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Nova Icària beach and Poblenou: a local's guide
Nova Icària is one of Barcelona's quietest city beaches, and it is about a 3-minute walk from Kush House. Here is how locals spend a day around it, from the sand to the Rambla del Poblenou.
Nova Icària beach
- Where: in the Sant Martí district, between the Port Olímpic and the Bogatell breakwater
- Size: 415 m long and about 81 m wide
- Why locals like it: calmer than Barceloneta, with one of the widest choices of things to do on the seafront
- On the sand: two volleyball courts by the Port Olímpic, a playground and a ping-pong table near Bogatell
- Services: lifeguards, first aid, showers, toilets, lockers, drinking fountains, deckchair and parasol hire, and free city wi-fi
- Accessible: an adapted area with assisted bathing for people with reduced mobility
- Good to know: it is an official smoke-free beach
Right next door
- Port Olímpic: the marina at the south end of the beach, with restaurants and terraces along the water
- Bogatell beach: the next beach north, just past the breakwater
- Base Nàutica: the city's water-sports school, with paddleboarding and other classes all year
Poblenou
Poblenou is the old industrial neighbourhood behind the beach, now full of design studios, galleries and local restaurants.
- Rambla del Poblenou: the neighbourhood's main promenade, lined with terraces. Locals eat here too: try Els Pescadors for seafood or Els Tres Porquets for tapas.
- Disseny Hub: home of Barcelona's Design Museum
- Parc de la Ciutadella: the city's central park, at the foot of the neighbourhood
- Razzmatazz: a big club with five music rooms under one roof, for a night out
- Tip: many local shops close on Saturday afternoons
A perfect afternoon

- Beach time at Nova Icària. Come early in summer for a good spot.
- A late lunch on the Rambla del Poblenou.
- A walk along the seafront to the Port Olímpic.
- Back to Kush House to relax with the lounge, the music and good company.
Getting here
- Address: Plaça Tirant lo Blanc 1, Sant Martí, 08005 Barcelona
- Metro: Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica and Bogatell, both on the yellow L4 line
- Hours: open every day, 12:00 to 22:00, including holidays
Sources
Visiting Barcelona?
Kush House is a private members' club 3 minutes from Nova Icària beach. Membership is by invitation.
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