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Barcelona Neighborhoods: Eixample

Guides· Local Living

10 Apr
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Gràcia, Gotico, and El Born may receive all of the attention, but Barcelona has a wealth of other neighborhoods just as distinct as the touristy favorites. Time Out magazine recently declared the Esquerra de l’Eixample (Eixample left) as the 2020 coolest neighborhood in the world. So, what’s the definition of ‘cool’ in the midst of a global pandemic? Neighborliness, kind, helpful, inclusive, with a strong community and plenty of independent businesses. As the best Barcelona neighborhood to live in, L’Eixample checks all those boxes (and then some). So what is this neighborhood? Turns out it’s more than just one.

The District of L’Eixample

After the last of the old city walls were torn down in 1873, an overcrowded Barcelona took a deep breath and flowered outward into Eixample, which means ‘enlargement’ in Catalan. This huge (and hugely trendy) neighborhood is broken into five areas: new left, old left, right, Fort Pienc, la Sagrada, and Sant Antoni. An aerial view of Barcelona reveals its unique “blocks” of buildings constructed around a central open space and streets laid out in a grid format. The city has added additional pedestrian, cycling, and green space on some streets, especially after the 2020 COVID-19 quarantine.|

Old Left (Antigua Esquerra): This barrio encompasses everything from pigeon-filled Plaça Catalunya to la Sagrada Familia. The large, airy flats here tend to have high ceilings, small balconies overlooking the street, wrought iron railings, and architecture typical of the Catalan modernisme movement. The neighborhood has now become a trendy spot for a thriving café and bar scene that caters to locals and tourists alike. It also has numerous book shops and easy access via Metro and bus to the rest of the city.

New Left (Nova Esquerra): The newer section of Eixample retains the block and grid concepts, but with, well, newer buildings. Although it contains its share of hotels and some tourist traffic, the neighborhood is mostly for locals. It doesn’t lack for bustling cafes, restaurants (including 2-Michelin starred Disfrutar), and small city parks.

Right (Dreta): The right side of Eixample is architecturally similar to the left and spans from the far side of c/ Balmes to Passeig Sant Joan. The neighborhood includes touristy Plaça Catalunya, the posh Passeig de Gracia, and Urquinaona (fun to say, fun to visit). If you want to see what draws so many people to live in Eixample Dreta though, check out gardens like the one at Palau Robert, and Mercat de la Concepció, the neighborhood’s traditional food market.

La Sagrada: This is the neighborhood immediately surrounding La Sagrada Familia. Despite the obvious draw of tourists, the area does manage to retain a residential feel and daily amenities like food markets, pharmacies, and bakeries are still available at local prices. Most restaurants cater to the tourists, although there are exceptions.

Fort Pienc: If Barcelona were to have a Chinatown, Fort Pienc would be the closest thing to it. In addition to a plethora of Chinese restaurants and shops, the Fort Pienc barrio boasts the Arc de Triomf landmark. Passeig Sant Joan cuts through the area and is a popular route for bike commuters. Fort Pienc’s l’Estacio del Nord station and the Arc de Triomf train station mean easy access to transportation, as both local and regional trains and buses go through them. The large park next to Estacio del Nord is one of the biggest green spaces in the city and makes for a terrific place to take the dog for a walk.

Sant Antoni: Best known for its enormous, cross-shaped central food market with the steel skeleton frame, Sant Antoni is poised to become the next big attraction for visitors (much to the dismay of some locals). Yet, it is still an area where people live and work. It’s also the neighborhood closest to the historic area of El Raval, which sees heavy tourist traffic and a significant amount of petty crime. Despite this, Sant Antoni remains a popular area to live and work, perhaps because rents here tend to be lower than in other parts of Eixample.

Although Eixample may have captured the number one spot, there are plenty of other neighborhoods that also rise to the challenge of being the best place to live in Barcelona. More to come!

Reference: 40 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World Right Now, by James Manning. Time Out. October 2020.

 

About Teja Rau

Teja Rau handles content and operations for The Barcelona Edit. She is an avid traveler and seeks experiences that give unique insight into local culture and people. Her favorite part of Barcelona is all of Barcelona. She's an intermediate level flamenco dancer, occasional fiction writer, and loves all puns, not just the good ones. Connect with her on Instagram @tagbarcelona.

View all posts by Teja Rau


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A gorgeous misty morning spent up on Montjuïc. 🌿🍃
Saturday night below deck @caribbeanbarcelona 🇨 Saturday night below deck @caribbeanbarcelona 🇨🇺
How are you doing on our list of 22 things to do i How are you doing on our list of 22 things to do in 2022? Have you been to the Montjuic Cemetery? It may sound a bit morbid, but it's actually quite a beautiful way to spend a day, walking through the countless little paths and roads through the hillside that overlooks the Mediterranian sea. It’s bigger than you might think, so wear comfortable shoes, bring water and maybe a snack!
About that new bangin' brunch spot @hardwaresociet About that new bangin' brunch spot @hardwaresocietebcn yes, it's worth the hype. This is the Tiger Prawn Benedict 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 The food is delish, the design is chic and they strongly encourage you to bring your 🐶 what's not to love.
Have you Calçotada’d yet? Well what are you wai Have you Calçotada’d yet? Well what are you waiting for?! For those of you not familiar with this Catalan tradition, It is traditional barbecue where calçots (green onions) take center stage. The calçots themselves are served hot from the grill with pots of romesco tomato sauce to drag them through before eating. Yes, it gets messy. The meal consists of other grilled meats and veggies and of course plenty of pan con tomate. Calçotadas are boisterous, social affairs held at the end of winter into early spring, so gather your group and book your table now!
Nature and beautiful architecture.🙋🏻‍♀️ Never a bad day to head up to Parc Güell. When was the last time you were there?

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