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Marià Aguiló street shot
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Carrer Marià Aguiló
Many know La Rambla del Poblenou as the main artery that breathes life into a once rundown industrial area. Venture off it and you'll find Carrer Marià Aguiló, named after the Mallorcan Renaissance poet Marià Aguiló i Fuster. Take a stroll down the street and you'll find a juxtaposition of what Poblenou once was, and what it's becoming. In recent years the neighbourhood's streets have become lined with restaurants and shops catering to the younger, more fashionable families that have moved into the area.
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Vinoteca (nº. 120)
Vinoteca is a winery founded a year ago by Catalan David Perramon. Not only does it offer a wide selection of wine and cava from the vineyards of Catalunya and other parts of Spain, but also different wine-tasting courses, suitable both for enology experts and occasional wine drinkers. Small groups can elect to take an introductory wine-tasting course hosted by a sommelier or a two-hour educational talk about wines from particular regions of Spain. Perramon is not stopping there; the businessman is planning to diversify his range of wines to include other parts of the world in a bid to appeal to tourists and locals alike. Perramon said "It may take five years or 10, but Poblenou is changing."
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Mamavaca (nº. 114)
You'll find it hard to miss the window display of MamaVaca, a children's shop with a giant plastic cow at the door inviting customers in. In truth, MamaVaca is much more than a place to buy items for your children; the shop offers a variety of courses and meetings for both mothers and expectant mothers, from pregnancy yoga classes to courses on homeopathy.
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El Granuja (nº. 99)
If you're looking for some tasty Spanish tapas and a cerveza or two, El Granuja, which means little rascal, can deliver. A self-proclaimed "modest neighbourhood bar" run by local Jordi Almonacid, the greatest attribute of this bar is its friendly and helpful staff, whose amicable nature makes it a local favourite. As one employee put it, "It's great just to get to know the neighbours." Popular with the regulars are the paella, oxtail stew, pig trotters and, according to one customer, "the exquisite house flan is not to be missed!"
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A'rogueira (nº. 50)
Further down the street and you'll find an eatery of a different type than those typically found on Marià Aguiló. With its bright interior and funky walls, A'rogueira is a Galician restaurant with a fun atmosphere where you can sample fresh cut meats and seafood that come directly from Galicia. Special dishes include the chuletón (T-bone steak), almejas (clams) and pulpo (octopus).
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La Pubilla del Taulat (nº. 131)
Wander to the end of Marià Aguiló and you'll discover La Pubilla del Taulat, a local and deeply traditional bar and restaurant that opened its doors in 1886. Co-owned by chef Miguel López and floor manager Toni, the bar is renowned for its excellent seafood and tapas and personable service, a reputation which the venue has maintained for over a century. Miguel, it seems, was destined to work at La Pubilla del Taulat: in 1969, Miguel's father, Angel, after years of restaurant experience, took over as head chef, and in course, taught his son how to become an excellent cook in his own right.
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Jesus López - La Pubilla del Taulat
Sitting next door is La Bodega of La Pubilla del Taulat, run by Miguel's brother Jesus López, a man well versed in wine, cava and spirits. When dining at the restaurant, customers are advised on the best wine to bring out the flavours of their chosen dishes, for example, a crisp white to enjoy with steamed mussels or a rich red to wash down a plate of Iberian ham and Manchego cheese. In the Fifties, La Pubilla del Taulat was famed for its clams but nowadays there are many other dishes that locals can't get enough of. Favourites include gambas saladas (salted prawns), and bravas covered by a sauce so popular it often has customers requesting the recipe. In a neighbourhood that has seen much hardship, La Pubilla del Taulat's longevity speaks volumes both about the area and the dishes it serves
You might be familiar with the Rambla Poblenou that cuts from the Diagonal to the beach but many perhaps don't know the smaller street that runs parallel to it. Marià Aguiló is the location of many bars and restaurants with small boutique shops catering to the new, younger residents of the area. Click through our slideshow to discover all that it has to offer.