The district of Poble Sec unassuming and unexpected
- One of the best things about being based in Poble Sec is having easy access to the slopes and sights of Montjuïc. Take an evening stroll up to the impressive Magic Fountain display, relax in the serene Laribal gardens, or go for a swim in the Olympic-sized swimming pools of Bernat Picornell.
Poble Sec is also famous for having more than its fair share of theatres, and is trying to revive its reputation as the hub of variety shows and vaudeville. El Molino (think Moulin Rouge) on Parallel Avenue is the most famous theatre, but youll also be within comfortable walking distance of the Teatre Grec. This is the flagship venue for a renowned international festival of theatre, dance and music that takes place every summer.
When it comes to local options for eating out, theres a fair choice on offer. At the top end of the scale (and the barrio) is the Rías de Galicia, serving fresh seafood straight from the Spanish seas. A little easier on the wallet is La Bella Napoli, a Poble Sec stalwart, which is family-run and always gets a good review. If youre more interested in tracking down some traditional Catalan cuisine, you cant do better than La Tomaquera a down-to-earth restaurant (cash only, no bookings) thats often packed with locals. Just along from it is a surprising find; the attractively decorated Luki, which specialises in traditional, Aragonese cuisine.
Luckily, the dry town of Poble Sec isnt short of a few watering holes. Ring the doorbell to get into Barcelona Rouge; an intimate, opulent, velvet-clad setting that packs a mean cocktail. Then theres the colourful old bar of Gran Bodega Saltó - a former wine store decorated with quirky sculptures and rows of barrels. For an even more rustic feel, you could try Quimet i Quimet, which is run by the fourth generation of the same family. Bordered by wine-lined walls, this small venue (standing room only) has established a name for itself as one of the best tapas bars in Barcelona.
If you fancy a nightclub later on, Poble Secs most (in)famous spot is La Sala Apolo, whose Anti-Karaoke nights on Mondays (followed by Crappy Tuesdays the next night) are legendary. Its frequented by both locals and tourists alike, who make full use of its ballroom-sized dance floor. Being based in Poble Sec also means youre just an avenue crossing away from the barrio of Raval, which is a brilliant area for bar hopping.
Got an opinion about this neighbourhood? Any burning questions about staying here?
Let us know below and we'll be in touch faster than you can say Cava Sangría. For full information on our approach to users comments on our site, please see our publishing policy. Please feel free to contact us by phone or email if you have any questions about it.
Our policy on publishing comments
Why we want your comments
On various pages throughout this site we invite you to leave comments and ask questions about places and subjects of interest and on the accommodation that we provide.
We believe that your opinion is always worth hearing and your ability to share insights, stories, tips and suggestions through our comments function is an important part of the online service that we offer.
We will always provide a response to any comment that requires one so feel free to ask questions or raise issues.
How comments are moderated
The last thing we want to do is censor your opinions or to prevent posts appearing about negative aspects of the city or activities and locations that we feature. Comments will only be taken down if:
- They contain swear words or insults.
- They advertise a business or service (we are however happy to consider covering services provided in Barcelona on our blog).
- They break the law.
- They are off-topic or have been left for malicious reasons by an anonymous source (spam).
In short our policy is to publish comments unless they are at risk of damaging the quality of our website or are likely to result in legal or technical difficulties.
Transparency will always be one of our most important values and we go to great efforts to ensure your feedback remains at the heart of what we do so please don´t hesitate to get in touch!
Sandra McNicol
Marketing Director
