Barcelona has a plethora of cool neighborhoods, but in recent years, there’s one barrio that just hasn’t stopped changing and growing. Poblenou lies at the center of the Barcelona design movement and attracts everyone from hipsters to start-ups with its trendy markets, concept stores, and innovative festivals.
Get your bearings in Poblenou
Poblenou is located to the east of the city center, between the area of Glories and the beach. It used to be a very traditional Catalan neighborhood, and the central and lower parts of the barrio still retain this charm. This area is dotted with colorful Modernista architecture and even features its own ‘rambla’ (esplanade). The north and surrounding areas, however, are very different, filled with big old warehouses and modern tech hubs. It’s here where hipsters, designers, and start-ups have moved in. This area has become known as @22, now occupied by design schools, galleries, craft beer breweries, and new-age digital companies looking to take over the world.
Here are some of the best spots to soak up the neighborhood vibe:
Brunch, Coffee and Craft Beer
Little Fern Café
Every cool district needs its brunch cafes, and in Poblenou Little Fern Café is one of the best, offering a Kiwi brunch concept. Its minimalist design features whitewashed walls and lush greenery, while the menu includes everything from classic avo smash and granola to tasty corn fritter stacks and charcoal lattes. Be sure to try the kimchi pancakes: they’re much better than they sound.
Espai Joliu
Plants meet coffee at this hip concept store, where you can enjoy your matcha lattes, flat whites, and chia puddings among pots of mini cacti, ferns, and succulents.
Skye Coffee Co.
Another trendy spot to get your caffeine fix is the expansive Espacio 88 warehouse, where top-notch coffees are served from a vintage coffee van. This space also holds workshops, exhibitions, and events.
Hoppiness
No cool district would be complete without craft beer. Poblenou now boasts several craft beer spots, with Hoppiness being one of the favorites. At this cozy microbrewery, bearded hipsters serve homemade IPAs, stouts, and ales on tap. Don’t miss the deliciously tangy passionfruit beer.
Vintage Wares and New-age Design
Palo Alto
Named after the tech city in California, Palo Alto is Barcelona’s trendiest market. Housed in an old factory, it is filled with hip vintage clothing, local handicrafts, and designs, along with DJs and live bands. In the leafy garden area, you’ll find a variety of food trucks offering everything from vegan dishes to gourmet burgers. The market takes place on the first weekend of every month and is now so popular that entry tickets are required.
Noak Room
Hip Scandi design can be found in spades at the cozy Noak Room, a vintage furniture and homeware store. Unique pieces are sourced directly from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
BD Barcelona Design
The finest of Barcelona design has been curated in this huge, chic industrial warehouse. There’s an impressive range of items from vases and mirrors to lamps, chairs, and tables, designed by modern Catalan designers and even greats like Salvador Dalí and Antoni Gaudí.
Festivals Galore
Independent Barcelona Coffee Festival
The best coffee roasters in the city gather to demonstrate their barista skills inside one of Poblenou’s old warehouses in late October and early November each year. Expect free lattes and espressos for those willing to wait in the somewhat chaotic queues, as well as coffee tasting workshops and talks for the inquisitive.
Poblenou Open Day/Night
The barrio opens its doors for the city to explore its design schools, workshops, galleries, hotels, and even garage rooftops for one night in November and one day in May. This vibrant event showcases a myriad of activities hidden throughout the district: discover DJs performing in galleries, and cocktail bars located in old abandoned buildings and tech hotels.
Llum BCN
The city’s festival of light illuminates Poblenou and the @22 district in mid-February each year. Stunning light installations are projected onto the facades of hotels and tech companies, while others can be found tucked inside design schools and renovated factories. Although you may have to queue to see the finest displays, it’s typically well worth the wait.
