The emblematic Can Soteras restaurant in Barcelona, which for more than a century was a benchmark of local gastronomy, will be replaced by a McDonald’s in 2025. This historic establishment, which opened its doors in 1917 on the corner of Passeig de Sant Joan and Diagonal, closed definitively in 2020, after 103 years of service. Throughout its history, Can Soteras established itself as a meeting point for locals and celebrities, witnessing numerous family events and celebrations.
Can Soteras in history
Can Soteras was founded in 1917 by Jaime Soteras y Soteras. It was a restaurant with a great traditional style of Catalan cuisine. Its specialties were rice dishes and snails.
One of the highlights in the restaurant’s history was its role as the venue for meetings of the peculiar association Arca de Noé. This society was co-founded by the famous painter Santiago Rusiñol. This society, characterized by its extravagant air, brought together people whose surnames were related to animals. It was a peculiar society, with meetings with a very particular touch of humor.
Over the years, Can Soteras evolved to become a key venue for weddings, baptisms and communions. This allowed the venue to gain fame and build its reputation as an ideal space for banquets.
In the 1980s, Can Soteras added another element to its gastronomic legend: snails. The restaurant offered up to twelve different recipes of this peculiar delicacy. That is why the restaurant became a favorite of snail lovers in the city. One of its most famous creations was christened “caracoles cojonudos”. This was a spicy version made with chili pepper and chorizo.
In addition, every year they celebrated their Snail Week. In this event, the most select of Barcelona’s society gathered to enjoy this traditional dish.
Became McDonald’s
Given the rich history and symbolic value of Can Soteras, the news that the premises will be replaced by a McDonald’s has generated great indignation among many citizens. Local media reported that work has already begun to transform the space into a hamburger restaurant of the U.S. chain. In addition, they have reported that the local has a scheduled opening for 2025. The conversion of the premises into a McDonald’s has been seen as a significant loss for the city. In fact, many regret that the legacy of the site has not been protected.
Despite its historical relevance, Can Soteras was not included in the catalog of emblematic establishments in Barcelona that the City Council published in 2016. This means that there is no legal obligation to preserve elements of the restaurant’s original furnishings or decoration. This is why criticism of the planned change has intensified.
According to Alberto Mejías, co-founder of the Emblemátics Barcelona platform, this has cleared the way for the transformation of the space without heritage restrictions.
Social networks were filled with nostalgic comments and complaints from citizens and public figures lamenting the loss of one of the last bastions of traditional gastronomy in Barcelona. The writer Jordi Corominas expressed his discontent on social networks, criticizing the City Council for its lack of sensitivity towards the history of the city. On the other hand, users recalled special moments lived in Can Soteras, such as wedding banquets or family celebrations. Some users even claim that they see the situation as a reflection of the “decadence of the West”.
Closures of historic restaurants
The discontent also reached public figures such as political science professor and columnist Astrid Barrio, who lamented the lack of continuity in the catering model and advocated for healthier options. This situation recalled the complaints already voiced in 2020, when Can Soteras announced its closure. Vox’s spokesman in Parliament, Joan Garriga, criticized municipal policies at the time, blaming restrictions and lack of economic support for the closure of so many historic restaurants.
With the opening of McDonald’s, Barcelona will lose another of its iconic locations, joining a transformation trend that has generated debate about the balance between modernizing the city and preserving its historic identity.
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