The Gotic reaches up to Plaza Catalunya and it's bordered by the Rambla, so includes some crowded shopping streets and very commercial places which I won't talk about. I prefer the labyrinth-like tiny hidden streets with small cozy bars and interesting shops. Of course, nothing here is ever tourist-free, but at least this part is tolerable.
The Gotic is actually a place for alternative people and nightlife. It's where I go out, always. The bars here are grungy, ecletic and usually small. One of my favourites is Sub Rosa (pics below), a tiny place with classy vintage decor and the best strawberry daiquiris in the whole city. Just next to it there is a skater-themed bar, Nevermind - which has a companion a little further down called Bollocks, with the same kind of decor and music. It doesn't get any grungier than these two bars. But my favourite one so far is Rabipelao, a Venezuelan bar with a Carribean feel, and the best (and cheapest) Mojitos you can get. And let's not forget Mariatchi, Manu Chao's very own bar where I got to meet him once. And that's just a fraction of what's going on around the Gotic at night.
In the center of all this there's Plaza Tripi (pic below). It's actual name is Plaza George Orwell, but even in Google it appears with it's loving nickname - just because it used to be full of people tripping out on all kinds of drugs. Now the situation is a bit different, but the plaza still mantains its old glory. I used to live on Escudellers, a street leading to that plaza. Getting offered a number of drugs on my way home was just part of my daily life back then. But at least it has the best vegan places in town, all next to each other.
Just next to that, there's the far more reputable and touristic Plaza Real (pic above). With its palm trees, fountain and Gaudi streetlight in the center, it's a nice place to hang during the day, and when it gets dark it starts brimming with nightlife. There are some clubs here like Jamboree and Karma, but I'm not really a fan of those. What I really like is Pipas, a hidden bar which is actually an appartment. Normally you would have to ring the doorbell and wait for someone to open the door for you, although nowadays (ever since the New York Times wrote about it, apparantely) it's so full of guiris that the door always stays open.
Oh and by the way, if you're a plant lover like me, just look up at the terraces while walking around the Gotic. There are some amazng jungle-like ones, like the one above!
Next to Plaza Real there's Ferran, a shopping street which is nothing of interest. But one of the smaller streets that cross it, Avinyo, is one of my favourites. This street has the best churreria in town (pic above). If you haven't heard of churros, they're fried, sugary and delicious! And this one sells them for just one euro a pack. It's really really tiny and you usually have to wait for the new batch, since their churros run out the moment they're being made, but it's soo worth it! Around this street, they are also many unique vintage shops that sell furniture, dolls, lace, wooden toys, paintings and whatnot.
Then there's the Catherdral - which has to be mentioned of course, but I won't talk about it either as there's already so much touristic info available. But just next to it there's an enchanting hidden spot, a tiny square with trees and a litle fountain: Plaza Felip Neri. There are often people sitting around playing guitars and singing. And you'd notice there are lots of holes in the walls, they come from the bullets with which people were being executed here.
A little further down there's Santa Maria del Pi, an impressive church surrounded by markets. I preffer the one on the back - the art market! Proffessional painters selling amazing works, I can spend hours there even though it's so small. And here we've reached the border where the highly commercial and touristic part of the barrio starts, so I will be concluding this post.
Of course just one post on this barrio is far from enough; in the coming posts I will explore in detail the bars, shops and plazas of the Gotic. So stay tuned!
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