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After being closed for a decade, El Molino, Paral·lel’s historic music, has reopened its doors to recover the spirit of an icon of the Barcelona night. This legendary hall, which for decades has been a symbol of entertainment and culture in the city, returns with a new stage that balances its legacy with a contemporary and diverse programme, adapted to the here and now. Its reopening is not only the recovery of a part of Barcelona’s heritage, but is also an impulse of the artistic panorama of Barcelona, helping to revitalize the Paral·lel as the nerve centre of the musical and theatrical scene.
Its renewed program combines eclectic proposals that include concerts, shows and a nightclub, creating an experience that merges the best of the past with the most current trends. It welcomes both established artists and emerging talents, reaffirming itself as a benchmark scenario for music and the performing arts. With this new chapter, El Molino recovers its strength and its place in the heart of the Barcelona art scene, consolidating itself again as a pole of creativity and cultural expression.
A building with more than one hundred years of history
Opened in 1898 as a tavern of sailors called La Pajarera, El Molino evolved into one of the most emblematic spaces of the Paral·lel, a cultural artery that for decades marked the rhythm of Barcelona’s nightlife. Inspired by the legendary Moulin Rouge in Paris, the venue adopted its current name and consolidated itself as one of the great temples of cabaret, music hall and varieties, becoming an essential space for artists and spectators over several generations.
It also became a symbol of freedom of expression and transgression, serving as a mirror of the social and cultural changes of the 20th century. But, despite its moments of glory, the premises experienced several periods of decadence, marked by economic crises and urban transformations that affected Avenida Paral·lel. In 2013 it finally closed its doors, turning off one of the most beloved icons of variety theatre. Its red facade, with its characteristic windmill blades, was like a memory of a past full of lights and stories, waiting for the moment to be reborn.
Current programming and future shows
The programme of the new El Molino is committed to a diverse offer, ensuring its place as a meeting place for live music and for new theatre. With a capacity for 250 people and an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of classic jazz clubs, it is an immersive experience where proximity between artist and audience is key. Performances favour interaction and direct connection with the audience. The space has two amphitheaters and an area with tables which can be transformed into a dance floor. This versatility allows many formats of show.
One of the genres with the most tradition at El Molino, jazz, plays a leading role, with regular appearances by top-level artists. The programme also includes flamenco, folk, rumba and soul concerts, with national and international artists such as Richard Bona, Quimi Portet, Calexico, Fatoumata Diawara or Leonor Watling, among many others. The venue aims to consolidate itself as the great club for minority music in Barcelona, giving voice to genres and artists who do not find space in other venues in the city.
The establishment has also recovered its theatrical and irreverent spirit, hosting monologues from between 12 and 14 minutes at the Hilia Club de Comedia, on Wednesday nights. This commitment to multidisciplinary culture is also reflected in collaborations with renowned festivals such as BarnaSants and Jazz I Am, which will bring some of the most stimulating shows on the current scene to Parallel, thus expanding the cultural impact of the new El Molino.
A new gastronomic space and club sessions
One of the great novelties of this reopening is the incorporation of top quality gastronomy and cocktails. Intended to complete the audience’s experience and offer complete sensory immersion. Inspired by iconic venues such as the Blue Note in New York or the Ronnie Scott’s in London, it recreates the sophisticated and welcoming atmosphere of these international references, fusing music, gastronomy and cocktails into a unique experience.
The bar and restaurant service is only open during the shows, so the only way to taste El Molino’s tapas is to sign up for some of the concerts, sessions or monologues. In charge is the team of the JOK restaurant, based in the Eixample, they are known for combining signature cocktails with high quality Mediterranean dishes.
Each concert also gives way to a nightclub, with sessions such as Disco Marisco and It’s Playtime!, by renowned DJs, this new format, which combines live concerts with selected music sessions, turns El Molino into a cultural space in constant movement, where the show gives way to the party and the night becomes a journey full of rhythm and creativity.
