Insider’s Guide to Barcelona

What makes Barcelona such a special place to live?
There’s just the right balance of everything here: good air connectivity, incredible climate, world-class gastronomy and proximity to the sea. Beautiful architecture is all around you, which adds to the appeal. The Costa Brava is a 90-minute drive, and you’re only about two hours from Andorra if you want to ski. The quality of life here is hard to beat.

What kind of homes can you find?
In comparison to other major cities in Europe, our prime real estate is relatively inexpensive. The areas in the city where most of the transactions over €1 million happen are Pedralbes, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, L’Eixample, Diagonal Mar and El Poblenou. It’s a very segmented market. In L’Eixample, it’s mostly flats in classical buildings, with a lot of traditional elements from Catalan architecture. North of Diagonal, the streets have a more residential feel: the properties aren’t as old and it’s where most of the local residents buy their homes.

What kind of people are moving to Barcelona?
It’s interesting: 28% of the properties over €1 million are sold to international buyers. Of those, 65% become their main residence. A lot of people who work in the health sector are moving in, as well as the gaming industry – the city is becoming a technological hub. We’re seeing a lot of younger talent moving to Barcelona. In terms of the high-end market, the demand is predominantly European: 30% of international buyers come from France, while 15% are Swiss. Britons account for a smaller percentage.

Tell us about your favourite restaurants
On Passatge de la Concepció, there are lots of choices: a fantastic Italian called Harry’s; Boca Grande, which is great for tapas; and Mordisco, which has a lovely garden. On the same street, you can go for early drinks at Boca Chica, too: it’s very cosmopolitan. Barceloneta is a local favourite close to the sea, and the quality of the fish is fantastic. If you want views of the city, try Hotel La Florida, up in Tibidabo – the vistas are unbeatable.

My secret spot is La Cúpula Garraf, just outside Barcelona on the way to Sitges. It’s on a beach that resembles the Costa Brava – a lot of the FC Barcelona players go there, and there’s a Soho House club, too.

Which are your favourite bars?
You’ll find a lot of the city’s nightlife on Carrer de Tuset. For early-evening drinks, I would suggest Feroz or Gatsby, then later, try Sutton Club or Bling Bling – they’re both buzzing. For something fancy a little further afield, go to Negro Rojo, which does Mediterranean/sushi fusion food and gets a bit more lively after dinner.

What’s exciting from a cultural standpoint?
We have a lot of architectural heritage from Gaudí, so it’s worth just walking around the city and admiring the buildings, especially in Passeig de Gràcia. Casa Batlló, Palau de la Música and La Pedrera-Casa Milà are all incredible examples of Catalan modernism. And the Fundació Joan Miró is home to the artist’s most famous pieces.

How important is Barcelona’s proximity to the sea?
It’s vital to our quality of life. You get glimpses of the water whether you are in the mountains or just walking around town. It’s not so much about being able to go in and swim, it’s having that fresh air coming in from the sea that keeps your spirits high. And on the weekends, you can go to Sa Tuna or Aigua Blava on the Costa Brava. They’re beautiful beaches.

Where to go for shopping?
You’ll find all of the big luxury brands on Passeig de Gràcia. But for me, Santa Eulalia is the best shop in the city: an exclusive boutique that’s been here since 1843. It always has superb brands and is a great spot to buy shoes and clothes.

What’s your favourite thing about Barcelona?
It’s really the overall experience. But if I had to choose, I’d say the skyline – when you’re looking over the city from the mountains down towards the sea, it’s incomparable.

Portfolio recommends…
First, footwear. Opened in 1941, La Manual Alpargatera is Barcelona’s oldest espardenyeria, and scores of celebrity clients – Jack Nicholson, Salvador Dalí, even a pope or two – have purchased handmade espadrilles here. Likewise, more than a few famous names will have chosen wine from Vila Viniteca, one of Spain’s most prestigious merchants, which stocks an excellent selection of Catalan labels. Also in El Born, Moco Museum exhibits works by Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Yayoi Kusama and Andy Warhol, and the dreamlike Moco Concept Store, next door, is also worth a visit.

PABLO BALEA VICENTE,
HEAD OF RESIDENTIAL BARCELONA
pablo.balea@savills.es

Pictures from top: Casa Batlló and Pablo Balea Vicente; floral balconies in the city (Alamy); inside Feroz; Sant Sebastià beach in Barcelona (Unsplash); and espadrilles at La Manual Alpargatera (Alamy)