La Barceloneta
Barcelona’s popular seafront neighbourhood
La Barceloneta was home to fishermen until the 18th century and is now a major tourist attraction. Built in 1753 on a small triangular appendage that penetrates the sea, its attractions include its beaches, narrow streets and seafront full of bars and restaurants.
Until the middle of the 18th century, la Barceloneta was practically uninhabited.The first houses, the homes of fishermen and places of entertainment for local residents, were built in 1754.
The first bullfighting ring in la Barcelona – now demolished – was built there, in addition to the first spas such as the Orientals and the first sports centres such as Club Natació Barcelona.And while the Catalan capital has a strong industrial past, it was and is the door to the Mediterranean.
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Why visit la Barceloneta?
The district, which is bordered by Moll d’Espanya in Port Vell, the Born district and the Mediterranean Sea, is home to the Barceloneta and Sant Sebastià beaches, the History Museum of Catalonia and the Clock Tower, the area’s oldest construction, which was built in 1772 as a lighthouse for the port.
Below the Ronda Litoral motorway, the end of the urban area of Barceloneta gives way to the a park of the same name, a wide, green space ideal for jogging, cycling and skating.
And just a few steps from la Barceloneta, in the area of Port Vell, you can go shopping in the Maremagnum shopping centre, take in a movie at its modern cinemas or immerse yourself in the underwater world of the Barcelona Aquarium, one of the most important in Europe.
In addition to its beaches, la Barceloneta is known for its charisma, 18th-century houses, gastronomy and street life. It is a traditional seafarers’ district that was originally built with the aim of solving the area’s housing problems. Due to its proximity to the sea, it became home to fishermen, sailors and dock workers. This is why la Barceloneta developed its exceptional gastronomy based on fish and seafood.
Restaurants and paella in la Barceloneta
Some of the tastiest rice dishes in Barcelona can be found at some restaurants,all in the neighbourhood of la Barceloneta. And if fish and paella aren't your thing, don't worry. There are options for all tastes and pocketbooks, including Asian, Turkish, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
If there is one popular tapa in the old seafaring area of Barcelona, it's the Barceloneta "bomba". This dish of humble origins from the heart of the emblematic Barcelona neighbourhood. The "bomba" is a potato ball or croquette stuffed with minced meat, fried and covered in aioli sauce and the famous Catalan "brava" sauce. The recipe has become a culinary icon of the Catalan capital.
The best culinary offer in la Barceloneta is along passeig de Joan de Borbó and the boardwalk. There you will find quality restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious paella after an intense day of sightseeing throughout the city.
How do you get to la Barceloneta?
On the Red Route of Barcelona Bus Turístic hop off at the Museu d’Història de Catalunya stop to explore la Barceloneta by following passeig de Joan de Borbó.
For the most curious of you
- Did you know? On la Barceloneta beach you can see the sculpture popularly known as "Els cubs" (the cubes), which was built during the district’s renovation for the 1992 Olympic Games. Its real name is "L’estel ferit" (the wounded shooting star) and it was created by the artist Rebecca Horn, whose aim was to immortalise the charming but dilapidated hut-like beach bars that had populated la Barceloneta before the Olympics.
- Local’s tip: Carrer de Sant Carles preserves one of the few original houses left in la Barceloneta, which has been restored as an 18th-century Barcelona interpretation centre.
- A must: To stroll along the seafront and to enjoy tapas and seafood after spending a day on the beach.
