Neighborhood
Eixample (Gaixample)
in Barcelona, Spain
The gay quarter around Carrer del Consell de Cent — bars, clubs and cafés.
Where it is
The Gaixample lies in the Esquerra de l'Eixample, roughly between Carrer de Balmes, Gran Via, Carrer del Comte d'Urgell and Carrer d'Aragó, with the highest density of venues around Carrer del Consell de Cent and Carrer de la Diputació.
Address: Eixample, 08328 Alella
What it is
The Gaixample is the heart of gay life in Barcelona, a compact grid with dozens of bars, clubs, saunas, shops and restaurants within walking distance. By day the area feels elegant and relaxed amid its modernista architecture; by night it becomes a lively nightlife hub.
History
The name Gaixample, a blend of gai and Eixample, emerged in the 1990s as numerous gay bars, clubs and shops opened here. Barcelona had already been a pioneer in the fight for LGBTQ rights from the 1970s onward.