Cabrils, an oasis of peace and tranquillity in the heart of Maresme
An Insider’s Guide to Cabrils
The village of Cabrils is one of the most desirable in Maresme thanks to its geographical location, high quality of life, renowned gastronomy and friendly village feel. According to Catalonia’s statistical resource Gencat, in 2022, Cabrils had a population of just over 7.700, of which approximately 1 out of 7 residents was from the international community, a proportion which seems to be growing every year. The primitive economy of Cabrils was and still is agriculture, mainly the cultivation of vines, vegetables, fruit, wheat and flowers.
Sizewise, Cabrils is 6km² and is located in one of the smallest valleys in Maresme within the Serralada Litoral Natural Park. It has three tennis clubs, a football club, a gym, a variety of independent shops and plenty of restaurants.
Moving to Cabrils was always a better-quality-of-life type of decision, although life in Barcelona was pretty awesome already! More nature, forests, trees, a bigger living space, a veggie patch and a few adopted animals… this was dream that we made a reality by moving just 23 kms north of the city. However, there was one more gift to this move which has truly enriched our lives, and that is the community we are slowly but surely being a part of around these villages. Projects with like-minded people who want to take things a step further for a greater good and to live more connected with what really matters. Serendipity certainly inhabits these lands. This is home.
Silvia Sanchez
History & Economy of Cabrils
La Creu de Montcabrer is the summit of a popular hiking spot in Cabrils
Cabrils has an established agricultural historical origin. Surrounded by abundant pine trees and holm oak forests, it was once a village that had very few houses and numerous work fields. Cabrils used to belong to the municipality of Vilassar until the year 1821 when it obtained municipal independence. Today it is still a small village but has transformed into a sought-after residential area with an exceptionally high quality of life. Along with Cabrera de Mar and Alella, Cabrils has an income per capita of €27,000 – more than 50% of Catalonia’s average (Gencat 2022). The desirable neighbourhood of Montcabrer is one of the oldest in Spain boasting a significant archaeological and cultural heritage. As well as agriculture, Cabrils’ main economic sector is the restaurant industry (see below) and is cited as one of the main gastronomic hubs of Catalonia.
Property in Cabrils
Homes in Cabrils are highly sought after
Cabrils has historically been one of the most desirable places to live on the Maresme coast due to reasons already mentioned, meaning that properties are high in demand. Types of homes are varied and range from detached homes with pools on the hillside to terraced houses in the village centre. A growing number of foreigners are choosing to buy in Cabrils, lured in by its high quality of life and proximity to Barcelona, the mountains and the Mediterranean.
‘’Compared to some of the prime areas near Barcelona like Alella, you get much more for your money in Cabrils and that’s partly because it’s a little bit further from Barcelona and is from the motorway than other Maresme towns, bringing the prices down further.’’
Tom Maidment, Partner Lucas Fox Maresme
Gastronomy in Cabrils
Can Rin, Torrent Roig, 2
La Mostra Gastronòmica de Cabrils is a festival celebrated annually every summer where some of Catalonia’s leading restaurants come together and showcase their gastronomy to more than 15,000 visitors. There are numerous restaurants to choose from including Ca L’estany, part of the prestigious Michelin Guide. The popular Hostal de la Plaça is under fairly new management. The menu consists of traditional Catalan dishes, namely Esqueixada de bacallà amb mongetes de Santa Pau and Carxofes confitades amb pernil de gla.
Can Rin is another restaurant located in the centre of the village of Cabrils, offering modern Catalan/Mediterranean cuisine. Every season they switch the menu to provide the freshest, natural and most locally sourced products possible. The restaurant has a beautiful ambient terrace, ideal for dining on summer evenings. The less stylish but equally popular La Concordia is the go-to cafe for weekend brunches or evening aperitifs. The menu is extensive, offering dishes such as homemade burgers and Ous Estrellats.
Close by, you’ll find the family run Sal i Pebre which has a well priced menu del dia, and a varied weekend menu including Paella and other rice dishes. A family favourite is Pizza del Hort, an Italian restaurant with oven stone cooked pizzas, fresh salads and a great selection of Italian pastas
The best lunch spots with terraces in Maresme
Shopping in Cabrils
There’s limited shopping in Cabrils but the village does offer everything you need from a baker’s, butcher’s, post office, two pharmacies, hairdressers, a beauty salon and a fishmongers. The supermarket Cada Dia on the high street and its fruit shop opposite are open on fiestas and Sundays. For more comprehensive supermarket shopping there is a Sorli D’Iscau and nearby Mercadona and Lidl on the border of Cabrils and Vilassar de Mar,
Activities in Cabrils
Hike to La Creu de Moncabrer
This beautiful hike is perfect for some of the most beautiful views in Maresme. From La Creu de Moncabrer you can see as far as Barcelona as well as a panoramic view of the surrounding hills.
Hike to Castell de Burriac
You can also take a hike to the beautiful remains of a small, 11th-century castle and chapel on a hill. The views from the top are beautiful and worth the hike. There’s a car park and a great cafe at Font Picant, ideal for a post hike coffee or beer.
Fira Gastronomica
Over the course of four days you can enjoy some of the best food and wine Maresme has to offer. With more than sixty stands and over 15,000 annual visitors, this annual festival is perfect for food lovers. This is an annual event usually held towards the end of August.
Festa Major de Cabrils
Giants at the Festa Mejor de Cabrils
The Santa Creu festival is the local festa major for Cabrils. The annual weekend-long festival normally takes place towards the end of April. The streets and squares are filled with people and different activities on offer such as concerts, theatre, dances, games for children, fireworks and much more.
An Insider’s Guide to Vilassar de Mar
