Neighborhoods of Barcelona: The Unpolished Charm of El Born, Barcelona, Spain

There are many wonderful neighborhoods in Barcelona that make it the great city it is, but one of our favorites – if not our favorite – has got to be El Born. Located in between the Gothic Quarter and Ciutadela Park, El Born has all the charm and history of medieval Europe, yet also the artsy, modern cool of current times, including hip boutiques, cutting edge art galleries, and trendy restaurants.

Narrow cobble stone streets and tree-lined squares characterize El Born, making it one of the most picturesque parts of town. Walking around the neighborhood was one of our favorite things to do, whether it was to pop into some shops or people-watch from one of the many outdoor cafes. El Born has a low-key bohemian vibe, with balconies decorated in green plants, laundry drying in lines above, and pops of color wherever you look. Funky stores line the streets, and restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops can be found on practically every block.

The restaurant scene is quite amazing in Barcelona, particularly in El Born, where all the innovative food shops and restaurants seem to be. We had some excellent meals in El Born and all catered to kids. One of our favorite restaurants was called Cuines Santa Caterina – right next to the Santa Caterina market – and the menu was incredible. Everything from tapas to chicken curry to cheeses to yummy veggies and salads were on the menu and it was the best meal of our trip. Alsur Café was another amazing restaurant, with a healthy, mediterranean slant. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).