Established in 1820, Bar Marsella holds the title of Barcelona’s oldest bar, nestled in the heart of El Raval at the intersection of Sant Pau and Sant Ramon streets. Entering feels like slipping through a crack in time: the ceilings sag, absinthe bottles gather dust behind glass shelves, and Franco-era signs like “no singing” remain as silent witnesses to the bar’s storied past. Legends whisper that the likes of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Ernest Hemingway, and even Gaudí once congregated here, seeking creative inspiration and the famed absinthe. The bar offers a traditional absinthe ritual: a sugar cube balanced on a slotted fork over a glass, with water slowly dripped—creating a shimmering, transformative drink. In 2013, when Bar Marsella faced closure, the city's residents rallied—and Barcelona City Council purchased the building to preserve this cultural gem. Today it stands not just as a bar, but as living heritage—famously featured in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona and in Rosalía & Rauw Alejandro’s “Vampiros” video—cementing its bohemian and pop-cultural legacy. Expect a darkly charming ambience where history seeps from every corner—the marble bar, creaky wood paneling, dusty mirrors, and a bohemian vibe that endures, unchanged and unforgettable.
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