Plaça Sant Agustí Vell

Choosing our favourite square in the Born is quite the challenge. It could be the magical Plaça de Sant Pere de les Puel·les, or the one on C/Allada Vermell with its abundance of terraces and that façade full of plants that transports you to a town from 30 years ago. But the final decision goes to Sant Agustí Vell, and not just because it's beautiful, but because it has the power to project calm amid the din of the Born. By day, you can buy organic fruit and vegetables in La Hamaca (No 15), or have lunch in the cosy Joanet (No 6). At night you can grab a bite in the tiny and alternative El Perro Blu (No 10) or try the Mexican cuisine in Costa Pacífico (No 13). And don't forget to book a table for Bar Mundial, a favourite of writers García Márquez and Vargas Llosa. It's not surprising – their tapas could inspire a hundred novels.