El Raval

This is considered Barcelona’s old town, the story of the city starts here. Ciutat Vella is nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the neighborhood of l'Eixample and comprises the most popular boroughs of the city from Plaça Catalunya to the Barceloneta. Barceloneta since the 1992 Olympics significant gentrification has taken place, most noticeably along the seafront. There are now delis serving upscale foodstuffs and high rise office buildings going up.

El Raval is the neighborhood of the old town just to the west of Las Ramblas. These days, it's a vibrant place for nightlife and while still very much an immigrant neighborhood, it's home to no end of bars and restaurants.