Review

Living here is a total love-hate relationship because the apartment has those gorgeous hydraulic floor tiles and high ceilings with wooden beams that look amazing on Instagram. But the reality is that it is freezing cold in winter because there is no central heating and the insulation is non-existent so we walk around in jackets inside. The layout is weird with rooms connecting to each other like a train wagon so there is zero privacy if you have guests over.

The front door is wood and feels like it could be kicked in easily but the street is always full of people so it feels safe enough

Everyone in the building knows each other and we have a WhatsApp group where people lend salt or ask to water plants so it feels like a real village

This is the loudest street in the neighborhood and you can hear people drinking and laughing in the bars downstairs until 3 AM every single night

Everything is old and charming but also falling apart as the pipes are ancient and the water pressure is a joke

We rented it unfurnished so we had to buy everything ourselves but carrying a sofa up the narrow stairs was a nightmare I never want to repeat

The kitchen had a stove from the last century that barely worked so we had to replace it at our own expense

Fiber optic is available and works fine but the thick stone walls kill the Wi-Fi signal in the back rooms so we need repeaters

The building is beautiful from the outside with flowers on every balcony but living on the fourth floor without an elevator is practically a Crossfit workout every day. The staircase is so narrow that two people cannot pass each other and moving furniture involves using a pulley system from the window. There is a communal terrace on the roof where we dry clothes and drink wine in the evenings which is the best perk.

The entrance hall is dusty and dark and the neighbors take turns cleaning the stairs so sometimes it gets skipped

The main door lock gets jammed often and sometimes stays open all night which is sketchy

There is no courtyard at all just a tiny air shaft where the neighbors hang their laundry and it smells like fabric softener and fried onions

Forget about having a car here as parking spots are gold dust and garages cost more than renting a room

The mix is amazing with artists young families and old locals who have lived here since the 70s so it feels very authentic

You can hear everything from the apartment above you including their footsteps and conversations because the floors are just wooden beams

Gràcia is hands down the best vibe in the city because it feels like a separate small town within Barcelona with pedestrian streets and squares full of life. You have independent cinemas organic shops and incredible artisan gelato places on every corner so you never need to leave the neighborhood. The only downside is the Festa Major in August when the streets are decorated and partying goes on for a week straight making sleep impossible.

The streets are narrow and get dirty quickly especially on weekends when dog owners are not responsible enough

It is super safe and friendly and I feel comfortable walking my dog alone at any time of the night

Every street is photogenic and the plazas like Plaça de la Virreina are just magical places to sit and read

The Fontana metro station is close and takes you to the center in ten minutes but buses struggle to get through the narrow streets

Driving here is hell because of the one-way system and pedestrians walking in the middle of the road

It is strictly resident parking only (Green Zone) and even then it is hard to find a space within five blocks of your house