Once a fading industrial district by the sea, Poblenou has reinvented itself as Barcelona’s creative frontier. A wave of artists, designers, and gallerists have transformed the neighborhood’s derelict warehouses into buzzing studios, galleries, and cultural hubs — while keeping its working-class soul intact.
A district reborn in clay, ink, and light
In the eastern flank of Barcelona, just steps from the Mediterranean, the Poblenou neighborhood hums with new life. Among the quiet, tree-lined streets and rust-colored factory façades, Argentinian ceramicist Pablo Pulido gestures toward the sky from the doorway of his narrow studio. “We liked the light, principally,” he says with a smile. “And the closeness to the sea.”
Inside Kema, the studio he runs with partner Daiana Nuñez Schneider, sunlight bounces off whitewashed walls and glints off pastel-toned ceramics. They are part of a new creative wave reclaiming this once-declining area. Once the heart of Catalonia’s textile industry, Poblenou was filled with abandoned warehouses by the 1980s. But over the last decade, it has become a magnet for artists drawn by the spacious, affordable workspaces — and by a sense of community that remains rare in an increasingly tourist-heavy city.
From factories to creative sanctuaries
Poblenou’s layered identity is palpable at every turn. Along with new cafés, design schools, and international tech offices, remnants of its industrial past are everywhere — in the lofty redbrick chimneys that tower between glass-and-steel high-rises, and in the gabled warehouse roofs now sheltering studios instead of spinning machines.
“You’ve got the contrasts between contemporary Barcelona, industrial Barcelona, and a real neighborhood,” says Geco, a local animator whose shared studio looks out over the rooftops to the sea. Geco and his studio-mate, muralist Asis Percales, are part of a younger generation revitalizing Poblenou with vibrant murals and animated storytelling. Their eighth-floor workspace, filled with potted plants and drawing desks, functions as both home and gallery, open to visitors by appointment.
Down the street, independent shops like Guau! display handcrafted objects and small-batch art by local creators. Across the road, an ironworker’s forge still operates next to a bicycle repair shop. The neighborhood’s gritty charm hasn’t been polished away — it’s simply been infused with new energy.
Building a community, not just a scene
While Poblenou’s creative rebirth is often compared to Hackney in London or Bushwick in Brooklyn, many of its residents are determined to preserve the area’s authenticity. “A lot of our neighbors have bought pieces or come and made their own in our workshop,” says Pablo. “There’s a real feeling of belonging here.”
That sense of connection is what inspired Venezuelan gallerist Claudia Costa Oropeza to set up La Plataforma in a converted printing shop more than a decade ago. “When I first came here, it was clear this was the area that would grow,” she explains. “You’re by the sea, and there are so many industrial spaces perfect for creative venues. At that time, a lot were still empty.”
To harness the energy of this emerging arts district, Claudia co-founded Poblenou Urban District in 2012 — a cultural association that connects local artists, businesses, and residents. The group organizes open studio nights and art walks, and publishes a neighborhood map highlighting studios, galleries, museums, and independent eateries. Their goal? To develop the area organically, guided by the community, not outside investors.
A painter of daily life, rooted in place
Not far from Claudia’s gallery, in another converted warehouse, the walls of artist Perico Pastor’s studio are lined with calligraphy brushes and books. Wind chimes sway near the windows, where the sea glistens in the distance. A renowned painter and illustrator for The New York Times and La Vanguardia, Perico has lived and worked in Poblenou for more than 25 years.
“When I first came here, there were still traditional printing works and garment shops,” he recalls. “It was very working-class, and people were always friendly.” Despite the neighborhood’s evolution, that welcoming atmosphere hasn’t disappeared. “The wonderful thing is that 25 years later, it still feels the same. And you’re just three blocks from the beach.”
Perico’s gentle watercolors often depict scenes from the nearby promenade. He shares the building with surrealist painter Matías Krahn and other creatives, forming a community built on quiet mutual respect rather than trend-chasing. “There are lots of artists here,” Perico says, “but it doesn’t feel like an artists’ colony. It’s a real mix — of kids, cats, expats, and old farts like me. It’s not rowdy. It’s just… really cool.”
How to explore Poblenou’s creative spirit
Visitors eager to experience this side of Barcelona can do so with a short metro ride from the city center. The Hoxton Poblenou, a design-forward hotel just ten minutes from the heart of the district, makes an ideal base. From there, you can explore at your own pace — visiting open studios, browsing artisan shops, or enjoying a leisurely menú del día at one of the local restaurants.
For a deeper dive, time your trip to coincide with one of Poblenou Urban District’s events — like the open studio night scheduled for 28 November — when doors to this creative world are thrown wide open. Whether you’re browsing a ceramics studio, chatting with muralists, or sipping espresso beside a working forge, Poblenou offers a refreshing reminder: in a city of icons and crowds, some of the most meaningful stories are still being made in its quietest corners.
