There was a time when Poblenou was known as the “Catalan Manchester” due to its dense concentration of factories and chimneys. Today, that industrial past has mutated into something much more exciting. If you’re wondering what to do in Poblenou, the answer isn’t found in conventional tourist guides, but at the intersection of avant-garde design, urban art, and gastronomy with soul.
May is the perfect month to discover this district. The Mediterranean light bathes the exposed brick facades, the terraces buzz with life, and the neighborhood celebrates some of its most iconic events. Get ready for a route that combines historical heritage with a 21st-century spirit, culminating—as it must—with the sea breeze.
If your visit coincides with the month of May, you have the chance to experience the Poblenou Open Day. During this event, Barcelona’s creative district opens the doors of its design studios, artist workshops, advertising agencies, and showrooms.
It is a fascinating experience to understand why this neighborhood is the city’s epicenter of innovation. You’ll be able to enter renovated industrial warehouses where the ideas that move the world are born today. It’s the time to see live art, attend creator talks, and get lost in streets that usually keep their treasures hidden behind large metal gates.
Poblenou is home to the Disseny Hub Barcelona (DHUB), the imposing building in Plaça de les Glòries that serves as a museum for design, fashion, and decorative arts. But design here isn’t just inside museums; it’s on the walls.
Walking through Poblenou is like taking a guided tour of Barcelona’s best street art. Large-scale murals decorate the corners, transforming gray walls into vibrant canvases. We recommend exploring the area around Carrer Pere IV, where ancient architecture and modern art coexist in a unique visual harmony.
Unlike the Rambla in the city center, Rambla del Poblenou retains its local, neighborhood feel. It’s a tree-lined avenue connecting the heart of the district to the sea, flanked by Modernist buildings, local shops, and specialty coffee spots.
Here, the plan is to simply let go. You can start with a coffee at one of the local roasters that have proliferated in the neighborhood and continue browsing the concept stores where local design takes center stage. It’s the ideal place to buy a unique object or simply watch the world go by in one of Barcelona’s most authentic areas.
After a morning soaking up culture and design, the body craves nature. Poblenou’s layout allows you to go from an industrial setting to feeling the sand under your feet in a matter of minutes. Walking toward the coast is the logical step for any list of things to do in Poblenou.
Upon reaching Bogatell beach, the landscape opens up. And it is precisely here where the tradition of one of Barcelona’s most creative families comes to life: Xiringuito Escribà.
The Escribà family is synonymous with innovation in the city. If you’ve spent the morning visiting art galleries, sitting at our table is a continuation of that sensory experience through the palate. Our cuisine is not just tradition; it is a modern interpretation of seafaring recipes.
Our Rice Dishes: Prepared in plain sight, with the perfect cooking point and a selection of ingredients that speak of the Mediterranean. It is where design translates into textures and flavors.
The Table Ritual: Eating at our xiringuito is a spectacle. From the aroma of a freshly made paella to the setting of our terrace, everything is designed to make the meal the highlight of your route through the neighborhood.
For lovers of modern architecture, touring the 22@ district is a must. Sustainable buildings with impossible facades and vertical gardens mix with the brick chimneys that still stand. It is the contrast between what Barcelona was and what it aspires to be—a dialogue between its manufacturing past and cutting-edge technology.
Poblenou offers a different side of Barcelona: less noisy, more inspiring, and deeply connected to its sea. It’s a neighborhood that invites you to walk without haste, discovering a ceramic workshop on one corner and an architecture studio on the next.
If you are looking for what to do in Poblenou, look for the mix. Look for the culture in its galleries, the design in its streets, and the excellence of its gastronomy. At Xiringuito Escribà, we are proud to be part of this creative fabric, and we’ll have the table set for you facing the Mediterranean to make your day in the neighborhood simply unforgettable.
Planning to visit? May is a high-demand month in the neighborhood. We recommend booking your table at Xiringuito Escribà in advance to secure your spot on the most iconic terrace of the Barcelona coastline.
See you at Bogatell!
