Barcelona reopens a historic Raval restaurant closed since 2021

BarcelonaIt's part of the collective memory of the residents of El Raval, and soon it will no longer be a memory. Founded in 1929 on Carrer de la Cera, Can Lluís has, over the years, become a living part of Barcelona's history. For several generations, Can Lluís has kept the culinary tradition alive, but it has also experienced historic moments. had stepped into the iconic placeIts closure was a loss for Barcelona's culinary culture. After so much time, the last owners, Ferran Rodríguez and Júlia Ferrer, were forced to close: in 2021, after the pandemic hit, they were facing unaffordable rent and began legal proceedings that ended in eviction.

Despite the painful closure, new owners will take over the restaurant in September, with the responsibilities that this entails. Can Lluís will be restored and will maintain its original layout and characteristic elements. The impact of the bomb that exploded in the dining room in 1946 during an anarchist attack will also be preserved. The marks on the floor can still be seen, and they will be preserved. As explained All of BarcelonaThe kitchen will be renovated, but the new owners' intention is to remain faithful to the restaurant's history. In fact, it will offer traditional Catalan cuisine, and although the menu is being worked on, we can expect to find dishes like escudella, fideuá, and grilled mussels.

Reviving a place like this could be great news for the Raval, as it means reclaiming the neighborhood's history beyond the tourist spots. The authenticity of the space has also inspired cultural projects, such as the series Ravalear, Created by Isaki Lacuesta and Pol Rodríguez. Rodríguez, in fact, is based on his own story: his family owned the restaurant. However, the fictional story takes place at Can Moscas, which is what Can Lluís was originally called, and explains how the establishment is under threat of being bought by an investment fund. But soon, in addition to learning about Can Lluís's history through fiction, we'll also be able to eat there again.