Streetlife: Rambla del Raval

Created just over 20 years ago, this broad avenue brings some much-needed breathing space to the densely populated Raval neighborhood.

• Taco Alto Raval

  This taquería is bringing popular Mexican street eats back to their roots—quick, tasty bites to take away. Focusing solely on tacos, the short menu favors quality over quantity. “In Barcelona, foreign cuisines are often modified for a milder, more commercial palate,” explained co-owner Antonio Luna. “We use imported spices and condiments to create true Mexican flavors.”

• La Rouge

  Previously a bodega, La Rouge has recently been revamped, transforming it from a local neighborhood bar to a more modern establishment. Patrons can enjoy a range of cocktails, from classics to the staff’s own creations, and live music from Wednesday to Sunday, which includes folk, funk, flamenco and more.

• Salvador Seguí Commemorative Plaque

  On the corner of Carrer de Sant Rafael with Rambla del Raval, the memory of an assassination is inscribed on a ceramic plaque. The victim, Salvador Seguí, was murdered at this location on March 10th, 1923. Commonly known to his associates as "Noi de Sucre" (‘Sugar Boy’), due to his habit of eating a lump of sugar before drinking coffee, Seguí is commemorated as a "defender of the working class."

• Barceló Raval

  This four-star hotel, which opened in 2008, is crowned with a rooftop bar that has unique panoramic views of Barcelona. “We are the only hotel in the city with such a central perspective,” explained the hotel manager, Jacobo Álvarez. “Barceló acquired the plot of land where the hotel sits in a competition run by the city council and was given special permission to build above the standard number of stories.” Terraza 360 is open to the public and hosts DJ nights from April to November. “The hotel’s location attracts a lot of tourists,” Álvarez continued. “People from all over the world visit our terrace.”

• El Gato de Botero

  Fernando Botero’s statue of a rotund cat with childish features and a long tail has become an iconic symbol of the Rambla del Raval, although the street wasn’t always its home. The city council purchased the Colombian artist’s bronze feline in 1987, but didn’t find a permanent home for it until 2003. During that time, Botero’s cat roamed from Parc de la Ciutadella to a site by the Olympic Stadium then to a little square behind Barcelona's medieval shipyards. The statue is admired by locals and tourists alike, who clamber onto its back to have their photo taken.

• Palosanto

  A cozy tapas restaurant that radiates hearth and home, Palosanto’s modest menu offers traditional Spanish dishes made using old family recipes. The tiled floors and eclectic decor create a quirky yet comfortable feel, perfect for a catch up with friends over a reasonably priced mojito. Its outdoor seating is a stone’s throw from Botero’s cat and is shaded by the street’s swaying palm trees, making this a popular spot as the weather gets warmer.

• La Informal

  La Informal

  Originally a dairy before its conversion to a restaurant, this family-owned hamburger joint blends tradition and trend. “Our product is high quality at a low price,” explained owner Jose Manuel Franco. “We work for the enjoyment of our trade, not money—this is the Raval way.” La Informal offers a range of classic and vegetarian burgers, with toppings that have been perfected over time, carefully layered to create each signature flavor. A customer favorite is the "Ravelera." Made using curry bread, a host of spices and bona fide Spanish beef, this burger reflects the neighborhood’s patchwork of cultures.

• Suculent

  With the esteemed Barcelona chef Tony Romero at the helm, Suculent—a narrow alley of a restaurant with an ample terrace at the foot of the Rambla del Raval—has attracted much attention since opening in 2012. Suculent itself is a play on words, melding images of rich, luscious cuisine with the Catalan term sucar lent—to dip slowly. Everything cooked up in the kitchens here is meant to be savored until the last drop, and bread is provided for eager diners to sop up every iota of sauce, leaving nothing but clean plates and full bellies.

  Originally published March 2018, updated May 14, 2022.