Poble-Sec

Poble-Sec (Catalan for 'Dry village') is Barcelona’s old but vibrant performing arts district, a centrally located neighbourhood boasting elegant 19th-century architecture. The neighbourhood is so named because it had no source of water, until a fountain was built in the late 19th century. Prior to this, the area was outside of the city’s walls and inhabited mainly by residents that couldn’t afford the higher prices for accommodation inside the walls. Once incorporated ( a small section of the original wall can still be found at the end of Paral·lel) it became a dynamic part of Barcelona, generating electricity that would power the city’s development throughout the late 19th century and well into the 20th. Nowadays it is known more for its ample offering of theatres and nightclubs, making it Barcelona’s top entertainment district.

Despite being so close to key landmarks of Barcelona, it doesn’t tend to be nearly as crowded or full of tourists as some other neighbourhoods. Plaça Espanya borders it to the west, the Ramblas or Boquería to the north and the port, museums and World Trade Center to the east. But here one can enjoy an evening here and feel like they’re seeing a “real” part of the city – an area much less inundated by tourists.

We fell in love with Poble Sec because of the incredible culinary offering it has had for the past few decades. The neighbourhood is a hotbed of young chefs running some of the most exciting restaurants in the city. This makes it the perfect setting for a tapas tour – the food is exceptional, with key traditional dishes offered with a little contemporary twist.