El Raval is a barrio in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona The neighborhood is also known as Barri Xino, meaning "Chinatown." El Raval is one of the two historical neighborhoods that border the Rambla (the other being the Barri Gòtic). The neighborhood is home to 200,000 people.

El Raval has changed significantly in recent years and, due its central location, has become a minor attraction of Barcelona. It is also becoming one of the hippest up-and-coming neighborhoods of Barcelona where many artists live and work. It is home to many bars, restaurants, and night spots.

They people of Barcelona even made up a special word for living in Raval: Ravalejar = to take a walk by the Raval, to live in the Raval, to buy, to eat, to drink, to amuse themselves, to love in the Raval. Or perhaps everything simultaneously.

It has a wonderful Rambla that is not as crowded as the famous rambla catalunya and all the restaurants offer tables on a terrace, just great for those summer nights!

So what is the appeal to El Raval?  The area is vibrant, historic, authentic and full of personality.  It is a lively, multi-cultural neighbourhood with a huge variety of tempting cafes, restaurants and bars.  The area has also become fashionable being host to a wide variety of art studios, galleries and trendy bookshops, not to mention the imposing MACBA (museum of modern art) and CCCB which is the neighboring exhibition centre. 

Clothes shopping is also a pleasure in El Raval thanks to all the little one-off boutiques that line some of the streets giving you a truly unique shopping experience. Unlike the Eixample with its large branded name designer labels, Raval is where you find the small privatly owned shops selling clothes you can’t find anywhere else.

El Raval is alive all through the day and night so you will never be without an eaterie to entice you in the early hours of the morning! 

El Raval offers a central location within walking distance of many of the other popular areas such as the Gothic Quarter and Eixample.  The nearest metro stops are on Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most famous street which runs up one side of El Raval.

Staying in El Raval also means that you are situated between two of Barcelona’s famous food markets, La Boqueria on Las Ramblas and Mercat Sant Antoni.  Both places are worth a visit to stock up on fresh fruit to get you through the day or to sample Spain’s delicious chorizo or Jamon Serrano.

In terms of location El Raval gives you good access to many of the city’s main attractions which are within walking distance. However the area can be noisy so be careful if you are easily disturbed when sleeping.