La Confiteria
La Confiteria occupies a former 19th-century confectionery on Carrer de Sant Pau in lower El Raval, and the original fittings are the point. The space kept the carved wooden display cases, the old glass shelving, the painted ceiling, and the ornate detailing around the doorways when it was converted into a cocktail bar in the 1990s. The result is a room that looks like a Belle Époque pastry shop where the sweets have been replaced by bottles of gin and rows of glasses. The bar runs along one side; the old display cases on the other now hold liqueurs and vintage glassware. The ceiling is painted with floral motifs in muted greens and golds. The cocktail menu covers the classics competently, with a strong gin and tonic selection drawing on Spanish gin culture, plus vermouths, digestifs, and local wines. The crowd mixes tourists who've heard about the space from design guides with locals stopping by for a pre-dinner drink. Prices sit a euro or two above Raval standard, reflecting both the location and the room. The bar is a popular photography stop, so expect phones out at the neighboring tables.
What to Expect
A restored pastry shop interior with carved wood, painted ceilings, mirrored display cases holding bottles instead of cakes, and a mix of tourists and locals working through cocktails at close tables.
Ornate, historic, a little theatrical. Instagrammable without feeling packaged.
Jazz standards, bossa nova, swing, occasional Spanish lounge
Smart casual. No one checks, but most people dress up slightly.
First-time Raval visitors, design photographers, couples on a pre-dinner drink.
Cards and cash both accepted
Price Range
Beer 4 EUR, gin and tonic 10-12 EUR, cocktails 9-12 EUR, wine by glass 4-5 EUR
Beer ~$4.30, gin and tonic ~$10.80-$13, cocktails ~$9.70-$13
Hours
18:00-02:30 Mon-Thu, 18:00-03:00 Fri-Sat, 18:00-01:30 Sun
Insider Tip
Arrive before 20:30 for photos without crowds blocking the display cases. The gin and tonic menu is the house strength; ask for a recommendation. The bar stools offer the best view of the painted ceiling.
Full Review
La Confiteria is easy to spot on Carrer de Sant Pau: the original confectioner's sign is still above the door, and the painted glass storefront looks like it belongs in a museum photo of pre-war Barcelona. Stepping inside, the room opens up more than the facade suggests. The carved wooden cases line the right wall, the bar runs along the left, and the painted ceiling continues the floral motif overhead. Lighting is low, coming mostly from wall sconces and a few pendant lamps, and the mirrors on the back walls of the display cases make the room feel deeper than it is.
I ordered a gin and tonic with Gin Mare and Fever-Tree Mediterranean, served in a large copa glass with rosemary, juniper berries, and a lemon twist. At 11 EUR it's priced on the higher end for Raval but falls in line with equivalent drinks in Gothic or Born. The pour was generous and the garnish actually complemented the botanicals rather than just floating there. The bartender walked me through three or four gins before settling on the Mare, which I appreciated.
The crowd at 21:00 on a Thursday was maybe two-thirds visitors and one-third local, with plenty of phones out but a comfortable volume. The bar stools offer the best vantage: you can see the ceiling, the bartender's movements, and the length of the display cases in one sweep. At the tables, you're boxed in by the walls.
For a historic bar visit, La Confiteria is one of Barcelona's most photogenic options, more intact than many Gothic Quarter restorations and less touristy than equivalents on La Rambla. Pair it with Bar Marsella a few blocks south for a double-header of historic Raval drinking.
The Neighborhood
Carrer de Sant Pau cuts through lower El Raval from La Rambla toward the Paral.lel. The area has a mix of historic bars, small theaters, and traditional shops, with tourist density high closer to La Rambla and lower as you move west.
Getting There
Metro Paral·lel L2 (purple) or L3 (green) is a four-minute walk. Metro Liceu L3 is six minutes east. From La Rambla near Carrer Nou de la Rambla, walk three minutes inland.
Address
Carrer de Sant Pau 128, 08001 Barcelona
Where to stay in Barcelona
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in El Raval
Bar Marsella
Operating since 1820, this is Barcelona's oldest bar and the city's most famous absinthe joint. Hemingway and Picasso drank here. The crumbling interiors haven't been updated in decades, and that's the point. Absinthe served the traditional way, with sugar and water.
33|45
Vinyl bar and cocktail spot decorated with vinyl records and vintage audio equipment. Good cocktails at reasonable prices, a local crowd, and DJs spinning funk, soul, and disco on weekends. One of upper Raval's most reliably good bars.
Moog
Small but legendary electronic music club near the bottom of La Rambla. Two floors: techno downstairs, indie and pop upstairs. Operating since 1996, Moog has hosted some of electronic music's biggest names in an intimate setting. Entry EUR 10-15.
Betty Ford's
Dive bar on Carrer de Joaquin Costa with sticky floors, cheap drinks, and a crowd that doesn't care about appearances. Open late, unpretentious, and reliably packed on weekends. One of the last genuine dive bars in a rapidly gentrifying area.
Bar Pastís
Tiny French-themed bar on Carrer de Santa Monica decorated with Edith Piaf memorabilia. Live music on some nights: chanson, flamenco, or jazz. The space holds maybe 40 people, creating an intimate atmosphere that larger venues can't replicate.
Negroni Cocktail Bar
Dimly lit cocktail bar on Carrer de Joaquin Costa with a strong local following. The bartenders take their craft seriously and the drink menu changes seasonally. One of upper Raval's best spots for a quiet conversation over well-made drinks.