Why you should live in Sant Antoni

Sant Antoni is a wonderful area that has undergone a style revolution in the past few years. It follows the grid-like structure of the Eixample, with its tall wide buildings, but is right next door to the tiny winding streets of the oldest parts of the city centre. So, if you live in Sant Antoni, you get the best of both worlds, you get the benefits of a much more modern apartment, while still being right next to all of the interesting old stuff in the centre.

The neighbourhood is central enough to be convenient, but just far enough away to escape the noise of the busy tourist streets. The vibe in Sant Antoni is languid and relaxed, filled with antique bookshops and outdoor cafés, making it a very pleasant atmosphere.

This area used to be rather working-class but now is considered to bridge the gap between the rugged and lively Raval and the upper-class Eixample Esquerra. Thus, the inhabitants tend to be working-to-middle class Catalans, with few tourists.

The atmosphere in Sant Antoni is very bohemian. We would have said some time ago that it is a hipster kind of neighborhood, but now the word hipster is out of date, there is a new trend coming into town: the yuccies. Yuccies are young urban creatives that are born in comfort and are educated intelligent millennials willing to work for themselves in this internet environment or create startups. They believe that we deserve to pursue our dreams and we should profit from them.

Most buildings in Sant Antoni were built in the early 20thCentury, during the time that the 1929 Great Exhibition was bringing in sweeping changes to Barcelona’s appearance and building projects. In Sant Antoni, flats tend to be more spacious when compared to those in other districts such as El Gótico or the Raval, where the streets are narrow and so flats tend to be more compact.

• Accomodation
  
• Arts and Culture
  
• Beaches
• Dentists
• Education
• Expat Groups
• Health and beauty
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Recreation and leisure
• Walks and wildlife

This is another old-style area, full of atmosphere and shopping. It is more residential but it’s still exciting given its recent revamp. All the new trends in Barcelona such as the gin and tonic culture, the local tapas the brunch and vermouth are now the attractions that have come to Sant Antoni.

• Metro: Sant Antoni L2 (purple) is the main station, but L1 (red) sits just above and is easily accessible.
• Train: R1, R4, S1, S3
• Bus: 201, D50, H16, V11
• Walking: Plaza Catalunya and La Rambla is around a 10-15 minute walk away

Markets

The markets and the area surrounding is a huge social hub for the community. The stand-out market in the district is the Mercat de Sant Antoni, whose Modernista metal structure covers an entire block. Although having been under construction since 2000, there is a pop-up marquee adjacent still servicing the need for various fruits, fish and meats. This market has the edge over the Boqueria market, given that it is far from the busy tourist areas, so you’ll find yourself bargaining with the best locals. A second-hand book market still takes place every Sunday and is a wonderful place to get lost for a while.

A Taste of Home

Just in case the Spanish supermarkets just aren’t enough, A Taste of Home, on Carrer de Floridablanca is a saviour for Brits missing home. Undeniably, the food in Barcelona great, all the tapas bars and the restaurants of varying cuisines, but there are some things that just can’t be replaced, like Marmite, Twinings tea and cheddar. A Taste of Home will satisfy all your British cravings.

Street art

Street ARt in Sant Antoni is part of the culture and there is plenty of graffitis in Barcelona. There is a great blog if you want to discover street art in Barcelona.

Tapantoni

Tapa Antoni is a festival that has become very popular and a gathering for friends and family taking advantage of the offer of 2.50 euros for a beer and a tapa.

Collserola

The magnificent mountain range Serra de Collserola rises up over the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. It is almost touching the city. For the huge population that lives around these mountains it forms a much-loved and incredibly valuable natural area and a great privilege to enjoy. The natural park offers many hiking options with a variety of resting and picnic places. You can easily cross the whole park towards any direction and then comfortably take the train back to Barcelona. Or you just plan a round walking trip.