A shopping destination, but also the ideal place for a gastronomic getaway or to get excited and let yourself be carried away by the illusion generated by the spectacular Christmas decoration that surrounds the complex, totally outdoors and with large terraces. All this is La Roca Village, a perfect plan to enjoy with family and friends and just 40 minutes from the center of Barcelona and which we also have within reach at a distance thanks to the assisted sales service Virtual Shopping. A usual route for many tourists who visit the Catalan capital, it is worth incorporating La Roca Village among the many leisure options available to Barcelonians, and even more so at Christmas, when part of our time is dedicated to shopping and what better way to do it than in a unique environment like the one offered by the village belonging to the international group The Bicester Village Shopping Collection.
In addition to checking how close it is to the Catalan capital, when one visits La Roca Village it is easy to feel enveloped in a sense of surprise, of positive surprise, by the quality of the proposal one encounters, an architectural space of Gaudian influence where every last detail is taken care of and the highest health safety protocols are applied; an outdoor place full of trees and fountains where one wants to stroll, enjoy its pampered gardening and, of course, find an attractive commercial offer that allows you to take home clothes and accessories from the main national and international brands with a discount of up to 60% throughout the year. There are more than 140 boutiques to choose from and, among the many brands that have recently debuted are Ecoalf, Brownie, Paul & Shark and Helly Hanssen. Another irresistible and tempting proposal for these cold days: enter the Lindt store to savor a cup of its hot chocolate fountain.
Adapting at all times to health regulations and the evolution of the pandemic, La Roca Village applies strict security protocols and its concierge team takes care of customers and ensures that recommendations and established capacity are always met. This premium shopping destination also benefits from another great advantage: it is outdoors and all its restaurants have large terraces.
In parallel, for people who prefer to enjoy the experience from home, La Roca Village offers the Virtual Shopping service, which is not a typical online store, but a new way of shopping that allows for personalized attention to make purchases remotely, dealing directly with the professionals of each store. From La Roca Village's own website, you can easily contact the Virtual Shopping service and speak with the boutique by phone, Whatsapp, or video call, which will help you find that desired garment or gift and then receive it at home.
There is also the possibility of remote shopping through La Roca Village's team of personal shoppers, expert professionals who will take care of making purchases for you following your indications about your tastes or brands or about the type of product you are looking for. Once the purchase is made, they will also send it to your home.
With the pertinent capacity limitations, going to La Roca Village at Christmas has the added attraction of being able to enjoy a dreamlike Christmas illumination, with giant reindeer that welcome visitors and immerse them in an exciting experience that, in itself, already justifies a visit to this shopping destination. In this truly unique atmosphere, nothing better than stopping by Taste of Christmas, a store of gourmet products ideal for gifting or for enhancing Christmas tables. In this space, lovers of haute cuisine can find smoked products, nougats, foie gras, high-end preserves, acorn-fed Iberian products, Italian panettones, and a wide selection of wines, sparkling wines, and spirits.
But there are more reasons to consider a getaway to this premium shopping destination now: to discover the new boutiques that have opened thanks to the recently completed expansion and to discover how La Roca Village has consolidated itself as a reference gastronomic destination for foodies with the arrival of multiple restaurant brands that are already a reference in Barcelona, such as Mordisco, Flax & Kale, Farggi 1957, Andreu, Parco or Corso Iluzione, Luzio's new proposal.
Let's get to know a little better this exquisite offer of restaurants that the destination offers us. One of the obligatory stops is Atmósferas Mordisco, a creation by Rosa Esteva that brings the spirit of the mythical Mordisco from Pasaje de la Concepción in Barcelona to La Roca Village. As if we were in the heart of the Eixample, at Atmósferas Mordisco we can taste the essential seasonal open omelet, the roast beef toast or the hot beef carpaccio, along with other Mediterranean cuisine proposals, all in a beautiful place that incorporates elements from the defunct Hotel Omm, the hotel project that Esteva managed on Rosselló street.
Another reference stop for sushi lovers in Barcelona is Parco, a brand that we can also find in La Roca Village through Mori, a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi and sashimi, which is an ideal option for dinner. Among the newest highlights is Corso Iluzione, the proposal created for La Roca Village by María José Gómez Escuer and Maxi Zigart, owners of Luzio, one of the great references in Barcelona interior design. Next to Turó Park, inside their store, since 2015 they have managed the restaurant with Asian-inspired cuisine, Iluzione, and now they have redoubled their bet with the opening of Corso Iluzione, located in Plaza de las Palmeras, in the newly opened expansion of the La Roca del Vallès shopping space.
The decoration of the establishment is fascinating and allows you to eat under a ceiling that recreates a garden of yellow lemons and beautiful fringed lamps. In this case, the place offers a suggestive menu that combines Italian food —with handmade pasta as the main proposal and sourdough pizzas—, with an offer of hamburgers, paninis and pokes. To consider are the cavatelli supercarbonara or the fettuccine al ragù if you opt for pasta.
For those looking for something more informal, what better than to have some tapas at the Andreu deli, or visit the new Farggi 1957, which stands out for an appetizing menu of salmon bagels, Iberian ham with brie, or bacon with French omelet, among other proposals. Another good option is the healthy fast casual proposal from the Flax & Kale restaurant, one of the icons of flexitarian gastronomy in the Catalan capital. Its proposal for La Roca Village allows you to eat quickly to continue enjoying the shops with healthy and sustainable dishes, but at the same time tasty, with a strong presence of vegetables, oily fish and proposals made with vegetable protein.
For those who prefer to be seduced by a traditional Catalan restaurant with gastronomic excellence, the recommendation is Pasarela, and if you opt for hamburgers or ribs, what better than Fire & Bread, a casual brasa food restaurant where salads and sandwiches are also served. Eating something quick, but with an Asian flavor, is also possible at Izky, a place for lovers of noodles or dumplings. For coffee time, two great options: the extensive variety of Starbucks or the exquisite specialty coffee that can be found at Flax & Kale.
It is worth knowing that parking at La Roca Village is now easier than ever, as the expansion of the destination, which required an investment of 57 million euros, has allowed the opening of a new underground car park ---but with natural light and ventilation--- with 850 new spaces. The new square meters gained by the complex have allowed new brands such as Brunello Cucinelli, Pronovias, Missoni, Kids Around, Ètnia Barcelona, Adidas, American Vintage, Boardriders and Boboli to be added. Other firms, such as Moncler or Rituals, have doubled their commercial space.
There is no doubt that when it comes to finding the best gift for these holidays, treating yourself, enjoying a different day or enjoying high-level gastronomic proposals, there is nothing better than escaping to La Roca Village or using the Virtual Shopping service; the experience will surprise you, do not doubt it.