Do you know Barcelona’s 22@ district? It’s a redevelopment project that completely overhauled an old neighbourhood in the city, turning it into a home of multitude of innovative technological companies. This area, which was previously part of Poblenou, which belongs to the Sant Martí district, now has many plans for future growth.
At Lugaris, we want you to find out everything you need to know about Barcelona’s 22@ district, one of the newest areas with the most projects in the city.
What is 22@ and how was it created?
If you’re coming to Barcelona for business, you can’t miss the 22@ district, the area where most of the city’s new businesses are located.
22@ Barcelona was created in 2000 as an initiative of the Barcelona City Council to transform 200 hectares of the industrial area of the Poble Nou neighbourhood. The aim was to create a productive and innovative district, full of modern spaces capable of containing new companies that wanted to set up their headquarters in Barcelona.
To achieve this goal, they decided to choose a new city model in which companies coexist with research centres, universities and training spaces, without forgetting housing, services, sustainable buildings and green areas.
Since 2001, more than 4,500 new companies have located in Barcelona’s 22@ district, with a total of 56,000 employees.
22@: Barcelona’s financial district?
The main goal of the 22@ plan was to design an entire neighbourhood for innovation, but why? The answer is easy. If companies are located close to each other, it is much easier to generate interactions between them and this leads to the creation of new business opportunities for established companies and entrepreneurs.
22@ is definitely Barcelona’s financial district where some renowned companies are located, such as:
- Mediapro
- Thoughtworks Spain
- Adevinta
- Aenor
- Amazon
- Cisco Systems
- T-Systems
Barcelona City Council also set itself the goal of creating a space for knowledge. For this reason, several universities and training centres have opened offices in this large area:
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
- University of Barcelona – Institute of Lifelong Learning (UB – IL3)
- Barcelona Design Centre (BAU)
- Faculty of Health Sciences (UOC)
- European Business School of Barcelona (ENEB)
This has led to many new students arriving in the city with the need to stay close to their universities. This is how coliving appeared in Barcelona, a way of sharing a flat that allows you to save money and meet interesting people.
Cool things to do in 22@
Wait a minute! Don’t think that Barcelona’s business district has no leisure plans to offer. So, if you’re wondering what to do in 22@, we’ve got some plans that you can do with your new friends.
- Have a vermouth on a terrace in the neighbourhood: Some of the best terraces in Poblenou are located in the 22@ area of Barcelona. We recommend that you take a leisurely stroll through the neighbourhood while the sun caresses you and sit down on the terrace that most catches your eye to have a good vermouth. Fun fact: in Barcelona (and the rest of Catalonia), vermouth is both a beverage and a time of the day to stop and snack, equivalent to the French “aperitif”. People snack on small dishes such as braves or mussels and have a drink, most commonly, the famous vermouth.
- Visit the technological district: Take a stroll around the neighbourhood to discover the tech companies and start-ups that have set up their headquarters in 22@. You might find interesting ideas and they might open the doors to new projects!
- Get to know the cultural spaces: In this Barcelona neighbourhood you’ll find places like the Disseny Hub Barcelona, a design centre that hosts exhibitions, conferences and events related to design and creativity.
- Relax in green areas: Although Barcelona’s 22@ district is mainly an urban district, it also has some green areas where you can relax and enjoy the outdoors, such as the Parc del Centre del Poblenou.
- Take part in events and activities: Keep up to date with events and activities organised in the neighbourhood, such as technology fairs, music festivals, design markets and much more.
The best restaurants to eat in 22@
When you travel to Barcelona you know you’re going to eat well. Mediterranean cuisine is the speciality of the city’s restaurants, which prepare each of their dishes with fresh, top-quality ingredients and love.
After working or studying so much, you’re sure to feel like going out for a bite to eat with your friends, so here are the best restaurants to eat in 22@.
Blu Bar
Blu Bar is a restaurant with a 100% vegetarian and homemade menu, using the freshest and most local ingredients. On their menu you can find steamed vegetable gyozas with ponzu sauce, cochinita tacos made with vegan meat or main dishes such as gourmet sandwiches, pizzas and foccacias.
Menssana
Menssana is one of the best places for brunch in Poblenou and, in general, in Barcelona. Its menu includes 7 different types of American-inspired sandwiches, such as the B.L.A.T., a vegan burger.
In addition, you can also find breakfasts from around the world, which are dishes inspired by the chef’s travels. For example, the Mexican breakfast is made up of huevos rancheros, chilaquiles and molletes; or the Canadian breakfast, which features delicious French Toasts.
Aürt
Aürt is a restaurant located on the ground floor of the hotel of the same name. This is a gastronomic proposal for which you will have to book well in advance, as there is only room for 17 diners. All of chef Artur Martínez’s cooking is done in front of the customer.
The menu is made up of 20 small dishes made with simple ingredients such as cabbage, squab or potatoes. However, the chef’s team makes every bite a real experience – a great option for celebrating a new job or a promotion!
Vrutal
Vrutal is one of the best restaurants in Poblenou if you love burgers. They also offer finger-licking vegan options. What’s their secret? They look for a direct communication between food and your senses, without filters, to get to the essence of things.
On their menu you can find a wide variety of burgers and starters to share, such as hummus, spicy edamame, battered chicken wings with cauliflower, etc. A real feast for your senses!
Els Tres Porquets
Els Tres Porquets is one of the best places to eat in 22@ because its dishes represent quality Catalan food. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, so you can go with your group of friends without getting a bad face.
We recommend you try the sobrasada and camembert croquettes or the truffle risotto, which will leave you speechless. They also have a take-away option, in case you’re too tired after work.
Espai Joliu
Espai Joliu is a bar that serves food, perfect for breakfast or brunch. It’s a space designed in the purest Berlin style, where you’ll find the walls practically lined with plants. You can have a delicious speciality coffee accompanied by avocado toast, while you read some of the art magazines available to customers.
It’s worth trying their homemade (and organic) cakes, their delicious chocolate chip cereal bars or their toast with fun toppings.
Lugaris, your accommodation in Barcelona’s 22@ district
After getting to know Barcelona’s financial district a little better, you’ll have realised that the people who stay in this area don’t do so for tourism, but rather to stay for a while.
At Lugaris, we wanted to respond to this demand and, for this reason, we offer medium and long-term rental flats in the 22@ district. This is accommodation in which you can live in total comfort for as many months as you need.
Some of the advantages of these flats are that they offer services such as weekly cleaning, access to the swimming pool, fully-equipped kitchens, shopping service, etc. So that you don’t have to worry about anything on a day-to-day basis and you can focus on what really matters: the project at hand.
These flats are located just a few minutes from Bogatell beach and offer stays from 32 days to 11 months. You can also choose the flat you like best, with all the amenities you need to make you feel at home.
NUESTROS APARTAMENTOS EN BARCELONA
Since 2010, Lugaris Apartaments has been offering you the best holiday rental flats in Barcelona, perfect for a family holiday, with friends or as a couple, or for medium-term stays.
You can choose between apartments near the beach in Barcelona, at Lugaris Beach, with sea views, 2 swimming pools (one for adults and one for children) and capacity for up to 6 people, and the Lugaris Rambla flats, located on the Rambla de Poblenou and just 300 m from Bogatell beach, with a balcony or terrace of up to 22 m2 and ideal for couples or families and groups of up to 5 people. All our luxury flats in Barcelona are air-conditioned and equipped with all the appliances, furniture and bed linen you will need during your stay. They also have satellite TV and free high-speed Wi-Fi connection, as well as a safe and a 24-hour private security service.
What’s more, when you make your booking, you can reserve many other additional services: international press in your flat, parking space, transfer service to and from Barcelona airport, bicycle hire, supermarket shopping, museum, sports and show tickets, babysitting service and much more.
For more information, contact Lugaris Apartments without obligation.
