BROWSE HOTEL COLLECTIONS
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Food in Barcelona - eating like a local!
Barcelona is much more than tasty tapas and nice wine. This vibrant city has a huge culinary value while boasts more than 20 Michelin-star restaurants.
Diverse cuisines are offered in the restaurants and markets of Barcelona, but the most popular cuisine in the city is, of course, the Catalan cuisine. Sparking Mediterranean tastes based on fresh vegetables, pure olive oil, excellent fish and seafood, as well as various meats, Catalan cuisine is a feast of healthy, simple and delicious dishes.
That said, you shouldn’t leave Barcelona without eating some of the city’s most delicious seafood and traditional dishes.
What to eat in Barcelona
Paella - One of the most searched Spanish dishes on the internet, Paella has its roots in Valencia and is an exquisite mixture of rice and seafood. The best paella restaurants are located in Barcelona’s coasts.
Esqueixada – Probably the most traditional Catalan salad to eat in Barcelona. It is a mix of raw salted cod, red tomatoes, onions, and black olives topped with romesco sauce.
Calçots and romesco sauce – A popular delicacy you will find mostly at the street parties throughout Barcelona. Calçots are actually grilled green onions dipped to romesco sauce, a traditional Catalan one made with hazelnuts, almonds, and red peppers.
Pa amb tomaquet – Catalan people’s favourite! It is a simple yet delicious Catalan recipe based on bread rubbed with garlic, tomato, olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Smart tip: If you are seeking for quality food at a very reasonable price in Barcelona, then look no further. Menu del Dia is Barcelona’s restaurants and bars best-kept secret offering a three-course meal paired with wine at affordable price.
In this Barcelona Food Guide, you will find the best hotels with restaurants and the best places to eat like a local in Barcelona.
Diverse cuisines are offered in the restaurants and markets of Barcelona, but the most popular cuisine in the city is, of course, the Catalan cuisine. Sparking Mediterranean tastes based on fresh vegetables, pure olive oil, excellent fish and seafood, as well as various meats, Catalan cuisine is a feast of healthy, simple and delicious dishes.
That said, you shouldn’t leave Barcelona without eating some of the city’s most delicious seafood and traditional dishes.
What to eat in Barcelona
Paella - One of the most searched Spanish dishes on the internet, Paella has its roots in Valencia and is an exquisite mixture of rice and seafood. The best paella restaurants are located in Barcelona’s coasts.
Esqueixada – Probably the most traditional Catalan salad to eat in Barcelona. It is a mix of raw salted cod, red tomatoes, onions, and black olives topped with romesco sauce.
Calçots and romesco sauce – A popular delicacy you will find mostly at the street parties throughout Barcelona. Calçots are actually grilled green onions dipped to romesco sauce, a traditional Catalan one made with hazelnuts, almonds, and red peppers.
Pa amb tomaquet – Catalan people’s favourite! It is a simple yet delicious Catalan recipe based on bread rubbed with garlic, tomato, olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Smart tip: If you are seeking for quality food at a very reasonable price in Barcelona, then look no further. Menu del Dia is Barcelona’s restaurants and bars best-kept secret offering a three-course meal paired with wine at affordable price.
In this Barcelona Food Guide, you will find the best hotels with restaurants and the best places to eat like a local in Barcelona.
The best hotels with restaurants in Barcelona
There is no shortage of places to visit and activities to do when in Barcelona, as thus, staying in a hotel offering energetic breakfasts, and sumptuous lunches and dinners can be very convenient and satisfying.
All over the city, you will find excellent Barcelona hotels with fine-dining restaurants, cosy cafes, and lounge bars within their premises catering to your needs with professional service.
For a Michelin-starred gastronomic experience in Barcelona, some of the most prestigious restaurants in the city are situated in excellent hotels specialising in haute cuisine.
See our collection with the best dining hotels in Barcelona to dine in Michelin star awarded restaurants, start your day with a rich brunch menu, have a seasonal tapas lunch, or even an intimate romantic dinner within the privacy of your room.
All over the city, you will find excellent Barcelona hotels with fine-dining restaurants, cosy cafes, and lounge bars within their premises catering to your needs with professional service.
For a Michelin-starred gastronomic experience in Barcelona, some of the most prestigious restaurants in the city are situated in excellent hotels specialising in haute cuisine.
See our collection with the best dining hotels in Barcelona to dine in Michelin star awarded restaurants, start your day with a rich brunch menu, have a seasonal tapas lunch, or even an intimate romantic dinner within the privacy of your room.
Where to eat like a local in Barcelona
Food Markets in Barcelona
With nearly 40 food markets spreading throughout the city's neighbourhoods, very few cities in the world can compete with Barcelona when it comes to its food markets.
Mercat de la Boqueria, with an entrance from the central street La Rambla, is the most popular market in Barcelona attracting both locals and tourists. It has a wide range of fresh food and an excellent selection of salads, snacks, and sandwiches to grab a bite on the go.
Mercat de Santa Caterina is another popular fresh food market to visit in Barcelona and distinguished from others for its colourful roof designed by Catalan architect Enric Miralles. It is less chaotic than Mercat de la Boqueria, but still a favourite market among locals and tourists alike, with numerous stalls offering an excellent array of fresh products.
Gastronomic neighbourhoods in Barcelona
There is no shortage of restaurants in Barcelona which might differ from region to region. The seaside Barceloneta neighbourhood is a very popular quarter for locals, where you can try fish dishes like paella, arros negre, and tapas.
Other popular gastronomy areas in Barcelona are the elegant Eixample Esquerra with swish cafes and luxury boutiques, and Barri Gotic, a charming Gothic Quarter with narrow cobblestone streets lined with swanky bars, clubs and Catalan restaurants.
See our collection with the best places for food lovers in Barcelona!
With nearly 40 food markets spreading throughout the city's neighbourhoods, very few cities in the world can compete with Barcelona when it comes to its food markets.
Mercat de la Boqueria, with an entrance from the central street La Rambla, is the most popular market in Barcelona attracting both locals and tourists. It has a wide range of fresh food and an excellent selection of salads, snacks, and sandwiches to grab a bite on the go.
Mercat de Santa Caterina is another popular fresh food market to visit in Barcelona and distinguished from others for its colourful roof designed by Catalan architect Enric Miralles. It is less chaotic than Mercat de la Boqueria, but still a favourite market among locals and tourists alike, with numerous stalls offering an excellent array of fresh products.
Gastronomic neighbourhoods in Barcelona
There is no shortage of restaurants in Barcelona which might differ from region to region. The seaside Barceloneta neighbourhood is a very popular quarter for locals, where you can try fish dishes like paella, arros negre, and tapas.
Other popular gastronomy areas in Barcelona are the elegant Eixample Esquerra with swish cafes and luxury boutiques, and Barri Gotic, a charming Gothic Quarter with narrow cobblestone streets lined with swanky bars, clubs and Catalan restaurants.
See our collection with the best places for food lovers in Barcelona!
Food Tips
Barcelona is a city with a huge culinary value while its boasts of being the home of more than 20 Michelin-star restaurants. However, as Barcelona is a big and touristic city, high quality restaurants might be harder to find. The best places to visit are, of course, the ones that attract mainly locals.
There is an abundance of restaurants in Barcelona which might differ from region to region. Barceloneta is a very popular quarter for locals, where you can try fish based dishes like paella, arros negre, and tapas. Other popular gastronomy areas in Barcelona are Eixample Esquerra, Barri Gotic, El Born, and Carrer de Blai.
There is a wide diversity of cuisines in Barcelona, but the most popular cuisine in the city is, of course, the Catalan cuisine. Even though there is a wide selection of delicious seafood, not all of it is local. Waffles is a very popular treat that can be found at street stands.
Since the food opportunities in Barcelona are unlimited, attending a food tour would be the best and fastest way to discover the local food tradition entirely.
Very few cities in the world can compete with Barcelona as it matters its food markets. There are more than 40 food markets in Barcelona where you may be able to find local delicacies as well as traditional recipes to try. Some of the popular food markets in Barcelona are Mercat de la Boqueria, Mercat de La llibertat, and Sarria Market.
Travel Info
How to get there
- By air
- By car
- By bus
- By ferry
Move around
- Metro
- Buses
- Taxi
- Uber
- Tram
Ideal for
- Performances & theaters
- Art & culture
- Sightseeing
- City breaks
- Shopping
- Weekends
- Lgbt holidays
- Couples holidays
- Local gastronomy
- Fine-dining
Destination Type
- City
Average weather
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Hotels for Food Lovers
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