Streetlife: Passatge Sert

Steps away from Urquinaona is a narrow pedestrian pathway—a quiet oasis from the traffic and tourists of the city center—that dates back to a 19th-century textile factory. You may very well have passed by it a thousand times without noticing it. This peaceful pedestrian street that links Carrer de Trafalgar to Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt is open to the public only during business hours. But this quite passage in the Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera district hides a handful of boutiques and eateries that are worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.

• Róuri

  Born of the the idea of creating a collection that is both elegant and timeless coupled with a desire to affect change in an industry that can too often be exploitative, Róuri is a sustainable clothing brand producing beautiful handmade pieces for women since 2020. Each item is made to order, and most pieces are created in a small Barcelona workshop by Valeria and Martina who work together every day to make sure your pieces are unique and special.

• Ici et Là

  At the nexus of design, arts and crafts, you’ll find Ici et Là, featuring handmade art, furniture and more—all made in Barcelona. At Passatge Sert, you’ll find their gallery-showroom, where you can get a sample of their beguiling, bespoke creations, which are used for private and hotel/commercial projects alike. Our favorites from their online store include the “Tea Light” floor lamp, the small ant wire sculptures and, of course, the “Fat Ass” armchair.

• KippuraBcn

  Created in 2014 by Salla, a Finnish resident in Barcelona for many years, KippuraBcn is a slow fashion brand that is 100% handmade. From her early years Salla had a passion for sewing and beautiful, hand-crafted items. This love of handmade objects prompted her to develop her own brand of unique bags, scarves and woven accessories. KippuraBcn is mixture of two cultures, Nordic and Mediterranean, that uses natural materials such as linen, cotton and wool, giving a light, classic look.

• Nomad Coffee Lab & Shop

  Unique seasonal favorites like “sangria espresso” and “pa amb tomàquet espresso” prove that Nomad is by no means an ordinary cup of Joe. Roasted in Barcelona, the company touts freshly harvested, single origin coffees and is dedicated to the art and science of coffee. True to its wandering name, Nomad is can be found all over the city. Here on Passatge Sert is where they experiment with recipes and preparation methods. In Poblenou, they offer training courses, and in El Raval they’ve set up another small shop too.

• Casa Lolea

  Recognized worldwide and bubbling with irresistible red and white polka-dotted branding, Sangría Lolea is the gold standard for quality bottles of the popular Spanish drink. Home to much more than sangría, however, is Casa Lolea, the company’s very own restaurant, whose tables pour into a dining room that looks into Passatge Sert. Enjoy gourmet tapas and plates over cocktails featuring their signature sangrías, five in total. If you thought you didn’t like sangría, clearly you owe a visit to Lolea.

• Talisman Bistro Bar

  Coming out of Passatge Sert on the Trafalgar side and it’s hard to miss the royal blue awnings of Talisman. Tall ceilings give away to a polished bar that recalls the Blue Bar at New York’s Algonquin Hotel. “Cocktail hour” meets “bistro chic” here, with Mediterranean-inspired dishes, Spanish and Catalan tapas, over 70 wines from 10 different countries, as well as 15 kinds of cava and champagne. In the evening, this classy space doubles as an intimate concert venue.

  Published September 2, 2018, updated August 13, 2023.