Shop for big brands and indulge in rooftop dining with sweeping views at Barcelona’s bullfighting ring turned mega mall.
Proving just how progressive they are, the Catalans banned the ancient and barbaric Spanish tradition of bullfighting back in 2012.
And when you see what they did with the city’s monumental bullring, you’ll understand why the local fashionistas and bon vivants were as excited about the ban as the animal rights activists were.
In a staggering feat of engineering, the original façade has been kept almost completely intact and elevated (be sure to check out the giant red stilts that it stands on) off the ground to create space for six orbital floors of high-street fashion stores, cinemas and cafes.
But the best part can be found on the rooftop, where you can dine alfresco at a multitude of restaurants with sweeping 360-degree vistas over the iconic Montjuïc mountain and beyond. 
Make it Happen
Address: Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes, 373-385
Nearest Metro: Espanya (Green Line)
Web: www.arenasdebarcelona.com
All words and photos by your rooftop rambling guide, Ben Holbrook.
