In April, lots of plans!
April, 9th, 2024. Written by Clara De Nadal Trias
In Spanish there is a saying that goes, “in April, lots of water”, but I think the title of this article suits it better, due to the amount of plans that surround this spring month in the capital of Barcelona. Are you ready?
Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show
After its premiere at the Folies Bergére cabaret in Paris in 2019 and its appearance on stage at the Roundhouse in London in 2022, Fashion Freak Show by the author, director and costume designer, Jean Paul Gaultier finally arrives in Barcelona, inviting us revive his own world full of excess, poetry, fun and magic.
From his childhood to his early career, his biggest fashion shows and wild nights at Le Palace or London, Jean Paul Gaultier shares in this show his dream, life and diary of the time, paying tribute to those who have inspired him in the cinema (Pedro Almodovar, Luc Besson), in music (Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Myléne Farmer) and in dance (Régine Chopinot, Angelin Prejlocaj).
In this show, conceived as a great party, Jean Paul Gaultier surprises with a wonderful cast of actors, dancers, circus artists and special guest stars, such as Rossy de Palma or Catherine Deneuve, accompanied by videos, music, wonderful sets and hundreds of new exclusive costumes and also their most emblematic creations. Do not miss it! Coliseum Theater. From April 4 to 21. Duration: 120 min. Tickets here
Enjoy Sant Jordi like never before
Sant Jordi is the favorite festival of many Catalans because it is a celebration for all tastes. It has flowers, books, love, walks through the city and it practically coincides with the arrival of spring.
But specifically, what can be done this year 2024 for Sant Jordi in Barcelona? In addition to giving away roses and books, various activities will also be organized to celebrate the “diada” and culture both on April 23 itself and the days before and after. Here are three interesting proposals:
Stroll through your favorite book. If you are a lover of “The Shadow of the Wind” by the writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón, this is your opportunity to revive it with a tour that passes through the places that appear in the novel, ranging from the old town to the upper neighborhoods of the city.
The journey begins in the same place that the book describes: in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, described by Zafón as a "museum of echoes and shadows", which is the Santa Mònica Art Center.
Free open doors to emblematic buildings. Many important buildings in Barcelona celebrate Sant Jordi by opening their doors to citizens completely free of charge, such as the Sant Pau Modernist Campus, whose tickets must be booked in advance, by time slot, on the Sant Pau website, since the capacity is limited. Also the Pavelló Mies van der Rohe where we can take a tour and visit the reading pavilion, where there will be a book stall and space for reading and a show. Or, the Palau Güell, which was the first important commission that Gaudí had and he began it in 1886 for the textile businessman Eusebi Güell. Tickets are free and can be picked up directly at the Palau.
See the roses on the facade of Casa Batlló. If you walk through the city center, be sure to pass in front of Casa Batlló. This year we will be able to once again enjoy the special decoration of its façade, which is dressed in roses from April 21 to 23. We can also take the opportunity to look for elements of the legend of Sant Jordi in the building, such as the dragon or the skulls of its victims on the balconies! Tickets here
Pair natural wines with Asian food at Mikan restaurant
Mikan opened in April 2023. This great little restaurant and natural wine bar with tables and a bar specializes in the cuisine of northeastern China, Japan, and Korea.
During the day they serve a €16 set menu with vegetarian and vegan options and at night it becomes a wine bar with dishes to share accompanied by great music. Where: Carrer d'Aribau, 158, 08036 Barcelona
“Travel to Turkey” at the new Ali Ocakbasi restaurant
Welcome to the new Turkish restaurant in Barcelona recognized for its dedication to the authentic and ancient flavors of the Anatolia region.
Located in L’Eixample, Ali Ocakbasi offers an exceptional culinary experience focused on the preparation of emblematic dishes of its culture to share and enjoy the so-called “mezzes” or appetizers.
The star ingredient of its menu is undoubtedly the lamb, standing out with a distinctive cut and an exclusive marinating and cooking technique, but it also has an exclusive menu for vegans and a wide variety of sweet delicacies.
After conquering Istanbul and Amsterdam, Ali Ocakbasi has settled in Barcelona with the intention of redesigning the Turkish culinary experience around the fire, a key element in Anatolic gastronomic culture, accompanied by a highly qualified team and a varied menu that fuses the classic with the innovative and authentic with tradition. Where: Carrer d'Enric Granados, 69, L'Eixample, 08008 Barcelona
Enjoy the best breakfast in the new cafeteria in Poblenou
Sin amor no opened at the end of 2023 in the most coastal neighborhood of Barcelona. Here specialty coffees are one of their star products and always come accompanied by a glass of water, in a true Italian style.
They also serve teas, infusions, hot chocolate and they have some bakery products at their bar such as croissants and crispy Neapolitans. But the curious thing about this morning bar, from Monday to Friday they open at 8 a.m. and close at 6:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., is that when noon approaches, one can also opt for a good wine from a reduced but exquisite menu. Where: Carrer Pujades Calle Pujades 127, 08005, Barcelona.
Interview and translation by Clara De Nadal Trias
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