The winding medieval streets and bodegas of El Born suggest it’s all about stepping back in time here, but you could just as easily propel yourself to the future by going clubbing in this anything-goes district. There is also a classy, artistic and fashionable aspect to El Born, which means the district caters to just about anyone.
To find out why everyone is talking about El Born these days, come here just before midnight to share Catalan tapas or Asian dumplings, and laughs with the locals. Ask them for tips on the best clubs to dance the samba and party the night away.
After experiencing El Born’s party side, adopt a gentler pace the next day to discover the area’s many cultural attractions. First, browse the Museu Picasso and the Museu Europeu d'Art Modern (MEAM) for two very contrasting museum experiences.
Have lunch on a bistro terrace along Passeig del Born before strolling to the historic Born Market or, in the opposite direction, to the 14th-century Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar. The church is stunning and the old market hall is home to the Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, one of Barcelona’s archaeological museums.
This part of El Born belongs to the historically upscale Ribera-Born Quarter. La Ribera was once home to wealthy merchants and nobles and the neighborhood still has a strong focus on artisan skills and the arts today.
Whatever you decide to do in El Born, don’t miss the Palau de la Música Catalana. This modernist concert hall has an interior so awe-inspiring and unusual that you need to see it to believe it. The building was designed by Lluis Domenech i Montaner, a talented Catalan architect who once taught Antoni Gaudí.
Drop in at the district’s designer fashion stores in preparation for your next night out.
El Born is wedged between the Gothic Quarter, the heart of Barcelona’s Old City, and Ciutadella Park, home to the Barcelona Zoo. To the south is the harbor, where you can taste fresh Mediterranean seafood as part of a steaming paella. Book a table at the 7 Portes restaurant, a local icon that has made the famous dish here since 1836.