El Molino
El Molino is a restored cabaret theater on Carrer de Vila i Vilà in Poble Sec, with a red windmill on the facade that has been a landmark on Avinguda del Paral·lel since 1898. The original venue was one of Barcelona's Belle Époque music halls, part of a strip that earned Paral·lel the nickname the Catalan Montmartre in the early 20th century. After decades of decline and closure, the theater reopened in 2010 following a multi-year restoration and now hosts a rotating program of burlesque, variety, cabaret, comedy, and live music. The interior keeps the small theater layout: tiered seating around a compact stage, with a bar area on the ground floor and boxes rising along the side walls. Most shows run 90 minutes to two hours, with ticket prices from 20 to 40 EUR depending on the act. Drinks are served before and during shows, with bottles of wine, cocktails, and beer available at theater-typical prices. The crowd skews older than most Poble Sec venues, with couples and small groups forming the core audience. This is a night out planned in advance, not a walk-in option.
What to Expect
A restored 19th-century theater with red plush seating, tiered levels, a small stage, warm lighting, and a curated program of burlesque, comedy, or live music performed for a seated audience.
Theatrical, polished, a little nostalgic. A curated evening rather than a drop-in.
Burlesque, cabaret, live variety, occasional jazz or Spanish pop
Smart casual to formal. Many guests dress up for the occasion.
Couples on a special night out, cabaret and burlesque fans, anyone interested in Barcelona's restored Belle Époque venues.
Cards at bar and ticket office, cash accepted
Price Range
Tickets 20-40 EUR, beer 5 EUR, wine 6 EUR, cocktails 10-12 EUR, bottle service available
Tickets ~$21.60-$43, beer ~$5.40, wine ~$6.50, cocktails ~$10.80-$13
Hours
Shows typically 19:00-00:00 Thu-Sun, exact times vary by program
Insider Tip
Book tickets at least a week ahead for weekend shows; they sell out. The tiered seats on the second level offer the best view of the full stage. Arrive 30 minutes before showtime for a drink at the ground floor bar.
Full Review
El Molino is one of Paral·lel's last surviving Belle Époque cabaret venues, and the 2010 restoration kept enough of the original bones to make the space feel genuinely historic rather than themed. The facade is the signature element: a red illuminated windmill that spins slowly above the entrance, visible from several blocks down the avenue. Inside, the ground floor opens into a bar and lounge area, with the main theater space behind. The theater holds about 240 seats across three levels, with tiered stalls, a small balcony, and private boxes along the walls.
I attended a Saturday burlesque and variety show at 22:00. The ticket was 28 EUR and included admission only; drinks were ordered separately at the bar before the show and could be brought in. The program ran about 100 minutes, with six acts: a classic burlesque solo, a cabaret duo, a stand-up comedian doing English-Spanish bilingual material, an aerial silks piece, a tango number, and a final ensemble. Production values were polished, with proper lighting, sound, and costumes, and the performers were clearly professionals rather than amateur acts.
The audience was about 60 percent Catalan and Spanish, 40 percent international, and most couples had dressed up for the occasion. Dinner-theater it wasn't; the focus stayed on the stage, and drink service paused during acts. A glass of cava at the interval ran 7 EUR, standard for a theater bar. The whole evening had the feel of a scheduled, curated experience rather than a casual drop-in.
Compared to other Barcelona cabaret and burlesque nights, El Molino is the most established and the most polished. Pair with dinner on Carrer Blai before the 22:00 show, and plan the whole evening as a seated night out.
The Neighborhood
Carrer de Vila i Vilà runs parallel to Avinguda del Paral·lel, the old theater avenue that once held Barcelona's highest concentration of music halls. The surrounding Poble Sec blocks mix residential quiet with scattered bars and restaurants.
Getting There
Metro Paral·lel L2 (purple) or L3 (green) is a two-minute walk, exit directly onto the avenue. Taxis can stop in front of the theater entrance. Night bus N0 runs along Paral·lel after the metro closes.
Address
Carrer de Vila i Vilà 99, 08004 Barcelona
Where to stay in Barcelona
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in Poble Sec
Sala Apolo
Former music hall turned nightclub that consistently ranks among Barcelona's best venues. Monday's Nasty Mondays party and Saturday's Nitsa sessions draw dedicated followings. The architecture retains original theater details: balconies, ornate ceilings, a massive stage. Entry EUR 12-18.
La Terrrazza
Open-air summer club at Poble Espanyol on Montjuic hill. Operates from May through September under the stars, with top-tier electronic music bookings. The setting inside a replica Spanish village is surreal and memorable. Entry EUR 15-25.
Bar Calders
Neighborhood wine bar on Carrer del Parlament, a street that has become Poble Sec's second social axis after Carrer Blai. Good vermouth on tap, natural wines, and a terrace that fills with locals from 6 PM onward.
Cerveceria Jazz
Unpretentious beer bar on Carrer Blai serving craft and imported beers alongside the pintxos strips. The selection is better than most Barcelona bars, and the prices stay reasonable despite the street's growing popularity.
Tinta Roja
Argentine-themed bar and cabaret space hidden behind an unassuming door on Carrer de la Creu dels Molers. Tango nights, live music, circus performances, and a decor of red velvet, vintage furniture, and chandeliers. One of Barcelona's most atmospheric bars.
Pervert Club at Sala Apolo
Friday night session at Sala Apolo playing a rotating mix of electronic, disco, and house. Separate from the main Apolo programming but using the same historic venue. The name is tongue-in-cheek, and the crowd takes the music seriously.