Bar Marsella stands at the corner of Carrer de Sant Pau and Carrer de Sant Ramon, easily identified by its aged, unpolished exterior that has remained largely unchanged since its founding in eighteen twenty. As the oldest bar in Barcelona,…
Parallel Cabaret History Walk
We will walk down the legendary Avinguda del Paral·lel and its adjacent Poble-sec side streets, which once rivaled Paris's Montmartre as Europe's wildest performance strip. Along the way, we will stop at historic playhouses, iconic cabarets, and atmospheric bohemian bars where artists and theatergoers have gathered for generations.
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1. Bar Marsella
2. Teatre Arnau
The Teatre Arnau on Avinguda del Paral·lel is recognizable by its historic cast-iron framework and its status as the city's last remaining barraca theater. Originally opened in eighteen ninety-four as a simple wooden structure, it provided…
3. Antic Cafè Espanyol
The Antic Cafè Espanyol occupies a corner of the Avinguda del Paral·lel in the El Raval neighborhood. It takes its name from the Gran Cafè Espanyol, a sprawling establishment that first opened in eighteen ninety-five. That original venue…
4. El Molino
El Molino is defined by the red, spinning windmill blades that crown its facade on Avinguda del Paral·lel. Opened in eighteen ninety-eight as a tavern called La Pajarera, the venue eventually became known as the Petit Moulin Rouge, a name…
5. Gran Bodega Saltó
Gran Bodega Saltó is defined by its eccentric, theatrical interior, where massive, century-old wine barrels sit alongside a surreal collection of dolls, sculptures, and kinetic artworks. Located on Carrer de Blesa, this space began over a…
6. Rouge Cocktail Club
The Rouge Cocktail Club is marked by the warm, red glow that spills from its doorway on Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes. Once a popular haunt for dancers from the nearby El Molino theatre, the venue developed a reputation for a louche, bohemian…
7. Tinta Roja Bar - Teatre
Tinta Roja Bar - Teatre sits on Carrer de la Creu dels Molers in the Poble-sec neighborhood. Occupying a former dairy farm, the building now functions as a performance space and cocktail bar designed to evoke the spirit of Argentine…