Of all the neighbourhoods in the Catalan capital, El Born struck me as the place to hunt down the true taste of Barcelona. El Born was built by workers and fishermen on land owned by the Montcada family, whose name is still present in the district’s longest street (it runs from the port to the market).
A wander along Calle Montcada reveals high-end boutique shops nestled among traditional outfitters and a plethora of cafes and bars as well as the Picasso and Textile Museums.
Passieg de Born leads you from the imposing Santa Maria del Mar Basilica to the old Mercat de Born. Look at the church doors and see how it pays homage to the fishermen who carried the stones to build this great edifice.
These days, the Mercat de Born is an arts space hosting many exhibitions and events. Check out the ancient remains found underneath the original market floor.
On this main street I started my day at café El Born, ate lunch just along the street at La Pizza del Born and for dinner I headed to Cuines Santa Caterina, the restaurant housed within the less touristic market of Santa Caterina.
