Eixample means “expansion” in English and comes from the 19th Century when the city was looking to grow its borders. Located next to the Gothic district, Eixample comes with many famous landmarks like the Sagrada Familia and Casa Milá.
With many of the top bars and restaurants and excellent high street shopping. Home Club is here to give our suggestions on the best things to do in Eixample, Barcelona.
Things to do.
Architectural Style – Eixample looks a bit different from the rest of Barcelona with modernist architecture in every corner. The whole district has a grid-like layout, wide straight streets, square buildings, and local markets every few blocks – built by famous Spanish architects like Antoni Gaudí.
Famous Monuments – Your first stop should be La Sagrada Familia, a truly unique wonder with a style like you have never seen before. There is also the St Pau Hospital, where we have some great apartments if you want to stay nearby. Also, be sure to visit Casa Milá – another of Gaudí’s famous buildings. As a bonus, our Paseo de Gracia I apartment is located opposite this famous landmark and is a perfect point to start exploring the city.
High Street – The Eixample area is known for its large high street Passeig de Gracia, filled with shops and bars. The main square of Barcelona – Plaza Catalunya has some great international brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Channel. Plus, for groceries, there is also a local “El Corte Ingles” nearby.
Neighborhood Atmosphere – Eixample is so large it comes with many sub-neighborhoods with its own style. For example, Sant Antoni, and its famous market, is an area that is a delicate balance between old and new Barcelona. There is Esquerra with its craft beers scene and excellent restaurants.
Getting Around – Being so central getting the rest of the city isn’t an issue as you have plenty of busses, metros, and taxis close by. Passeig de Gracia and Diagonal are the biggest metro stations and they´ll be able to take you anywhere with no more than a couple of changes. Bus routes are on every major street as well as a direct shuttle to the airport, which is 25 minutes away.
Restaurants.
Eixample has a particularly high amount of quality restaurants and there are a few unknown hidden gems. Here are some of Home Club’s suggestions on where to eat in Eixample.
El Nacional – Just off the main street this is an excellent dining establishment with a large varied menu. Plus, it’s all set in a great atmosphere. Their tapas selection also offers some great vegetarian options.
Lasarte – A 3-star Michelin star restaurant under the amazing chef Paolo. Expect excellent presentation and wine pairings. The perfect place to come for dinner.
Roca Moo – Inside this trendy hotel is the restaurant opened by the Roca brothers, who also launched the famous “Celler de Con Roca”. Expect Michelin star quality food and great service from all the staff.
Baldomero – Not everything is going to be Michelin stars and large spaces, sometimes you want to feel the simplicity of eating at home, checkout Baldomero – it has healthy food, delicious desserts, and a family atmosphere hidden behind its garage door entrance.
Bars / Nightlife.
The district of Eixample is less busy at night due to the lack of plazas where people typically gather. In the central area, there are many LGBT+ friendly bars and clubs around the streets of Carrer de Balmes and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes.
Boca Grande & Boca Chica – This restaurant and cocktail bar combo is excellent at night due to the atmosphere and the music. They also host private functions in their room upstairs “The Apartment”.
Muti Club – The place is a hybrid of cocktail bar, wine bar, restaurant, and club. The interior design is dark, elegant, velvety, and has some fun details, such as the decoration that mixes vinyl and art deco wrapped in an 80s style.
Speakeasy – This clandestine cocktail bar is so exclusive it requires a password to get in. Inside, private rooms are available along with a great selection of wines, a perfect menu, and a warm underground design.
Example Eixample Apartments.
Looking to check out Eixample? Home Club has great apartments in the most exclusive locations. Stay in the most prestigious uptown neighborhood with great standards of living in a wide selection of large, modern apartments…
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By Tyler Wood.