Bringing together the best of Barcelona's gastronomic scene in one place. This is the purpose from which the brand new Time Out Market Barcelona has been conceived, which will open its doors to the public this Friday with 14 kitchens and a stable cultural program. With a model that invites to try different proposals from various establishments, the space is especially aimed at the Barcelona public, whom it wants to attract to Port Vell.
"Although everyone is welcome, we invite Barcelonians; we want it to be a space for locals, and for them to rediscover Port Vell as a space also for them," highlighted the general director of strategy for Time Out in Spain and Portugal, Eduard Voltas, along with the general director of Time Out Market Barcelona, Sílvia Nuri.
The new space wants to attract them through a quality gastronomic proposal "at democratic prices," paired with cultural proposals. The Time Out Market in the Catalan capital is the ninth worldwide under editorial inspiration of Time Out magazine: all establishments have been selected by its team with the aim of reflecting the city's gastronomic panorama and the diverse cuisines and proposals that characterize it.
The result of the selection has been 14 establishments ranging from Jordi Artal's creative vision of Catalan cuisine to Fran López's gastronomic experience, including the Japanese proposal from Monster Sushi, the Mexican from Xuba Tacos, pizzas from La Balmesina, and burgers from La Real Hamburguesería. Seafood dishes will be represented by RiasKru, while rice will be offered by Can Ros Barceloneta. Tapas will also be present, with Bar Nuri, and grilled dishes, with Darvaza. Casa Guinart will also be an emblem of Catalan cuisine, and will merge with the flavors of London at BaLó.
Bubó's creative pastry and high-end chocolate will add a sweet touch to the experience, which can be accompanied by coffee from Café de Indias. Or, if preferred, with a cocktail from the award-winning Paradiso. In addition, the establishments that will be part of the gastronomic market are joined by an independent full-service restaurant, offering traditional Catalan and market cuisine from Casa Amàlia. The space's offering is completed with a shop from the historic Colmado Múrria, in a space that totals more than 5,200 square meters on the second floor of Maremagnum. From its inauguration on Friday at noon, the market will be open daily between 10 AM and midnight, except for Paradiso, which will offer its award-winning cocktails until 1 AM.
13 million investment
The opening of the gastronomic and cultural space has involved an investment of 13 million euros assumed by Time Out and various partners. The Time Out Market, with a model whereby restaurateurs with a venue will pay a percentage of their income, has generated 50 direct jobs, which rise to 300 considering indirect ones, as its general director explained to The New Barcelona Post.
The opening of the gastronomic and cultural space has involved an investment of 13 million euros assumed by Time Out and various partnersBarcelona's is the ninth Time Out Market worldwide. Since the first one opened in 2014, in Lisbon, the model has been replicated in New York, Cape Town, Boston, Chicago, Dubai, Montreal, and Porto. And it already has future openings planned: it will expand around the world from Osaka, Vancouver, and Budapest. "It's a global project" that generates a network of gastronomic talent worldwide, to which chefs from Barcelona are now joining, according to Voltas. This network "generates a great opportunity for exchange and to make the city's cuisine known."
The launch of the space comes shortly before the America's Cup kicks off, which has Port Vell as its epicenter. "The America's Cup is a coincidence, a happy coincidence. But we will always be here, contributing to Barcelona residents rediscovering Port Vell," Voltas highlighted. And it is that "Barcelona residents have somewhat abandoned this area, and we hope that the Time Out Market will act as a tractor to bring them here."