Naman Shrestha
Based on the eponymous play by Guillem Clua, Netflix’s ‘Smiley’ is a Spanish romantic comedy series created by Clua himself that follows Álex, who is heartbroken when the boy he loves ghosts him after a couple of weeks of dating. In the heat of the moment, he lets his sentiments get the best of him and sends a voice note asking for an explanation for this behavior. However, Álex accidentally sends the message to a total stranger named Bruno. This ends up having unexpected consequences for both men because they decide to meet soon after that.
Now, as Álex and Bruno spend time together, they start navigating their relationship with one another while looking for true love. With different characters dealing with hangups, hesitations, and missed connections, the narrative keeps the viewers hooked on the series through each episode. Moreover, the use of interesting locations, including the bar where Álex works, is bound to make one wonder where ‘Smiley’ is filmed.
Smiley Filming Locations
‘Smiley’ is filmed entirely in Spain, particularly in Barcelona. The principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the romantic series commenced in May 2022 and wrapped up after a month or so in June of the same year. Situated in southwestern Europe, Spain is a developed country with a rich culture and an advanced economy. So, let’s not waste any time and dive right into all the specific sites that appear in the Netflix series!
Barcelona, Spain
Most of ‘Smiley’ is lensed in and around Barcelona, the capital and largest city in Spain’s autonomous community of Catalonia. From the looks of it, the cast and crew seemingly set up camp at various sites across the city to tape scenes against different backdrops. It is likely that they also utilize a sound stage of one of the film studios or an actual bar in Barcelona to create the bar where Álex works in the show.
Located on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula, Barcelona is a pivotal economic, cultural, and financial center in southwestern Europe. The city’s rich heritage and historical landmarks make it a major tourist destination, with millions of tourists visiting annually. Some renowned sights of interest in Barcelona are the Sagrada Familia, Palau Reial Major, the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, and the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona.
Moreover, some of the historic sites in the city are declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. They are Park Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, and Palau de la Música Catalana, to name a few. Over the years, Barcelona has hosted the production of many film and TV projects, such as ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona,’ ‘Through My Window,’ ‘The Spanish Apartment,’ and ‘Merlí. Sapere Aude.’
Read More: Smiley Ending, Explained: What Happens Between Bruno and Àlex?
