“When a guest stays in my home, I try to help them get to know my neighbourhood, Poblenou, by recommending local restaurants or shops that do not appear in travel guides,” explains Juan, who shares a room in his house. Poblenou home sharers met in one of these places to start their Small business trail, a trail around their neighbourhood led by hosts, stopping in and showcasing the best small businesses in the area.
Poblenou hosts dedicated a whole Saturday morning to visiting the businesses they recommend to their guests. While there, they explained the economic impact of home sharing and gave away stickers that small business owners could display in their shop window: “Business recommended by hosts”.
Sundown, in Rambla del Poblenou. Marina, a Poblenou host, says she advises travellers to “stop at Sundown on their way to the beach and buy something to take away and eat in front of the sea.” Sundown prepares homemade falafel and shawarma for nearly 30 years.
Bitácora bar, which for the past year, has been offering Poblenou neighbours its specialities of classic tapas, ceviches and tartar.
9 Porró you can find fresh fish and seafood, rice and classic tapas. Just opposite, on the other side of the street, Josep and Esther run Espai Tast, which offers all kinds of delicatessen, such as 100% pure bellota ham. “Something tough to find in this neighbourhood,” says Josep. The Iberian sausages come from Pedroche and Guijuelo; while you can find an assortment Catalan, Spanish and French speciality cheeses
El Tío Ché. Founded in 1912 by a family from Alicante, the hosts always recommend travellers not to miss the artisan horchata, ice creams and nougats.
