Do you want to know the hidden corners of El Born? If you ask any tourist or local which is the most charming neighbourhood in Barcelona, the most likely answer is El Born. It is Barcelona’s most bohemian neighbourhood and has a special flavour and charm that captivates everyone who visits it.
What many people don’t know is that El Born is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Barcelona and that’s why it hides many secrets. From Musik Boutique Hotel we are going to reveal the best hidden corners of El Born, so that you can get to know Barcelona as well as we do.
Jon Cake
Let’s start with one of the hidden corners of El Born, a must if you’re hungry, because at Jon Cake you can try the best cheesecakes in the city. Jon was an aeronautical engineer who decided to swap planes for frying pans and went on to work in such important places as El Celler de Can Roca and La Tasqueria.
In the middle of the pandemic he decided to start trying his hand at cheesecakes and the results were so exquisite that it didn’t take him long to become famous. When you go to the restaurant, you can choose whether you want just one slice or you prefer to take the whole tart – they’re finger-licking good!
L’Antic Teatre
Very close to where Musik Boutique Hotel is located, just a few metres from the Palau de la Música, you can visit one of the most emblematic venues in the El Born district and one of Barcelona’s hidden corners. It is a cultural centre with a very daring and innovative programme and a venue with a spectacular terrace in the centre of Barcelona.
You can drop in for a drink at Antic Teatre at any time of year and you’ll find yourself surrounded by an atmosphere so bucolic that you’ll fall in love with it.
Palau de la Música Catalana
The Palau de la Música Catalana was built as the home of the Catalan Choral Society by the architect Domènech i Montaner in 1905. However, the Palau is now much more than that and has become part of Barcelona’s heritage and the scene of the city’s cultural and social life.
This is one of the best places in El Born to visit, because it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its impressive modernist building and excellent acoustics.
El Born Old Market
The Old Market of El Born is one of the most recognisable places to visit in the neighbourhood, especially for its history. Formerly the neighbourhood’s market, it closed its doors in 1971 and became a small museum known as the Centre of Culture and Memory, where you can see what the city was like hundreds of years ago.
Here you can enjoy an exhibition of the archaeological remains of what the city once was and there are also numerous musical, theatrical and literary activities.
Remains of the Temple of Augustus
The Temple of Augustus is another of the hidden corners of El Born. It was located in the forum of Barcino and was used to pay homage to this emperor in ancient Rome. But now you can visit the remains of this imposing temple inside the headquarters of the Centro Excursionista de Cataluña, located in a small street leading off the Plaça de Sant Jaume.
Originally, the temple had more than 30 columns, but today only 4 remain, but it is still an impressive sight. These columns are 2,000 years old and more than 9 metres high, so you can’t miss them on your holiday in Barcelona.
Carrer Argenteria
Carrer Argenteria is one of the city’s medieval gems and will help you understand what Barcelona was like at the time. This is one of the most beautiful streets in El Born and a clear example of the precious metal trade that existed in the city. Take a look at every detail and try to close your eyes for a moment to travel back in time mentally.
La Senda
La Senda is a contemporary art space in El Born, which stands out for its support of the most daring artistic creations and the talent of emerging artists on a national and international level.
We recommend you visit the space itself, as it is a former textile workshop that has been renovated and converted into an art gallery, with a 200 square metre central hall. Are you ready to enjoy the most diverse and interesting exhibitions by artists such as Mathieu Pernot, Jordi Bernardó and Ola Kolehmainen, among many others?
Museo Picasso
The Picasso Museum is hidden among the streets of the El Born district and has more than 4,200 works by Pablo Picasso. This space was inaugurated in 1963 and explains the link that the artist had with Barcelona, through the most complete collection of the works of his youth.
The works are arranged chronologically in five rooms in a Gothic-style palace. Both the building and the paintings are worth admiring, which is why we have selected it as one of the best hidden corners of El Born.
Bar Sanz
We finish our selection of the best hidden corners of El Born, with a gastronomic proposal much loved by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. This is Bar Sanz, a bar where the quality of the food is worth much more than the beauty of its premises. Here you’ll find the best sandwiches in town, but you don’t have to pay attention to the decoration.
What did you think of the hidden corners of El Born? Barcelona is a wonderful city with hundreds of things to discover. If you want to stay in the city centre and save time and money on your transport, don’t hesitate to check the website of our accommodationMusik Boutique Hotel, which will allow you to rest as you deserve on your holidays.
