Sant Andreu

Sant Andreu was a town before Barcelona swallowed it, and it still acts like one. The Rambla de Sant Andreu has its own rhythm—slower, more familiar, less interested in what visitors think. Mercat de Sant Andreu is where neighbors buy vegetables, argue about prices, and know each other's names. The industrial past left its mark: Fabra i Coats, a massive textile factory, now hosts art exhibitions in spaces that once held looms. Five hotels, 88 restaurants, 82 things to do—but the numbers undersell it. This is where you see Barcelona's community identity, the festa major festivals that belong to the barrio, the bars where asking for an English menu gets you a blank stare. Tourists don't come to Sant Andreu, which is precisely why some travelers should.