nightlife

Go into Raima for a notebook and you might end up staying for a drink. The Carrer Comtal paper shop, which bills itself as Europe’s largest, is also home to NIMURA. Its upper floors house a bar and arts space, with a terrace off the fourth-floor room and a separate rooftop above.

Núria Raja opened Raima in 1986, supplying paper to the city’s designers, architects and artists. The shop occupies a listed building from 1513; a renovation completed in 2018 expanded it from two floors to six and opened up the interior around a central skylight. NIMURA’s furniture is second-hand, restored by the team themselves. The gallery has shown work by local artists including Xupet Negre.

Concerts, book launches, workshops and talks bring together established artists and emerging talent. It’s a place to meet people as much as to see their work. A wall near the terrace has doubled as a bulletin board for artists and singles to leave their contact details. Nil Muntané, the second generation at Raima, has credited it with helping people find work and love.

Check the agenda for upcoming events, or come up for a drink on the terrace. The way in is through the shop, so leave time to browse.