More than a café
Lucía López is from Barcelona. More than ten years ago she opened Orval with one idea: to build something more than a coffee shop.
First, plants
Orval began as a plant and coffee shop: coffee, and plants for sale. The plants aren’t for sale any more, but they stayed in the space: green leaves frame the door, and light pours in through the big window.
Nos drenaba mucha energía, y decidimos dejarlo
(It drained a lot of our energy, and we decided to let it go), says Lucía of selling plants.
Then, a new street
The concept and the address changed, and the regulars followed, all the way to number 31 on Carrer de Buenaventura Muñoz. Now it’s a place made for staying: people draw here, work, write, or simply stop for a while.
People we admire
“Siempre he intentado mezclar proyectos de personas a las que conozco y admiro, muchas de ellas amigas.”
I’ve always tried to bring together projects by people I know and admire, many of them friends.
Lucía’s brother makes the ceramics we serve drinks and dishes in, and the ferments too: the kimchi and the kombucha.
The coffee is from Nomad and Three Marks. The bread for the toast, from Yellow Bakery. The granola, from Mas Meriendas, with organic yogurt from La Selvatana. We make our ginger beer with Valentinis Brews, and the cherry cold brew with Luno Soda.
On the shelves: art and independent magazines, clothes and bags by designers from nearby, and natural wine from small producers.
A place you feel
“Si algo tiene que explicarse con palabras, está mal diseñado. Desde que entras, todos los detalles deberían hacerte sentir de una manera concreta.”
If something has to be explained in words, it’s badly designed. From the moment you walk in, every detail should make you feel a certain way.
And if someone doesn’t connect with it? No pasa nada, buscarán su sitio.
(That’s fine, they’ll find their place.)
Lucía’s words are from her interview in La Vanguardia, January 2026, translated from Spanish.
Written about Orval
“Hojas verdes enmarcan la entrada de Orval, un lugar pensado para quedarse. Aquí la gente dibuja, trabaja, escribe o simplemente se detiene.”
La Vanguardia, January 4, 2026
“a quiet upstairs corner perfect for settling in to get some work done”
Sprudge, September 10, 2026