Seafood counters, marble tables, and black and white photographs: the Bar Mundial has preserved all of this since the 1920s, and it reopened just a few months ago, under the management of Grup Confiteria.
After keeping its shutters down for almost five years, this century-old establishment in Plaça de Sant Agustí Vell is once again buzzing as a symbol of Barcelona's gastronomic and cultural identity.
The Temple of Boxing
Founded in 1925 by Miquel Tort Robiralta, Bar Mundial became a place with soul, located in the heart of Ciutat Vella.
Over the years, the Tort family turned this establishment into a community space where neighbors, merchants, writers, politicians, and boxers mingled. El Mundial was known as the temple for boxing lovers, especially in the 1930s, when the sport was very popular in the city. In fact, even today, at the entrance of the bar, you can see a six-meter mural that commemorates those times when boxers would gather and place bets.
With a century of history, El Mundial established itself as the neighborhood's premier seafood spot, offering affordable prices and a strong popular spirit. However, the arrival of the pandemic led to the closure of many bars and restaurants. Among them was Bar Mundial, which closed its doors in 2021.
But not for long. "They told us it was up for auction and we jumped in headfirst, because we've been very 'worldly' for years," explains Guillem Fructuoso, from Grup Confiteria. But this is not the only historic establishment the group has "resurrected." Also included on the list are Cafè del Centre, Michigan, and Paradiso, among others. In each of these establishments, the Confiteria team seeks to preserve the original essence.
Attracting the local audience
“In El Born, a nest of tourists, it would have been easier to make a proposal adapted to an international audience, but for us it didn't make sense,” says Fructuoso. This is why the new Mundial combines present and past with a local gastronomic offering in keeping “with what was there before the neighborhood changed so much.” But, beyond serving quality clams, cuttlefish, and cod, the Mundial aims to give character to the city. “We want Barcelonians to come back down to El Born on a continuous and regular basis,” he concludes.
In a time when many century-old bars are closing, the heart of Ciutat Vella is regaining a venue with identity and memory.
