BARCELONA EATS: Where to Eat - 2 Cool Places!
Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria . Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Deets on Eats
Dear Foodie Fam,
Here are two very cool places to eat at in Barcelona, Spain!
In this post:
La Boqueria
More Markets to Visit
Market Dos and Don’ts
El Nacional
Vloggers’ Barcelona Suggestions
The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria
OPEN: Everyday (except Sun) • 8AM-8PM • Mercat de Sant Josep La Rambla, 90
One of my favorite things to do as a foodie is to visit food or street markets. I heard a lot about Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria because it’s a huge tourist spot sometimes called one of the best markets in the world. As of 2017, CNN has named it the Best Fresh Market in the World. Particularly lauded for it’s high quality Catalaan cuisine, foodies should not visit Barcelona without stopping here.
The market’s history spans back to 1217 with the official structure being built in 1835. While it started off as a pig market, the current name for the market comes from it’s history selling goat meat. Today, there are over 300 vendors at La Boqueria.
Generations of families and vendors have sold vegetables, cheeses, nuts, spices, meats, seafood and more under the metal rooftop. The market greets 40,000 visitors a day. For us in particular, it was really cool meeting a lot of Filipino transplants.
The sights, sounds and smells were magical. The seafood section (closed on Mondays) was really entrancing to see. Everything seemed so fresh and people were eating fresh, raw seafood at the stalls! The cascades of colors at each fruit stall were dizzying! Dried fruit… juices… fresh exotic fruit… edible flowers… The chartcuterie stalls were grand.
Of course… the beautiful jamón stalls were entrancing. I’d never seen institutions so gorgeously dedicated to ham. Jewel toned ham legs hung like layered, curtain-like mobiles. Skilled masters sliced paper thin bites of ham from legs on swivel arms.
Food in the market are worth the dollar. They feature top notch ingredients and artistry and often do not charge as much as eateries outside the market. Locals and even chefs still shop here because the prices are competitive and the quality is great! I’m not a big olive, squid or octopus fan but man they tasted great at the Boqueria!
It was so dreamy at the Boqueria! We wandered for hours.
BEATING CROWDS:
Go as early as possible or near closing to avoid the rush. Visiting at 10AM-12PM ensures stalls are mostly open but not super busy.
Most eateries close at 8:15pm so if there’s an eatery you don’t want to miss out on, make a special trip around 7pm for a better chance at a seat.
Fridays and Saturday mornings are when the most locals visit and numbers of tour groups are regulated. Tuesdays through Thursdays are the least busy times to visit. We went on a weekday morning which also made for great people watching on La Rambla. I adored the sweet sight of so many parents walking their kids to school.
Be very aware of pick pockets. They’re very common here.
SHOPPING:
Visit for the booths just as much (or more than) for the eateries. Its’ a market!
Most vendors speak English.
Don’t be a rude tourist. Usually, vendors are okay with photos and videos, but always ask first. It’s also courteous to support stalls you take photos at by buying something. Keep space clear for those who also want to buy from the stall.
Most products are sold by kilo.
Farm fresh, seasonal produce can be found to the right of the market (outside the roof).
Cash is preferred. Carry small notes and coins. Credit cards are taken at some stores but euros keep purchases fast.
Prices at booths vary. If you are trying to save money, wander and compare.
Stalls are organized by section through out the market.
It’s seen as good manners not to touch things at stalls that you don’t intend on buying.
Traditional local food like jamón ibérico are really pricey at restaurants inside the market, specialized stores outside the market and outside the country. Try these culinary gems at the specialized butchery stalls, here! The meat will still be more expensive than other types of meat (about €10.00+ for 100 grams) but this is a good price for jamón ibérico in general.
Since there are no markets or eateries open during the Spanish siesta, grab prepackaged foods before heading back to the hotel. If you stash these goods in your fridge at your hotel, you won’t go hungry on your American feeding schedule!
Enjoying pitaya juice. Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria . Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Deets on Eats
RESTAURANT/SNACKING TIPS:
There are no reservations at eateries in the Boqueria and wait times can be up to half an hour. The key here is to sort of hang around the eatery you want to enjoy and leap at the empty seats!
Touristy, quick snack stalls and some little eateries are in the front of the market. It can be delightful grabbing fresh fruit juice (anywhere between €1-2) near the entrance and sipping on it as you wander deeper into the market to the less peopled, more grocery-like stalls. It also might be smart to grab a bite at an eatery before exploring the market if you see some empty seats. Eateries are emptier closer to opening.
The Spanish lunch is crowded. Eating around 12PM and after 3PM will make it easier to find seats.
Some of our lunch at Bar Ramblero. Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria . Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Deets on Eats
RESTAURANT FAVES:
WE HAD BAR RAMBLERO: We were really lucky to easily grab a seat at another super loved stall at La Boqueria. The seafood here is probably the best I’ve had… like… anywhere in recent memory. Everything dish we ordered at the little bar we had lunch at were moments of eye-opening bliss. It’s one of the most fully enjoyed meals I ever had.
MON-SAT 8AM-8:30PM • CLOSED SUNMOST PRAISED: EL QUIM (STALL 582): Run by a father and sons, this is the most popular, worshipped restaurant at La Boqueria. We didn’t get to eat here because it was closed when we went! I would definitely hop straight to it next time we are in Barcelona. Their most popular dish is the fried eggs with baby squid (chipirones con huevos rotos). If you are curious, a quick youtube search will bring you lots of videos on El Quim (see below).
Devour Tour says this of the owner: “Quim calls himself “The defender of the eggs!“ And let’s just say it’s a title he defends with honor! The huevos rotos here are without doubt the best in Barcelona, and anyone who cooks eggs with foie is definitely our friend for life. “ - DEVOUR BARCELONA
MON 12PM-4PM • TUE-THURS 7AM-4PM • FRI-SAT 7AM-5PM • CLOSED SUNNEW CONTENDER: UNIVERSAL KIOSK (STALL =====): =====
HOURSBEST TAPAS: BAR PINOTXO: Of the tapas section (stalls 466-470) , this is the one I found most praised. According to Devour Tours, the owner has been at it for 50 years. It’s family run and the most loved dishes are the garbanzo beans with blood sausage that are eaten during breakfast.
MON-SAT 6:30AM-4PM • CLOSED SUNWANTED TO VISIT BUT MISSED: Another place we didn’t get to visit was Simplement Ous.
Video Below- Source: The ever inspiring Migrationology with Mark Wiens at El Quim
Video Below- Source: Devour Tours at Bar Pinotxo.
Video Below- Source: Strictly Dumpling
MORE COOL BARCELONA MARKETS:
Mercat de la Concepció • Carrer de Aragó, 313-317
Mercat de Sant Antoni • Carrer de Comte d’Urgell, 1
Mercat Santa Caterina
Mercat de la Llibertat
Mercat de la Terra (WEEKEND)
Barceloneta Sunday Market (Passeig de Joan Borbo)
Plaza del Pi Weekend Food Market
GRAPHIC BELOW: Devour Tours
2. El Nacional Barcelona
Fatteh. Le Chef. Gemmayzeh. Beirut, Lebanon. Photo by Deets on Eats
OPEN: Everyday (except Sun) • 8AM-8PM • Mercat de Sant Josep La Rambla, 90
We visited a lot of Gaudi sites in Barcelona . While waiting for our Casa Batlló tour time, we got hungry. Near Casa Battló, near the center of f Passeig de Gràcia, we discovered a beautiful eatery the likes of which we’d never quite seen, before.
El Nacional Barcelona describes itself as “the first restaurant in Barcelona with different areas where we can try traditional recipes from around the Iberian Peninsula, prepared with high quality produce in unique surroundings.” The restaurant (which looks and acts more like a cafeteria) has four culinary areas and four specialized bars that are all fresh, modern, shiny and gorgeous.
We took so many selfies in this space. It was just way too sexy! The service was attentive and friendly. We didn’t have time to sit at an eating area but the food at the Wine and Cured Meats Bar was so memorable I still sometimes dream of our time there. Also, the Jamón Ibérico and wine at this booth made us so giddy we didn’t want to leave! I had vermouth with my food as it was a little past midday and that’s what locals like to have at that hour!
BARS:
Beer and Preserves Bar: Draught beers and bottled beers . Cheese and smoked and salted tapas.
Oyster Bar: A smaller open bar. Shellfish, caviar, salmon, tuna and clams. Cava.
Wine and Cured Meats Bar: Reserve wines (some from the Peninsula), classic cheese and ham tapas.
Cocktail Bar: This larger bar has cheese and salted tapas to go with your vermouth by day and signature cocktails by night.
AREAS:
La Braseria: Specializing in meats made-to-order in front of you, you can drool over their windowed meat aging fixture. They’ve got a charcoal grill, a wood-fired over and a griddle.
La Llotja: Specialized in fish, you won’t miss the huge white fish sculpture hanging above. You can pick a fish, purchase it by weight and have it made by oven, charcoal-grill, steaming, frying or griddle.
La Tapería: Get yourself some fancy tapas. Get cold tapas from waiters and hot ones floating about.
La Parada: This is a deli for quick eating and light meals. You can order sweets here (including crêpes, sliced fruit, natural juices, milkshakes, pastries, artisanal ice cream, drinks and coffee).
El Magatzem: This space is made for groups and curated tastings and meals.
Video Below- Source: Gordon Ferrao
Video Below- Source: Meg Biram
MORE VIDEOS ON PLACES TO EAT:
Video Below- Source: Jaycation
Video Below- Source: Spain Revealed - James Blick
BONUS: Tapas Crawl
Spain Revealed was a killer resource for me when I was researching Spain. James Blick is very detailed and respectful to local culture. Blick has loads of experience through living in Spain with his native Spanish wife and touring with Devour Tours.
These videos made me SO excited to get to Spain and did not disappoint when I got there. I visited some places suggested and was over the moon! Their culture and language videos were beyond helpful to me, too. His Madrid videos are especially helpful because Madrid is where he lives.
Video Below- Source: Spain Revealed with James Blick
