In Santa Coloma de Gramenet, the Don Martín restaurant group has turned Plaça de la Vila into a denser dining area, with seven venues now operating in and around the square. The expansion began in December 2022 and has helped make the city centre a stronger food stop for local residents and visitors.
David Martínez, the owner and manager, said the group has always aimed to stay in the centre and build on food styles that already work there, including Andalusian tapas, grilled meat, and Catalan-Basque cooking. The group’s current venues are Restaurante Don Martín, Martín Plaça, Plaça 3, Xócala, La Vermuteria, Il mio Gelato, and Frankfurt's.
The move started when Don Martín left Rambla Sant Sebastià for Anselm Clavé 1, next to the Ajuntament de Santa Coloma de Gramenet. The group then took over the former bar El 9 Carrer, later opened Martín Plaça in the former La Lola site, and added Plaça 3 after its previous owners moved on to other projects.
Martínez said having several premises close together brings practical benefits, including better use of space, staff and equipment. He also said the cluster gives the group more control over orders and facilities, which helps day-to-day operations in the square.
Each venue has its own offer. Xócala keeps its original identity and serves sandwiches, snacks and tapas such as nachos with guacamole. La Vermuteria focuses on wine, vermouth and pinchos, while Frankfurt's serves classic sandwiches. Il mio Gelato is due to open in the coming days and will serve homemade ice cream, with staff having travelled to Italy for training.
Restaurante Don Martín has also won recognition, including the TV programme Joc de Cartes and the city’s Gastronomic Exhibition for its veal stew. Martínez said the group does not see itself as a benchmark, but wants to keep doing things well. He also said the central location brings problems too, including complaints about deliveries and noise, and the need to remove terraces during municipal events.
For more local context, see our Community coverage and Sport updates across the Barcelona area. The group says it plans to keep growing, with more possible acquisitions in the vermouth and bar sector.
