El Poble-sec

Tucked between Montjuïc hill and the Paral·lel avenue, Poble-sec is a residential grid that's become one of Barcelona's best-value dining destinations without losing its low-key, local feel. Carrer de Blai is the main draw, a single street packed with pintxo bars where small skewered tapas are eaten standing up with cheap house wine, drawing a mix of locals and students rather than big tour groups. The neighborhood sits in the shadow of the Paral·lel, once Barcelona's Broadway-style theater district, and still has a handful of old theaters and music halls. Its position at the base of Montjuïc makes it a natural stop before or after visiting the hill's museums, gardens, and castle.