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Welcome to Travelism.
We have a serious POV about travel & hospitality. Never in the history of humankind has the globe been more accessible. This is not a place to find a typical Cancun all inclusive resort review (but we believe in a better version of the ‘all inclusive’). This is a place to truly discover hospitality, culture, and experiences.
The places that will restore you. The unique Airbnb or boutique hotel that transplants you into a new culture. The street corner with the best Shawarma you could ever bite into. The dive bar you've never heard of. The restaurant on the cusp of being minted by the James Beard Foundation.
Focused on you with authentic, concise, and useful stories. We are a local driven, high-low, smart travel brief pushing beyond the cliche and basic.
Welcome to Edition #1: Poblenou, Barcelona
The Cool Kid of Barcelona: Why Poblenou Is Your Next Go-To Destination
Why it matters: Poblenou is where Barcelona breathes easy — beach-adjacent, crowd-distant, and increasingly essential.
The vibe: Forget the tourist throngs. This neighborhood trades chaos for charm, where laid-back mornings w/ espresso blur into wine-soaked nights. Think industrial-cool meets indie flair.
Where to Stay
Room with a view
The Hoxton, Poblenou: Stylish, social, and unmistakably Poblenou.
What makes it cool…
Endlessly cool, effortlessly local. The Hoxton captures Poblenou’s creative pulse with design-forward rooms, sunlit communal spaces, and that signature Hoxton energy — the kind that makes you want to extend your stay… twice.
🛁 Rooms with a view
Wake up to Sagrada Familia glowing on the horizon.
Upgrade to the apartment-style suite for soaking tubs, record players, and a slow morning ritual that feels more local than tourist.
Rooftop Pool Vibes
🌮 Rooftop goals
Yes, there’s a pool.
Even better — there are tacos. The rooftop taqueria is one of Barcelona’s best-kept secrets, pairing mezcal cocktails with skyline views that turn golden by sunset.
🛋 Design & detail
Think polished concrete, warm woods, and soft textiles that whisper “modern Mediterranean.” Each corner feels curated — art books on tables, terrazzo floors underfoot, and sunlight pouring through picture windows.
☕ The morning ritual
Grab coffee in the lobby café, open your laptop under a palm, and pretend to answer emails. The people-watching here? Elite.
🍸 Where to Drink: Cool, Local, Effortless
🍸 Balius Bar
Part speakeasy, part time capsule. Retro lighting, vermouth on tap, and the kind of cocktail list that turns one drink into three. Come for an aperitif, stay for the playlist.
🍷 Bormuth
Rustic, loud, and perfectly imperfect. Grab a glass of Rioja, a plate of croquetas, and lean into the chaos. This is where the real Poblenou nightlife begins.
🍸 D9
A neighborhood bar with a pulse. Always packed, always fun. Expect football on TV, locals spilling into the street, and gin & tonics poured like it’s an art form.
🥂 Dr. Stravinsky (a quick Uber away)
Experimental, theatrical, and worth the detour. Housed in El Born, this bar feels like a chemistry lab meets design studio — one of the best cocktail experiences in the city.
Where to dine, what to love 🍷
🍷 Masa Vins
A natural wine bar with instant magnetism.
Doors open, locals pour in, and suddenly you’re part of the buzz.
It’s intimate, energetic, and effortlessly chic — the kind of place that makes a glass feel like an experience.
🐟 Enoteca Paco Pérez
Two Michelin stars — enough said.
Inside the legendary Arts Hotel, Chef Paco Pérez turns seafood into poetry.
Each dish feels like the Mediterranean reimagined — elegant, inventive, unforgettable.
☕ Casa Taos
Slow Mov beans, specialty brews, and guest-chef lunches.
Pop in for a perfect flat white, stay for artisan sweets and calm design.
Even the mini shop feels curated — sustainable, slow, and stylish.
🍝 Benzina
Ten minutes outside Poblenou — but absolutely worth the ride.
A tight Italian lineup: four apps, a few pastas, a couple mains. No fluff, just fire.
Expect warm service, killer energy, and a post-dinner shot that seals the night in style.
🎨 What to Explore: Art, Corners & Character
🖼 Palo Alto Market / Palo Alto Gallery
A creative compound tucked inside an old factory. Once a month, it turns into Palo Market Fest — a mashup of design, food, and DJs under string lights and palm trees. When the market’s not running, you’ll still find ateliers, concept stores, and small galleries worth an afternoon wander. It’s where Poblenou’s artistic pulse beats loudest.
🌿 Hidden Corner: Parc del Centre del Poblenou
Jean Nouvel designed it — so you know it’s not just another park. Concrete meets jungle here, with wild grasses, art installations, and quiet benches wrapped in greenery. Step off the main drag, grab a take-away cortado, and sit for a while. It’s where the neighborhood exhales.
🏝️Where To Hang, Hint: La Playa
The vibe: 🏖 Poblenou Beaches: Sun, Sports & Chiringuito Culture Golden sands, volleyball nets, and that never-in-a-hurry Barceloneta energy—but calmer. Poblenou’s stretch of coastline is where locals come to move, lounge, and recharge between espressos and vermouths.
🍹 Chiringuito life
Beachfront bars keep the energy high and the sangria cold. Expect seafood paella, DJs spinning low-fi house, and the occasional impromptu beach party that rolls past sunset.
🏐 Bogatell Beach
Built for movement. Locals jog the boardwalk, volley in the sand, and dive into turquoise water between workouts. When you’re done, hit Chiringuito Escribà for seafood and sparkling wine.
🌅 Mar Bella
A little more eclectic and effortlessly cool. You’ll find surfers, creatives, and locals sipping Aperol at BeGay (one of Barcelona’s liveliest LGBTQ+ chiringuitos). Music drifts, energy flows, and sunsets here are pure gold.
🌴 Nova Icaria
For those who prefer the chill. Calm waves, paddleboards, and clusters of friends sharing wine under umbrellas. Grab a spot at Vai Moana, a beach bar with Polynesian flair and perfectly cold rosé.
Bottom Line
You won’t see all of Poblenou in one trip — and that’s the point. It’s a place worth returning to, again and again. Stylishly low-key, and just the right amount of hidden.
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