A gastronomic weekend in Barcelona: take your tastebuds on a journey!
Always on the lookout for something different to eat? Barcelona has plenty of treats in store, with new tastes around every corner. Follow us!
Accommodation for foodies
Finding somewhere to stay is the first step on your voyage of culinary discovery.
A hotel-bakery
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so for health reasons, we recommend staying at the Praktik Bakery, which, as its name suggests, combines a hotel and bakery!
Luxury hotels and restaurants
If you’re looking for something more intimate and comfortable, there are plenty of options available. The designer Cram Hotel also plays host to a Michelin-starred restaurant, Angle.
Prefer a modernist establishment? The Hotel España with its grand décor is bound to impress you. The restaurant isn’t on the Michelin radar, but the chef in charge has won 7 stars over the course of his career.
Foodie visits
Why not take a guided visit specially designed for food lovers? It truly is a voyage for the senses. For more information, see our article Barcelona for foodies: a guided visit to discover the city using all 5 senses.
Stroll around the markets
There’s nothing better than a visit to one or more of the city’s fabulous markets to start the day on the right note! The Boquería market is the most famous, but there are others which are worth a visit- see our top 5 food markets in Barcelona.
Visit the chocolate museum
Another food-themed attraction in Barcelona is the Chocolate Museum. It’s a fun place to visit, especially with children, and you’ll learn lots about the history of chocolate, its transformation and sale.
Tasty souvenirs
If you’re coming to Barcelona for a weekend of food tourism, you’ll probably want to stock up on treats from a deli. Even if you’re not intending to buy, you’re sure to enjoy wandering around some of the city’s gourmet shops.
Iberico ham in Barcelone
After much hard work, extensive research and testing, we declare Andreu to be the best place to buy ham in Barcelona.
Artisan touron and chocolates
Touron and chocolate form an important part of Barcelona’s foodie scene. Make sure you taste some of the fabulous products on offer from Barcelona’s best chocolatiers and from artisan turron shops. There’s just too much to choose from!
Gastronomy and history at Casa Gispert
Make sure you take the time to visit Casa Gispert. In addition to top-quality dried fruit and nuts, visitors can experience something of Barcelona’s past, as the shop has stayed the same since 1851.
Wine and cheese emporia
Finish your foodie shopping trip with a visit to Vila Viniteca. There are so many things to see that you won’t know where to look!
Breakfast
Breakfast in Catalonia is a curious affair, as it’s often ignored in favour of a savoury snack around 11am, generally consisting of coffee and a sandwich. That said, there are plenty of options for breakfast.
Barcelona’s iconic bakeries
If you prefer to eat on the go, bakeries offer the perfect option. Any of the shops on our list of Barcelona’s best bakeries should do the trick.
Paella for lunch
No foodie stay in Barcelona would be complete without paella! Unfortunately, quite a lot of places have turned into tourist traps. To be sure of getting “proper” paella, made with fresh products and packed with flavour, see our article on Paella in Barcelona: top tips and addresses.
Mid-afternoon: ice cream!
What do you mean, you’re not hungry? There’s always room for ice cream, though. Visit one of our favourite ice cream shops in Barcelona and try something out of the ordinary – you won’t regret it!
If you really, really can’t manage an ice cream, try a horchata, a summer drink which is a particular favourite with the locals.
Hot chocolate on a winter’s afternoon
If chocolate is your cup of tea, order a suís from one of our favourite cafés: thick, unctuous hot chocolate with cream, generally served with soft finger biscuits known as melindros. Fattening? Of course it isn’t. Who told you that?
Time for an aperitif!
But of course! If you’re a beer drinker, Fàbrica Moritz has everything you could want.
If wine is more your thing, how about a little glass on a terrace opposite the basilica of Santa María del Mar? Try La Vinya del Senyor…
Dinner: tapas or a gastronomic meal
There are several possible options for evening meals. If you enjoy the social side of things, sharing plates and trying all sorts of different things, then go down the 100% tapas route.
If your budget allows, if you plan well ahead and if you’re looking for something truly extraordinary, pay a visit to Tickets. This tapas restaurant is directed by Ferran Adrià, voted world’s best chef on several occasions for El Bulli, which is now closed.
- Note: Adrià is a proponent of molecular cuisine. Some people love it, but others aren’t so keen. Do your research beforehand and remember to book via the restaurant’s website a few months in advance in order to get a table.
Looking for something a little less wacky? The Llamber is a great option, with fabulous tapas and delicious wines for around 40-50 euros a head.
Prefer something less extravagant? No problem! These bars offer delicious tapas which should do the trick.
Note: we accept absolutely no responsibility for the number of calories ingested during your stay in Barcelona. It’s not our fault if you give into temptation!
