Streetlife: Rogent

EL GRANER. Rogent 69.

This shop offers heaps of earthy delights. Specialising in dried beans, grains, cereals and seeds, all the products are kept in lined, open burlap bags, which allow customers to see and smell exactly what they’re purchasing. There is also an endless supply of fresh herbs that adds colour to the wooden interiors and will satisfy any cook’s shopping list.

EL REFUGÍ. Rogent 18.

The restaurant El Refugí presents a fresh take on gastronomy. Given 24 hours notice, they will buy the ingredients you request and cook them to your taste. This approach—from the market to your table—guarantees fresh, preservative-free food. It’s designed for people with special dietary needs, as well as anyone who feels like being pampered for the evening.

ALBERT TORRES ARTESANIES. Rogent 21.

Whether you’re looking for furniture, mirrors, wood carvings or one-of-a-kind gift ideas, this shop offers unique, handmade items. Artist and craftsman Albert Torres is the director of the store, which is a full-on family affair with his wife, Glòria, managing the day-to-day and their son, Adrià, helping out whenever he can. Together, they provide a warm, personalised service with scrupulous attention to detail. Albert, among other artisans, contributes his best pieces to the sales floor, where signs of some peculiar personalities are brought to light.

EXTREM CLOT. Rogent 24.

Well organised and far from overcrowded, Extrem Clot offers gourmet products at a reasonable price. Customers can easily find what they’re looking for, be it high-end extra virgin olive oil (by the bottle or case), cosmetics you won’t find at your normal supermarket, gluten-free foods, delicious marmalades or hunks of cheese kept cool and accessible in a mini-fridge.

CSOA LA REVOLTOSA. Rogent 82.

This house on Carrer de Rogent has been occupied by squatters since 2007. The project has become a space that serves as a meeting point within the community and promotes the basic right to housing. Little by little, CSOA has gained support from different levels of society, including neighbourhood organisations like the Associació de Veïns i Veïnes del Clot and el Centre Cívic La Farinera. CSOA also hosts activities such as painting workshops and dance classes, along with talks, debates and meetings about gender, feminism and homosexuality.

SIENTÉ. Rogent 96.

Forget that café solo and see what tea can do for you. At Sienté, they have traditional green and black teas, and add different flavours to make them more delicious. Speciality teas are also available, such as Moroccan tea with honey, lemon and ginger, and rooibos teas made from a plant growing in the natural shrubland of South Africa. The shop also sells medicinal herbs to help with nagging headaches, the flu, digestion, detoxing and other health-related issues. Plus, Sienté has a warm salon upstairs where you can relax on a sofa with your choice of tea. “Spain is not a big tea-drinking society, so we have to stress the benefits of our products and make them appealing in creative ways,” said Anna, whose family took over the business about three years ago.