Image by Bill Sinclair

Built in 1892 Mercat de l’Abaceria is situated on the busy Traveserra de Gràcia, just 200 metres from the Library, very near John Lennon Square (see the Lennon square article) and even nearer to Bodega E. Marín (see the Bodega E. Marin article). it is one of four markets in Gràcia and one 39 food markets in the city.

You’ll find some of the very best veggies, fruit, fish, meat, cheeses and herbs here as well as Japanese sushi and fresh pasta, an Iraqi grocer selling food and drink from the eastern mediterranean, and a second-hand bookstall where all the books (some in English) are just € 1.00.

The market has three bars, all of which sell food prepared with ingredients from the market, so, when you’re done shopping for veggies you can cool your heels and slake your thirst before buying your fish, meats and cheeses.

The city council does a really inspiring job of promoting the city’s 43 markets (39 food markets and 4 non-food markets) – with healthy eating tours led by nutritionists – including tours for diabetics and weight watchers – practical demonstrations on food preparation and resource packs for local schools.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mercat de l’Abaceria Central | Bars, Shopping, Snacks
Travessera de Gràcia, 186 | Gracia | +34932136286
Mon – Thu 07:00 – 14:30 & 17:30 – 20:30, Fri – Sat 06:00- 15:00 & 17:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Anna Boluda

This great shop is in one of the most interesting streets in Gràcia, carrer Astúries, filled with some local designers, a couple of eco food shops and some tiny soap or small tea businesses. And among all that, Olokuti is one of my favorite places. 

First, because they sell a lot of interesting stuff: from hippy-style Asian-made clothes to photo frames from recycled materials, fair-trade coffee and my favorite section: what they call eco-gadgets. That includes several types of solar chargers for cellphones or laptops, a bottle that filters tap water or a radio for the shower that uses water pressure as energy. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth a visit to see what they have there. I love it. 

The other interesting thing about the shop is that it is located in what used to be a real house, and they haven’t destroyed it in the process to become a business. So you can see the real room sizes, where the original doors and windows where and -the best of it- the different floor tiles for every space!

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Olokuti | Shopping | T-shirt € 20
Astúries 36 | Gracia
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 21:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Anna Boluda

This wonderful store has just opened (Dec. 2011, so new that their website is still under construction) and it’s already one of my favorites. And if, like me, you think that good local food is a great souvenir to take back home, you’ll love it too.

Els Bandolers de Gràcia offers the most typical Catalan products on its best quality options. From a selection of wine and cava (Catalan sparkling wine) and olive oil to sweets or cold meats. I haven’t had time to try them all yet, but I can already recommend the ‘fuets’ and ‘secallones’ (thin cured sausages) and the cans of wild mushrooms. My favorite so far is the selection of ‘olivadas’ (olive paste), specially the Arberquina one (arberquinas are tiny super tasty green olives from the south and interior parts of Catalonia).

On my ‘to try’ list are the local artisans beers and the ‘calçotada’ sauce (the one that is used with spring onions but that works perfectly well with any other grilled veggies too). And I’m sure it won’t take long for me to get back there and see what else they have…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Els Bandolers de Gràcia | Shopping | Olive paste € 3.50
Verdi 12 | Gracia
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 14:30 & 16:00 – 22:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Anna Boluda

Maybe you need to be crazy about shoes (as I am) to appreciate this shop, but I have to confess that I am nuts about it. Too bad it’s not cheap or I’d probably try to buy the whole collection!

Nagore is a local brand of shoes. Well, actually it started in Menorca (one of the Balearic islands), but the only shop in the continent is this one in the Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona. They are a wild combination of funny design, the bravest colors, eco materials and bright colors. From sandals to high-heeled boots, for women, men and children, but only for open-minded people. 

Why do I say that? Because it’s hard for me to imagine some conservative looking person with some loud orange ankle boots or grass green sandals. Although they also sell more classical brown and black versions too…

I specially like the fact that they use vegetable tanning for the leathers, and either natural or recycled rubber for the soles. The shop itself is so nice I can’t help but going in to have a look every time I pass by. 

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nagore | Shopping | Ankle boots € 120
Astúries 50 | Gracia
Mon – Sat10:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Anna Boluda

This is the place I have chosen for breakfast on my birthday this year. I can’t think of a sweeter place to start such an important day!

Vreneli is a discreet spot in the Rius i Taulet square, with a quite few cozy tables inside and the best selection of teas in the whole city. Also, the variety of cakes and cookies is just wonderful. The best ones, I think, are the brownie and the muesli and chocolate cookie. But there are also butter and jam options, some of them in the form of smiley faces. 

At lunch time they also serve light snacks, some sandwiches and crepes. But honestly, I prefer going there just for a mid-morning or afternoon relaxed moment. 

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Vreneli café | Coffee & tea | Tea cup € 2,20
Plaça Rius i Taulet 8 | Gracia
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

When you go out to eat have you ever experienced that you ask for something very easy to prepare, let’s say for example a sandwich, but once they serve it you can’t help to think they deeply hate to make sandwiches? Come on! It’s just a sandwich! What have I done to you to deserve this?

Well, I know a place that is totally the opposite of a bad experience. At I Qué? Bar they execute their job with love and they care about what they do.

Feel free to ask anything, never mind if it’s a sandwich or one of their very exquisite and crusty pizzas, I’m pretty sure you will enjoy your meal.

It’s not a complex menu, but every time I go there I get surprised because they really know how to deliciously prepare those plain dishes. The last time I went to the I Qué? (Catalan, meaning “So what?”) I was so happy that I asked for a Tiramisu as a dessert and I think I almost cried because of the infinite happiness I felt.

Considering their constant success, in order to ensure a table for their customers at the diner time, tables are reserved for dinners from 21:00.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
I Qué? | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Mediterranean) | Meal from € 9.00
Topazi 8 | Gracia
Sun – Thu 06:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 06:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

I must confess one of my all-time favourite hobbies is seeing people. I can’t help it, I’m very curious about people. Personally, sometimes I like to go to La Virreina square, located at Barrio de Gracia, to spy the “urban fauna” and seeing their behavior and fashion. I enjoy imagining what they do, what they think or where they’re going.

La Virreinas square is a great scene to interact with other people.

It’s one of my loved spots because it offers so many options. I see that place as a beginning of a great night. Sometimes I propose that place as a meeting point with my friends.

Once we’re together and considering our mood we can stay there or pick a terrace from the three options of bars you can find located there or perhaps hiking through the area looking for some new bars or restaurants.

Have you tried a “clara” before? I can’t imagine a best way to taste a clara for the first time than sat at some of those terraces located at La Virreina square, surrounded by such special neighborhood.

If you want to experience a typical Barcelona’s night away from the city`s center you should start here. A magic night is almost guaranteed.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
La Virreina’s Square | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks
Plaça de La Virreina | Gracia
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

The Teatreneu is a big place. Actually it is big enough to develop a bar, a restaurant for smokers and non-smokers, a small terrace and an alternative theatre without interference between all these activities.

Let’s talk about the restaurant. The concept is pretty simple: it doesn’t matter what you would like to ask for eating, every dish worth exactly the same and just the drinks would affect the final receipt. It’s a great place to meet with a group of friends, there’s space enough for almost everyone.

The theater offers what bigger places perhaps wouldn’t present attending commercial interests, even though the Xavier Fabregas hall is not as small as you can imagine. Some of them are quite good!

You don’t need to leave the place to discuss the actors, the scenery, the direction or the general performance of the show. Before or after the playing you can drink or eat something at L’Escenari restaurant.

The Teatreneu is a place you need to be acquainted with it if you love theatre, food and Gracia.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Teatreneu Café -Theatre | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Theaters, Restaurants (Med) | Meal € 12:00
Térol, 26 | Gracia | +34932853712
Mon – Fri 19:00 – 01:30, Fri – Sat 19:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

This place great tip if you love cooking international recipes at home, but can’t seem to find some of the ingredients because they are odd here (never mind how popular they are in other latitudes). I’m talking about DeliShop, the kind of food and cooking supplies store you were looking for.

DeliShop develops an interesting culinary and commercial concept (world cooking basics), ideal for a city like Barcelona where an important proportion of its population comes from so many and different places.

What would you like to eat today? Where does that flavor come from? Let your appetite pick up the right destination: Maybe Japan or India, China, Thailand, North or South America? If you feel curious about other cultures you should go to the DeliShop and take a look. You will make a trip around the world at a glance.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
DeliShop | Art & culture, Shopping
Travessera de Gracia 141 | Gracia | +34932389945
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

The Bonobo bar can be more than a bar if you are with the right company and also in the right mood. Everything is fine with it but I have a theory about this place: it can accelerate your feelings somehow. If you feel pretty some night and you go there you will feel prettier after some minutes. The same occurs if you feel happy or sad, so try to use this place powers wisely.

I think the key is the company you choose to go there. That could mean the difference between a great night and a hard long night. However, you could say this happens with any place, but if you go you will understand why I’m right. There’s something special operating there, something that we’re not able to perceive until is too late, so when we realize we are happy that happiness is hard to stop.

This place is located at a very quiet street of Barrio de Gracia and it’s away enough of the neighborhoods rhythm to be unaware by the most of locals, so not everyone will go there unless they already know it. Pay attention to this trick before going in: if you think your mood connect with these smiles you see from the outside feel free to get in. Something special is waiting for you behind that door.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bonobo Bar | Bars | Beer € 2.50
Santa Rosa 32 | Gracia | +34932188796
Tue – Sun 16:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona