The ultimate guide to enjoying the city like a local: eat well, stroll better, and discover its secrets
Index
- Mercantic: the perfect weekend plan
- Cult coffees and sweets (Sàbat, Serrajòrdia, Somewhere Café)
- Marilyn Museum / Fundació Cabanas
- Romanesque monastery and cloister
- Top route through Collserola: Rotary → Pi d'en Xandri → Can Borrell → Forn Ibèric
- Craft beer & salsa: La Fem
- Recommended restaurants (fast and accurate)
- Award-winning ice cream next to the Monastery: Gelats Joan Pros and Badiani
- Squares with soul: Plaça de Barcelona and Pep Ventura
- Pizzas with history: Mècanic & Piaceri d'Italia
- Local bonus: HL Comedy Tour Sant Cugat (Sundays 11am)
If you're looking for the best plans in Sant Cugat If you're looking for something beyond the typical tourist spots, this guide is for you. Here you'll find 21 suggestions handpicked by locals and lovers of the good life: charming markets, nature, cafes, restaurants, culture, legendary sweets, and unique experiences to enjoy Sant Cugat as if you've lived here for years.
Mercantic: the perfect weekend plan
Location: Carrer Ermita, 1-5
If you ask any resident of Sant Cugat what to do on a Saturday or Sunday morning, the almost automatic answer is MercantileA true urban village dedicated to antiques, vintage items, design, crafts, and secondhand treasures, housed in characterful former industrial buildings. It's the perfect place to stroll at a leisurely pace, browse, be surprised, and lose yourself among objects with history, unique pieces, and corners brimming with personality.
Mercantic is much more than a market: it's a cultural and creative space where specialty shops, bookstores, galleries, workshops, artists' studios, and culinary offerings coexist, creating a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere. Every visit is different, as new exhibitors arrive constantly and activities are organized.
Among its must-see stops are:
- The music bar, With a carefully curated program of jazz, intimate concerts, live shows, and recitals, it's the perfect place to grab a drink while enjoying great music. You can also browse its spectacular library, which houses a wide variety of books across diverse genres.
- Their spectacular markets With its epicenter in the central hall of the old factory, you will find everything from antique and restored furniture to vinyl records, posters, lighting, decoration, vintage fashion and all kinds of collector's items.
- Creative workshops and activities, perfect for those who want to experiment with crafts, design or artistic techniques.
And when hunger strikes, Mercantic also has you covered: there are several dining options, from casual eateries to established restaurants, including Can Gula, A true classic of the venue. A perfect plan to spend several hours and enjoy the bohemian and creative side of Sant Cugat.
Cult coffees and sweets
Sant Cugat is also a small paradise for lovers of Specialty coffee, artisanal pastries, and leisurely breakfasts. Among all the plans in Sant Cugat, there are cafes with a coworking soul and historic pastry shops that have been sweetening the lives of locals for generations; this selection brings together Must-visit places for a snack, breakfast or simply to treat yourself. Places where sugar blends with tradition, creativity and plenty of local charm
Somewhere Café: Carrer de Sant Antoni, 56
Atmosphere alternative with a hipster coworking soul, ideal for well-roasted coffee, Laptop and a relaxed chat. If you need "good ideas + wifi", they serve them up here in a big cup.
Pastisseria Sàbat: Carrer de Santiago Rusiñol, 46
In cold season, he best hot chocolate It's here. Super traditional and first pastry shop in the cityLiving history and good sugar. Perfect for a Sunday breakfast that soothes the soul.
Serrajòrdia: Carrer de Valldoreix, 70
The chocolate croissants that make you feel at peace with the world. Period. Plus, being just 5 meters from the FGC station, they'll serve as a snack before catching your train or on your way back.
Marilyn Museum / Cabanas Foundation – The largest museum in Europe dedicated to Marilyn Monroe
Location: Carrer de Sant Medir, 42
Few people expect it, but right in the heart of Sant Cugat del Vallès lies one of Catalonia's most surprising cultural treasures: the Europe's largest museum dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, located within the Cabanas Foundation, in the space known as Casa Museu – Cal Gerrer. A place where Hollywood glamour blends with the industrial history of Vallès and an absolutely unique collection.
The museum is located in what was formerly the Arpí Ceramic Products Factory, A pottery workshop founded in the mid-19th century and considered for decades the most important in the region. In its golden age, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, Sant Cugat experienced a construction boom thanks to the surplus of clay in the area, and many modernist facades in the town still incorporate ceramic pieces produced in this very workshop.
Currently, this historic space houses a double museumOn one side, the Cabanas-Alibau family museum and, on the other, the impressive Marilyn Monroe Museum, the first one created in Europe and today considered the largest on the continent dedicated to the actress.
The collection is the result of more than 35 years of work by Frederic Cabanas, an artist from Sant Cugat, and Federico Arpí, heir to the factory, who almost obsessively gathered all kinds of materials related to the legendary actress: books, photographs, posters, personal belongings, documents, magazines, correspondence, and film footage. The result is the Europe's most important bibliographic and documentary collection on Marilyn Monroe, with about 2,000 volumes dedicated to the Hollywood icon.
Beyond the myth of the sex symbol, the museum presents a Marilyn, complex and modernNorma Jeane Baker was a cultured woman, a voracious reader, ahead of her time, and one of the first actresses to found their own film production company, tired of the limits imposed on her by the big studios.
Visiting this museum is like stepping into the film history, 20th-century pop culture, and the construction of a myth, All of this just a few meters from the Monastery of Sant Cugat. A perfect plan for both fans of classic cinema and cultural enthusiasts looking for something different.
Romanesque monastery and cloister: a Romanesque jewel
One of the best things to do in Sant Cugat is undoubtedly visit its monastery. Sant Cugat Monastery It is not “just another church”: it is one of the most important monastic complexes in Catalonia and houses one of the best preserved and most beautiful Romanesque cloisters in the country. Its origins date back to the late Roman period, but it was between the 12th and 14th centuries that the complex acquired the form we admire today, combining Romanesque and Gothic in a monumental balance that impresses without the need for artifice.
The main protagonist is its cloister, A true sculptural gem comprised of four porticoed galleries and over a hundred decorated capitals. These capitals depict biblical scenes, plant motifs, fantastical animals, and representations of medieval daily life. Each column seems to tell a small story, transforming the walk into a kind of 12th-century "comic book in stone.".
Walking through the cloister is like entering another speed:
Cool shade, almost monastic silence, and a sense of calm that contrasts sharply with the urban frenzy outside. It's one of those places where you want to sit for a few minutes, observe the details, and simply let time pass.
Besides its artistic value, the monastery was for centuries a key center of religious and political power in the territory, with domains that reached as far as Bages and Penedès, and the scene of historical events, legends and dark episodes that still form part of the local imaginary Tour IV- Sant Cugat (CAST) VF (….
Ideal for:
- Lovers of history and Romanesque architecture
- Photography (especially in the morning or at sunset)
- A relaxing plan in the center of Sant Cugat
Local tip: Take your time going inside and look at the corner capitals: they're usually the most elaborate. And if you have a drink nearby afterwards, even better.
The top route through Collserola
Sant Cugat is, literally, city-forest. One of its great luxuries is that in just 10 minute walk From the town center, you can be surrounded by pine trees, dirt paths, and clean air. This route is a favorite among locals because it combines nature, heritage and good food in the same plan.
Starting point
Rotary International Square, opposite the European International School of Barcelona. From here you can directly access well-marked paths that lead into the Collserola Natural Park.
Pi d'en Xandri
First mandatory stop: the totem tree of Sant Cugat.
It is a monumental pine tree over 230 years, Protected by a wooden structure that supports it against the wind and the passage of time. For the neighbors, it is much more than a tree: it is a symbol of resistance, identity and connection with nature. A great place to take photos and explain to the little ones that some trees are true grandparents of the forest.
Can Borrell
Following the path you arrive at Can Borrell, a historic farmhouse within the Collserola Natural Park converted into a reference restaurant. Here the reward is clear:
Catalan toast, snails, sausage, grilled meats, and mountain rice, all prepared with a home-style touch and served in generous portions. A classic for hikers in the Barcelona area.
Iberian Forge
About 5-minute walk from Can Borrell, Among the dense foliage of the forest, the remains of a Iberian oven Used more than two thousand years ago. A small but fascinating reminder that these mountains have been inhabited since ancient times.
Local advice
- Comfortable shoes and a bottle of water, especially in summer.
- If you're going with children, the stretch to the Pi d'en Xandri It's ideal: short, simple, and rewarding.
- Book now Can Borrell if you go on a weekend or during peak hours.
- Best in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.
A perfect plan to understand why nature in Sant Cugat is not just an excursion: lifestyle It's one of the best things to do in Sant Cugat.
Craft beer & salsa: La Fem
A neighborhood microbrewery with a community spirit and a social plan included? It exists, and it's called The Fem. This is where it's made craft beer in Sant Cugat, In the same space where they later serve it to you, which is reason enough to visit. But it's also one of those places that becomes a meeting point: shared tables, a friendly atmosphere, and a feeling of being "at home," even if it's your first time.
Their beers are fresh, honest, and well-balanced, with styles that rotate seasonally. You can order anything from an easy-drinking blonde to hoppier or darker options, and the team is always happy to advise you if you're unsure where to start.
And then there's the bonus: the On Wednesday afternoons and evenings they organize social salsa sessions., Open, relaxed, and suitable for both those who dance and those who just want to watch with a beer in hand. You don't need to come with a partner or know any steps: here, you come to have a good time.
In summary: cold beer + music + nice people = a plan that becomes a ritual. Ideal after a hike in Collserola, to start a relaxing evening, or to discover the more social side of Sant Cugat.
Restaurants you can't miss
(Short, direct, and useful — so you can save this list to your favorites):
- Matilda – Fresh market cuisine with international influences and beautifully presented dishes. Perfect for a leisurely brunch or relaxed meal.
- The Bar Modern tapas, quality ingredients, and a great atmosphere. Ideal for sharing several dishes and lingering after a meal.
- La Masia (Teatre area) – A Sant Cugat classic: rice dishes, grilled meats, and traditional Catalan cuisine. A sure bet for families or groups of friends.
- The Coyote Grill (C/ Amplia, 238) – Unpretentious Tex-Mex: nachos, burritos, ribs, and margaritas. Generous portions and a relaxed atmosphere.
- Carlota Akaneya – A premium Japanese experience, featuring high-quality meats and products. Note: reservation required.
- Shimanto – Friendly and honest Japanese cuisine, with decent sushi and well-executed hot dishes. Good value for money.
- 106 – Versatile gastro-bar with an extensive menu, ideal for informal meals, dinners with friends or a no-fuss date.
In short: Sant Cugat has restaurants for every mood, from a relaxed getaway to a celebration, from quick tapas to a gourmet experience, and this list is an excellent starting point. If you're unsure, choose the one closest to your plans for the day… and let your hunger decide the rest.
Cult ice creams in Sant Cugat: Joan Pros & Badiani
Among the best ways to end a perfect afternoon in Sant Cugat, nothing beats a good artisanal ice cream. And here are two places that never disappoint.
Gelats Joan Pros It's an absolute classic of the city. It features two ice cream shops: one located in the Monastery Square, ideal to combine with a visit to the cloister, and another more central, Perfect if you're strolling through the old town. Their artisanal ice creams are renowned for their creamy texture, balanced flavors and a quality product, From tried-and-true classics to more adventurous options depending on the season. What's more, the experience is often enhanced by a terrace and "slow time" mode activated—one of those plans in Sant Cugat that stretches on without you even noticing.
Location: Carrer de la Torre, 20 and Carrer de Santa Maria, 25
As an alternative (or excuse for a second round), Badiani It offers an international touch: ice creams with original recipes, different combinations, and also a very impressive menu of hot chocolates, crepes and desserts which work just as well in winter as in summer. An ideal spot for serious sweet tooths and another must-do among the plans in Sant Cugat.
Location: Plaça d'Octavià, 2
In short: it doesn't matter which one you choose, because in Sant Cugat a sweet ending is guaranteed.
Squares with soul
If we're talking about things to do in Sant Cugat, sitting in a square with a drink in hand is practically a must. The squares of Sant Cugat aren't just urban spaces: they're open-air living rooms, meeting points where neighbors mingle, terraces offer leisurely conversations.
Plaça de Barcelona (vermouth mode on)
One of the most beautiful and charming squares in Sant Cugat. Surrounded by trees and buildings with a modernist aesthetic, It gives the feeling that time has stood still here. It's the perfect place for a midday vermouth, a long coffee or simply sit and watch local life go by.
Plaça Pep Ventura (at night)
Just a few minutes from the historic center, this square transforms when the sun sets. Lively terraces, drinks, laughter and a nightlife atmosphere without the need for nightclubs. When Plaça Octavià (in front of the Monastery) slows down, Pep Ventura turns up the volume and becomes one of the liveliest spots in Sant Cugat's nightlife.
Two squares, two times of day… and the same essence: experiencing Sant Cugat at a local pace.
Pizzas with a history
Sant Cugat also has excellent pizza, and not just any pizza. Two places where the product reigns supreme and the setting adds to the experience:
Mecanic Pizza – A pizzeria located inside a old car repair shop, where the building retains its industrial essence and the oven has become the new driving force of the business. Here, they went from “oil changes” to extra burrata No fuss. Well-prepared dough, quality ingredients, and combinations that work. A place with personality and pizzas that practically melt in your mouth.
Location: Carrer de Sant Esteve, 6
Piaceri d'Italia – Less posturing and more Italy. Well-fermented dough, Authentic products and classic recipes executed with respect. Ideal if you're looking for an honest, tasty, and unpretentious pizza.
Location: Carrer de Valldoreix, 65,
History & Legends Comedy Tour (Sundays 11am): the history of Sant Cugat, but with laughter
If the Monastery has already impressed you, now imagine discovering Sant Cugat accompanied by a comic guide It blends history, local legends, and plenty of humor. That's what it's like. HL Comedy Tour of Sant CugatA different, enjoyable and surprising guided tour that goes the first Sunday of each month at 11:00, from in front of the Monastery.
Because beneath its tranquil squares, its imposing cloister and its streets full of daily life, lie hidden stories that do not appear in textbooks: betrayals, impossible miracles, crimes on holy nights, pacts that went wrong and secrets buried for centuries.
During the tour you will begin to suspect that here Saints don't always die on the first try, Monasteries don't always build themselves., There are stones that appear to have been missing for hundreds of years. and Some corners hold silences that are too eloquent.
We don't promise scares. But we do promise laughter, surprises, and that addictive feeling of walking through a place where Things happened. And some... quite dark.
Route:
- Plaça d'Octavià.
- Sant Pere Square
- Quatre Cantons
- Plaça de Barcelona
- Celler Modernista
- Monastery
One of those plans in Sant Cugat that combine culture, laughter, and unforgettable anecdotes.
History, yes. Dates and names too. But above all, laughter and good vibes. Make your reservation here.
