UPDATED JUNE 2024
Barcelona’s El Born is a centric neighbourhood just across the street (which would be Via Laietana) from the slightly more touristy El Gótico. It is home to some of the best eating and drinking places in town, and is also bustling with charming little shops showcasing local artists and designers and hand-made treasures from all around the world.
The best way to explore El Born area is by getting lost in this labyrinth of narrow alleys, but I put together a map of my favourite interior design-related places, so you don’t miss a thing! And don´t forget that some of the most interesting art museums of Barcelona are also located in El Born, including Picasso Museum, the European Museum of Modern Art and Moco Museum.
1. Marea Verde
A striking example of a shop beautiful both on the inside and on the outside! The building used to be a pharmacy, and it preserves the interiors – pink cement tile floors and art nouveau furniture – and the modernist mosaics on the facade – arguably the most beautiful in its kind that you will find in Barcelona. Inside you will discover a lovely selection of pot plants, and prices are very reasonable.
Ronda Sant Pere, 40. Web
2. Ici et Là
A colourful art gallery featuring furniture, lighting and artwork made in Barcelona by local artists, represented by Isabelle, the founder of the gallery. Upon request, any piece can be made in a custom size. The Catman, K. Fabrizzi, V. Linares, I. Fortuny, Josep Cerdá – are among the artists and creators whose works make up Isabelle’s collection.
C/ de Sant Pere Més Alt, 43. Web
3. La Casa de las Lámparas – Abelux
If you don’t want to go for vintage, here is the biggest shop for lamps and lighting solutions in Barcelona. Four floors packed with table, ceiling, wall and other types of lamps in a variety of styles, including some gorgeous crystal chandelier lamp, such as the one you can see in Gemma’s Barcelona Home Tour.
Carrer de les Jonqueres, 18. Web
4.Working in the Redwoods
Miriam Cerneda gave up a career in industrial design and jewelry to pursue her true passion – the ceramic art. She revives artisanal modeling techniques and classical forms from ancient civilizations to create organic pieces taking us back to our roots, both utilitarian and decorative.
Her current collections are inspired by the simplification of classical forms from ancient civilizations, embarking on a journey along the ancient Silk Road, starting from the Mediterranean through Spain, Italy, Greece, Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, and Asia.
C/ de Lluís el Piadós, 4. Web
5. Concret
Hidden in a small alley two steps of the beautiful Gothic church Santa María del Mar, Concret is a design shop where you will find a huge and very global and eclectic selection of objects from coloured Czech crystals and untreated sheepskins to local design icons, such as a Miguel Milà lamp.
Carrer de la Volta dels Tamborets, 5. Web
6. OMG BCN
This fun and colourful concept store is packed with prints, accessories, ceramics, lifestyle and design objects from local designers and brands like Octaevo. Everything is manufactured locally too.
C/ dels Corders, 7. Web
7. Flor de Barcelona
The four-petalled almond flower tile, which can be spotted on the pavement of many streets of Barcelona, was originally created by Josep Puig i Cadafalch for Casa Amatller. Over the years, it has become one of the hallmarks of the city, and this little shop caters to those who fell in love with its simple yet pretty aesthetic.
Plaça de la Llana, 7. Web
8. Mercilona
Mercilona – fun illustrations and stationery from more than 30 creators, all of them based in Barcelona. The best place for Barcelona-themed wall art!
Carrer de la Bòria, 22. Web
9. Ornamante
In the new crispy white lab-shop of the quirky Barcelona brand Ornamante, you will find a bunch of different animalistic figurines, some more imaginary than real, in different styles and colours. Some of them are merely art objects, others are equipped with a light bulb and can serve as lamps.
Passatge Mercantil, 1. Web
10. Calma House
The Catalan brand offers a large selection of tableware, cushion covers, plaids, towels, rugs and pretty much any kind of home textiles you can think of. This is just one of the bunch of stores Calma House have around Barcelona, with the flagship located at the Avenida Diagonal.
Plaça Comercial, 3. Web
11. Moryarty
A curated catalogue of vintage and contemporary posters printed on fine art paper and canvas. The genres span anything between photography, classical art, old maps and plans, oriental painting, vintage advertising, botany, lithographs, engravings, and more!
12. Maxó Gallery
Argentinian artist Maxó Renella not only found a new home in Barcelona, but also established an ever-growing chain of contemporary art galleries around the city center showcasing his own art, including three-dimensional, and the works of fellow artists.
C/ de la Princesa 38. Web
13. Carolina Blue
A home decor concept store where modern Scandinavian pieces are mixed in with restored antiques and products of local artisans. The store sells lamps, textiles, accessories, mirrors, tableware, wicker products, ceramics, sofas and auxiliary small furniture with a rustic touch and nostalgic feel.
C/ del Rec 34. Web
14. Aheste
A monocultural concept store proving Barcelona´s cosmopolitan nature, Aheste (means “slow” in Farsi) offers a beautifully presented selection of art, ceramic, jewelry, clothing and home decor from contemporary Iranian designers, artists and artisans, mostly female, inspired by the centuries-(if not millennia) long traditions of Iranian arts and crafts.
C/ dels Mirallers, 7. IG
15. b8estudio
A bright-colored bookshop slash art gallery, packed with publications from independent Spanish and international publishers, hand-made ceramics, kokedamas and wall art.
Carrer de Brosolí 6. Web
16. Pachulí
The exotic name of this showroom, run by Dutch-born Juul Oostenbrink, reflects its focus on singular pieces from Africa and Asia which blend in smoothly with upcycled vintage seating furniture and quirky contemporary decor, and turns out it is a perfect match.
Carrer de Brosolí 4. Web
17. Bon Vent
Bon Vent’s concept is inspired in the Mediterranean style slow living. The sun and the sea. A mix of old and new. Vintage lamps and elegant cutlery given a second life, Cerabella candles made in Barcelona, gorgeous Moroccan dishware in a variety of styles mixed in with locally made ceramics, a selection of natural cosmetics from France, Greece and Morocco, flora and fauna inspired wall art – they have everything to cater to all your senses and make you feel good.
Carrer de l’Argenteria, 41. Web
18. ETNIA
A very fun and edgy glasses brand from Barcelona, ETNIA’s flagship store is a piece of art on its own, as its design was signed by Lázaro Rosa Violán. Correct me if I’m wrong, but right now he has got to be the №1 interior designer in Spain when it comes to new hotels and restaurants. Etnia’s design features an eclectic mix of vintage and industrial styles and some hallmark elements of Barcelona architecture, including the traditional tiled floor.
Carrer de l’Espaseria, 1, 3. Web
No Comments