Here’s some life advice for free (just thank me with a mojito later): book yourself a city break to Barcelona.

The Spanish city has an edge on its European hermanas. You’ve got all the cultural tourist hotspots to tick off, such as Gaudi’s modernist architecture (see La Sagrada Familia) and the city’s busy Las Ramblas boulevard, which set the scene for a vibrant city life with the added bonus of a 4km sandy beach (which gets 2,500 hours of sunshine a year).

But here’s the scoop. Head east up the beach and away from the more popular spots in Barcelona and you’ll find the quieter, golden stretch of Playa Mar Bella. Walk directly off the beach up the 1km pedestrian promenade and you’ll find yourself in the hip neighbourhood of El Poblenou (translated as ‘new village’ in Catalan).

This old Catalan textile district dating back to the 20th century has morphed into the city’s coolest neighbourhood, with artisan coffee shops like Hidden Coffee and Little Fern, concept stores such as Espai Joliu, and indie craft breweries including Freddo Fox.

Travel 2022: why El Poblenou is the cool district to visit in Barcelona