Staying at Hotel Regina means sleeping in one of the most iconic modernist buildings in the heart of Barcelona. With more than a hundred years of history, the Regina has witnessed the city’s transformation without ever losing its essence. And it’s not alone. Just a few steps away, other century-old businesses share the same distinction: the Establiment Emblemàtic plaque awarded by the City Council to spaces that form part of Barcelona’s living heritage. These are shops that preserve their craft, their original aesthetics, and a way of doing things that is now truly exceptional.

Handmade candles, leather gloves, knives, textiles, sweets, natural infusions or hand-painted fans... These are places where craftsmanship still matters, details make all the difference, and the service is as personal as it used to be. Visiting them means discovering a different side of Barcelona: more human, deeply authentic. And many of them are just a short walk from the Regina. Here’s a small selection to start exploring.

Cereria Subirà
Baixada de la Llibreteria, 7

Barcelona’s oldest candle shop feels like a scene from a postcard. It opened in 1761 and has been lighting up the city with candles of every shape, size, and colour ever since. Its interior invites you to walk in slowly: dark wood, high ceilings, antique counters and shelves that seem endless. Cereria Subirà has been in the same location for over 250 years and still preserves much of its original furniture. You don’t need to buy anything to enjoy the visit—but if you do, take home a handmade candle: it’s a small piece of Barcelona’s history that fits in your suitcase.

Sombrerería Mil
Carrer de Fontanella, 20

Walking into Sombrerería Mil is like stepping into another era. Founded in 1856, it’s one of Barcelona’s oldest hat shops. Since then, it has adorned heads of all styles, from modernist ladies to artists, travellers and loyal locals who still drop by to “see what’s new.” The shop looks like a movie set: wooden cabinets, aged mirrors and shelves packed with borsalinos, cloches, berets and boaters. If you don’t wear hats, you’ll leave wondering why not. And if you already do, you might just find one that stays with you for years.

Pastisseria Escribà (Antiga Casa Figueras)
La Rambla, 83

It may look like just a pastry shop, but Escribà is also a small modernist museum open to the public. Its façade, designed by Antoni Ros i Güell, still shines with the splendour of the early 20th century: colourful stained glass, handcrafted ceramics, gold lettering and intricate details that invite a slow gaze. Inside, the Escribà family’s legacy blends traditional baking with creative flair. It’s the perfect place to taste local sweets like coca de llardons, panellets, or their famous Easter monas, decorated like true works of art.

Gènere de Punt La Torre
Pl. de la Universitat, 4

This century-old haberdashery keeps the art of thread, needle and knitting alive. Founded in 1910, La Torre still serves customers from behind a wooden counter, with endless drawers full of buttons, ribbons, zippers and yarns of every shape and colour. It’s the kind of place that survives because people don’t forget it. Whether loyal neighbours or curious tourists, customers come in looking for something specific and end up discovering materials that are nearly impossible to find elsewhere.

Ganiveteria Josep Roca
Carrer de Ferran, 14

Founded in 1911, this knife shop is a place where time seems to have paused in the best possible way. Wooden display cases, lovingly arranged tools, and expert service remind you that here, the product matters—but the craft behind it matters even more. They offer kitchen knives, pocketknives, scissors of all kinds and a sharpening service, just like in the old days. Visiting Ganiveteria Roca isn’t just shopping—it’s a small lesson in materials, shapes and uses you didn’t know you’d find so fascinating.

Guantería Alonso
Carrer de Santa Anna, 27

Since 1905, Guantería Alonso has stayed true to its name: gloves. Leather, lace, long, short, classic or with unexpected details. They come in all colours, perfectly aligned in wooden cases like little treasures. The shop also offers a careful selection of fans and small accessories. Its interior remains as it was: low counters, antique mirrors and a deeply personal service. Here, gloves are more than just an accessory—they’re a symbol of elegance and savoir-faire.

Herboristeria del Rei
Carrer del Vidre, 1

Founded in 1818, this is the oldest herbalist shop in Barcelona. Its stunning interior is as remarkable as its history: dark wood shelves, glass jars with handwritten labels, ornate ceilings and a surprising sense of calm just steps from bustling Plaça Reial. On its shelves you’ll find infusions, natural remedies, dried flowers, soaps, essential oils and traditional formulas passed down through generations. Once the official supplier to the royal household, it still carries that air of an illustrated apothecary—where every product feels like it has its own story.

All these places have something in common with Hotel Regina: they share history, character and a commitment to staying true to who they are. That’s why staying at the Regina is about more than sleeping in the centre of Barcelona—it’s about waking up surrounded by timeless businesses in a city that still preserves its most authentic corners.