tend to get crowded with tourists, especially during the summer months. If fighting your way through the international crowds to queue endlessly under the boiling hot sun is not really your thing, there’s an alternative. Why don’t you spend a quiet afternoon exploring the hidden gems of the beautiful El Raval neighbourhood—and yes, you’ll also get to see one of the tourist hot spots, but just quickly, because there’s so much more to discover.
Everything is better with a full stomach, isn’t it? I know I said no crowds, but if you’re in El Raval, you simply can’t miss out on the Boqueria market. In these typical Spanish market halls, all the visitors' senses are stimulated. This famous place right on Las Ramblas is closely linked to the everyday life of the locals. The fresh products and their colourful presentation make every gourmand’s heart beat faster. Try some tapas or get a taste of the delicious fresh fruit offered on literally every corner of La Boqueria. Once you’ve had your treat, we’re ready to start our tour through the neighbourhood.
In between all the sunshine, beach, food, and drinks, how about a little bit of culture? The Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) is perfect for that—it’s only a 9-minute walk away from the market. Here you’ll find a collection of iconic pieces that represent key moments in the past century of art, culture, and society. In addition to all the art that can be found there, the MACBA itself is an impressive building, designed by the architect Richard Meier. He opened up an open-plan and well-lit space, covering around 14,000 m² in the middle of the traditional El Raval, which is full of history.
You’re on holiday, after all, so nothing speaks against a refreshing afternoon drink after so many new impressions. During one of my many strolls through Barcelona’s old town, I found a little gem, hidden in a beautiful courtyard—Jardins de Rubió i Lluch. The bar I’m talking about is called El Jardín. It’s completely outdoors, full of plants and lovely details, and most of all, it’s the perfect place to kick back and relax in between a busy afternoon in El Raval. If you manage to go there, definitely try their sangría; it’s one of the best ones I’ve tasted in the entire city!
What’s still missing on our to-do list? Right, a little bit of shopping. In El Raval, you’ll find countless cool shops for pretty much everything you may be looking for. The neighbourhood is especially famous for its alternative and bohemian scene, so it offers a large number of hip secondhand shops. One popular example is Flamingo’s Vintage Kilo, where you can find a great selection of retro clothes, sold by the kilo. If you’re more of a bookworm, I definitely recommend you plan a stop at the bookshop La Central del Raval, located right around the corner. Apart from thousands of books, it also houses a hidden terrace—Bar Central, surrounded by palm trees, plants, and a fish pond. Just a 10-minute walk away, there’s another one of my favourite shops, called Grey Street. It’s a cute little gift shop that sells artisan products made by local and international artists, from ceramics and illustrations to jewellery and paper goods.
Are your feet starting to feel a little tired? Is dinner time coming closer? Alright, then I’d say let’s call it a day. But obviously, it’s not time to go home yet—we all know that life in Barcelona only really starts after sunset. If you’re looking for the perfect dinner spot, I found it: Gats. The name is the Catalan word for cat—and you can see that at first glance. The outside walls of the building are full of cat paintings, but what you get on the inside is even better. The interior design of it is absolutely on point, and the food is delicious as well. My personal recommendation is the “Black rice”, which is a kind of seafood paella with squid ink. You can thank me later.
I totally get that you may be too tired to enjoy the nightlife after such an exciting afternoon in the El Raval neighbourhood. How about you have a little evening walk on Passeig de Gràcia instead (always a local favourite for digesting after so much food)? Whenever you’re really ready to say good night to the bustling city life, just hop on the metro line L4 and after only one stop you’re at our numa property Roca—the perfect place to stay in Barcelona. See you there!
Addresses
El Mercat de la Boqueria: La Rambla, 91, 08001 Barcelona
MACBA: Plaça dels Àngels, 1, 08001 Barcelona
El Jardí: Carrer de l'Hospital, 56, 08001 Barcelona
Grey Street: Carrer del Peu de la Creu, 25, 08001 Barcelona
Flamingos Vintage Kilo: Carrer dels Tallers, 31, 08001 Barcelona
La Central del Raval: Carrer d'Elisabets, 6, 08001 Barcelona
Gats: Carrer d'en Xuclà, 7, 08001 Barcelona
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