Growing up in Barcelona, Carlota Guerrero never planned to become a photographer. “When I had to choose a career, the crisis was hitting really hard in Spain, so it wasn’t even an option,” she told the Web site “It’s That Nice” in 2021. She studied psychology before taking a job in advertising, but “I realized none of that was for me.”
When Guerrero was 22, a friend gifted her a film camera, and she began experimenting with the form. People quickly took notice: two years later, in 2016, Solange Knowles discovered Guerrero on Instagram and asked her to shoot the cover of her album A Seat at the Table. She’s since photographed Rosalía, Arca, and Björk—often creating low-contrast, dreamlike images as an ode to the female figure so often misconstrued by the male gaze. “I just capture the strength that I see,” she told DAZED in 2023.
While her rise has prompted offers to move to larger cities, Guerrero continues to live in Barcelona. “I don’t need more stimuli,” she once told Apartamento magazine. Here, she shares her favorite places from her hometown.
Il Giardinetto
The most magical restaurant in the city. (ilgiardinetto.es)
Flash-Flash
An iconic Barcelona institution. It still feels futuristic and nostalgic at the same time. (flashflashtortilleria.com)
Caribbean Club
The best cocktails in town. It feels like listening to Caribbean tunes inside a ship.
Sala Apolo
From my late teenage years to today, it’s remained my favorite place in the city to dance all night. (sala-apolo.com)
Paloma Wool
A perfect store. (palomawool.com)
Llibreria TERRANOVA
The best selection of art books. Llibreria Terranova is tiny, packed, and very easy to accidentally spend an hour in. (terrranova.com)
Basílica de Santa María del Mar
I used to go there and pray anytime something worried or unsettled me. You become spiritual from the darkness and silence once you step inside from the chaos of El Born. (santamariadelmar.barcelona)
The Vallvidrera Funicular and Carretera de les Aigües
Taking the funicular up to Vallvidrera and walking along Carretera de les Aigües is a great way to see one of the best views of the city. The transition from Barcelona’s dense urban environment to the mountain air happens almost instantly.
