How To Eat Like a Local in Barcelona
Here’s the first thing you need to know about how to eat like a local in Barcelona. Wear big pants.
When I joined a culinary tour with Secret Food Tours Barcelona, it was immediately clear that Barcelonians are extremely passionate about their local food, and delighted to share the best Spanish food with you. And lots of it!
The city’s huge popularity with tourists can make it difficult to find authentic places to eat in Barcelona.
But, with our guide, local chef Andrés, we learned the secrets about the best food in Barcelona and where to find it.
I can’t reveal everything, but here are the top tips I learned during my Secret Food Tour in Barcelona.
How to eat like a local in Barcelona at dinner
During the tour, we explored the El Born neighbourhood. It’s one of the most historic areas of city and it’s filled with classic Barcelona tapas bars and cute bistros. There’s a nice vibe along these narrow streets.
Although the tour takes place during the day, you should know when to go out for dinner at night. The locals eat late, usually around 9:30 p.m. In fact, many Barcelona restaurants don’t even open for dinner until after 8 p.m.
Dinner often consists of lighter fare, like tapas. Barcelonians enjoy their heavier meal at lunch, around 2 p.m. The late meal times, of course, may call for snacks in the mid-morning and late afternoon. So, in fact, the Barcelona food experience really calls for continuous eating. I knew I’d feel at home here!
Bliss tip! Where to stay in Barcelona: The Gothic Quarter is a prime place to be in the centre of Barcelona. I stayed at the 4-star Hotel Barcelona Catedral, just around the corner from the main cathedral. The hotel was modern and clean, and provided an insightful free walking tour in the Gothic Quarter.
Check prices and availability at the Hotel Barcelona Catedral
Sweet snacks
To start the walking tour in Barcelona, we stopped at Patisseria Santa Clara, one of the oldest bakeries in the city, dating back to 1849. That’s given them plenty of time to perfect a typical Catalan pastry called panellets. The most popular kind of panellets consist of marzipan rolled in pine nuts and sugar for a tasty, bite-sized snack.
A typical local breakfast starts with strong coffee, and there are a number of amazing cafes in Barcelona. But, of course, no food tour would be complete without indulging in some Spanish hot chocolate, breakfast of champions.
It’s said Barcelona was the first place in Europe where people started eating chocolate. It began when the conquistadors returned with cocoa beans and recipes after conquering the Aztecs. To this day, Barcelona loves its chocolate.
This is probably not the hot chocolate you’re used to. It’s thick and rich and very chocolatey sweet. Drinking it alone may be an acquired taste, but it’s perfect for dipping churros.
Patisseria Santa Clara address: Carrer de la Llibreteria, 21, 08002 Barcelona
Bliss tip! Where to get the best churros in Barcelona, plus get the recipe:
Warm fresh churros with thick, rich chocolate are good just about anywhere, but here are my top picks for the best churros in Barcelona:
- Xurreria Trebol (Gracia) – Try the churros stuffed with chocolate! Carrer de Còrsega, 341 08037
- La Nena (Gracia) – Great for families ,Carrer de Ramón y Cajal 36 08012
- Granja La Pallaresa (Gothic Quarter) – Open since 1947, this coffee shop is usually crowded with locals, Carrer de Petritxol 11, 08002
- Churreria Laietana (El Born) – Crispiest churros in Barcelona, great price, opens at odd hours Via Laietana 46, 08003
Want to make churros at home? Here’s my favourite recipe.
Pork products are popular
Barcelona cuisine tends to be quite meat-heavy. Ham, or jamón, as it’s known here, is one of Spain’s best-known culinary treasures.
We stopped at the Santa Catarina Market where you can find some of the best Barcelona street food.
Here, we sampled some chorizo and two kinds of ham: jamón serrano which comes from white or pink pigs on farms, and jamón ibérico, which comes from black Iberian pigs that roam oak forests and eat acorns. The acorns turn the fat of the jamón ibérico into a magical taste sensation. This specialty, which may be aged for up to 5 years, is quite a pricey delicacy. What a treat to try it on the tour – – it was ham heaven!
Naturally, with ham, comes cheese. We tasted the sweet, nutty flavours of Manchego, made from sheep’s milk. This delicious cheese is produced in the La Mancha region of Spain (also home to Don Quixote).
It’s a good thing we did some walking through the streets of El Born on this tour.
Santa Catarina Market address: Av. de Francesc Cambó, 16, 08003 Barcelona
Traveling around Spain? Get this list of 20 items you need to pack for your trip to Spain.
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Bubbles and tapas in Barcelona
Three words to describe my favourite part of the tour: bubbles on tap.
You might be familiar with cava, a sparkling wine produced in the Penedes region of Catalonia. Like champagne, it can only be called cava if it’s produced in that specific region.
At our next stop, Bodega La Puntual, they serve a sparkling wine similar to cava. But, since it’s made in Barcelona, they call it “champagñet”. I don’t care what they call it – – it’s delightful.
Bodega La Puntual address: Carrer de Montcada, 22, 08003 Barcelona
Get social
As Andrés explained, eating in Barcelona is a social experience. Tapas are meant for sharing and there is never a rush as people linger after they’ve eaten. (Indeed, it can be a challenge to get the waiter to bring over the bill.)
Even the champagñet is meant for sharing. Andrés demonstrated how everyone can drink from a traditional porrón, without touching it to their lips. I’m guessing it was probably invented during a drinking game, but that’s just my theory.
Want to get your own porrón? Click on these images for more info & pricing.
Tapas basics: tomato bread & croquettes
Spanish gastronomy is based on simplicity and letting the quality of the ingredients shine through.
Nowhere is that demonstrated more than in two staples of tapas fare: pan con tomate (tomato bread) and croquettes. For tomato bread, the bread is topped with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and salt and lightly grilled.
Croquettes are simply a fried roll of food leftovers (like ham) and bound together with bechamel sauce or mashed potatoes.
These basics are a must-have when you go for tapas, a tasty carb component of the meal!
Look for the mark of quality
If you’re looking for good food shops in Barcelona, watch for plaques in the sidewalk like this one. They’re given out by the city to recognize places of the highest quality.
This one is for Casa Gispert, one of the oldest shops in Barcelona. It specializes in roasted nuts, which are roasted in a wood-fired cylinder in the store that’s been there since 1851. The shop is definitely worth a visit for the old time feel of the place, and the heavenly scent of fire-roasted nuts that permeates the air.
Casa Gispert address: Carrer dels Sombrerers, 23, 08003 Barcelona
Try Vermouth
You might think of Vermouth as an ingredient for martinis (shaken, not stirred), but in Barcelona, this fortified wine is served as an apertif.
We also had a taste of Vermouth at Casa Gispert. The wine is flavoured with herbs and spices, such as cardamom or cloves, so it’s believed to help with digestion. It’s entirely possible that this view is influenced by the 15% alcohol content.
Head to Barceloneta for seafood
If you’re looking to dine on seafood, the quirky, seaside neighbourhood of Barceloneta is for you. You know it’s the place for seafood when the local grafitti spells out a recipe for fish stew (photo on the right).
Here, at Restaurante Salamanca, we feasted on paella with sangria. Andrés told us that the secret to good paella is in the stock. A darker colour is a good sign because it means the flavours are more concentrated. Also, if you want to eat like a local in Barcelona, have paella for lunch. It’s too heavy for the late night dinner hour.
Even so, as I waddled away from the restaurant, I couldn’t help but think that this has to be one of the most satisfying Barcelona tours you can take.
Restaurante Salamanca address: Carrer de Pepe Rubianes, 34, 08003 Barcelona
More Information:
Tour details: Secret Food Tours Barcelona. Book your Secret Food Tour in Barcelona here.
Where to stay: Check prices and availability at the Hotel Barcelona Catedral or review all Barcelona hotels here. See also: the best places to stay in Barcelona by neighbourhood
Tourism Information: Visit Barcelona, Spain Tourism
Travel tip: The best way to get from the Barcelona airport to the city centre.
Suggested reading: Rick Steves Barcelona
Avoid data roaming fees: I use an aloSIM eSIM (a digital SIM card) to stay connected when I travel. Get 5% off your first order with the promo code: TRAVELBLISSNOW.
Travel Bliss Now joined the tour as a guest of Secret Food Tours, but my opinions are always my own.
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Looks yummy! Seems like a great intro to Barcelona
Thanks Honey! Yes, it’s definitely a delicious way to get to know Barcelona.
Excited to use this guide on my next adventure to Barcelona! Loved the Paella at Barceloneta & the croquettes look delicious. Great food guide 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Yara! The tour was a great way to discover the must-eats and where to find them.
Haha! I love it when you say: “wear big pants”! Yes, people in Barcelona, but also in other parts of Spain and even in Portugal and Italy love eating. And so do we, that’s why we love Barcelona! I’ve been there several times, and last year I went back twice (well once for work…) and every time I pack nothing but wide dresses and leggings! Now your post is making us want to go back again!
I love eating too, and Barcelona is a fantastic place for it (as long as we pack the big pants and wide dresses). Thanks for reading!
Give me some of that hot chocolate. It looks so creamy and delicious. That food tour seems incredible. Andrés seems like a great guide and it’s even better since he’s a chef himself! I’m going to have to look more into that tour company.
Thanks Darah. I’ve taken several tours with Secret Food Tours, and I always like the fact that the guides are local and have plenty of foodie knowledge.
Oh, I love the idea of a secret food tour! It sounds so mysterious. I’m glad there is a fair amount of walking involved too.I have a new found respect for the Spanish since they introduced Europe to the wonders of chocolate. The panellets sound amazing. I’m sure I could eat my fill of them. And nothing sounds better than eating seafood right on the beach.
Thanks so much Lance. You can’t help but like the people who brought chocolate to the continent!
Wear big pants-haha, yep!! The Spaniards know how to eat! Ham, cheese and chocolate-my kind of place. I just can’t believe in all of the years I’ve been going to Spain I’ve never seen a porrón! How did I miss that? Looks like you got a great sampling of Spanish food on this tour and yes, Barceloneta is definitely the place for seafood. I would love to try Restaurante Salamanca!
Thanks Heather! That paella at Restaurante Salamanca was sooo good! You will have to try it, along with a beverage from a porrón.
This post is making me hungry! No wonder you need to wear big pants while on the tour. LOL. :P. But seriously, the food looks amazing and your post is certainly educational too. Dinner at 9:30 PM sounds really late for me (LOL), but it makes sense as heavy lunch is at 2PM. 😀
It doesn’t take too long to get used to the local eating schedule, which is basically all the time. Thanks for reading Marvi!
Yas! We loved eating in El Born. So many great little restaurants here and they were all so delicious. I absolutely recommend eating here too. I love seafood and didn’t get a chance to explore Barceloneta for seafood. Will have to do that the next time I visit!
Barceloneta was excellent for seafood, and fun to visit on a sunny, beachy kind of day. Thanks Candy!
Wow this post definitely made me hungry. Getting a food guide from a local chef like Andrés is indeed a great idea and I must remember to wear big pants..lol
That hot chocolate looks so delicious and I’m curious to try those panellets. Interesting to learn about the tapas and champagñet. That paella looks so tempting. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a great city to be hungry in – – although that won’t last! Thanks for reading Karie!
I think Spanish cuisine is one of the world’s most fascinating. The variety of tapas is mind-boggling and I don’t mind going back to Spain just for the food. A food tour in Barcelona sounds just about right.
Thanks Punita! Yes, a food tour is a great way to get insider tips on the best places for tapas.
I’m not a big fan of the Spanish hot chocolate. Luckily, I love Sangria and I really have no restrictions about drinking alcohol before noon 🙂 I’d love to discover the Spanish cuisine in Barcelona, the sweet snacks (sans hot chocolate) got me curious.
I’m a serious chocoholic and even I found the hot chocolate quite rich to drink on its own. But I definitely recommend the sangria and bubbly! Thanks for reading.
Oh, what memories. I love Barcelona and the Santa Catarina market, paella, tapas and cava. O.K. Decided. I need to return and track a few of these places down! Thanks for this post!
Thanks for reading Alison! Enjoy eating your way through Barcelona.
I enjoy the idea of a heavy day meal and light tapas at night Cindy. Works perfectly for me as I sleep better on a relatively empty stomach. Sounds delightful. Although I would over-do it on tapas, my first few nights in Barcelona LOL.
Thanks Ryan! It’s pretty easy to overdo it on tapas every night.