Our Barcelona Food Tour
- mgabriele
- Aug 1, 2019
- 7 min read
We ate our hearts out in Barcelona! I am so jealous of the fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil selections available to Catalans. Their access to the Mediterranean Sea and local farms make the food scene at the markets and local restaurants exquisite. Here are some tips for eating in Barcelona along with some restaurant recommendations.
First word: TAPAS! Tapas is the Spanish word for appetizer. They are served at just about every restaurant. There are some tapas that you must try and some that you must try more than once. I suggest trying them more than once because every restaurant will prepare them in a different way.
Patatas bravas: fried potatoes seasoned with garlic and paprika, usually served with garlic alioli (MY FAVORITE)
Croquettes: logs of cheese rolled in breadcrumbs and fried, sometimes stuffed with ham, mushroom, or vegetables
Iberico ham: similar to prosciutto but a thicker cut of meat
Manchego cheese: Spanish cheese with a nutty flavor
Pan con tomate: crusty bread with tomatoes and olive oil
Padrón peppers: blistered green peppers seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper
I should also note that you will find "pinchos" at many restaurants in Spain. These are small snacks, especially popular in the Basque region of Spain. These restaurants are very unique because you pay only for what you eat. In the restaurant there is a bar lined with small snacks labeled with toothpicks. You take a plate and choose your pinchos. Be conscious that different pinchos may be priced differently depending on what they contain. Four or five pinchos can usually fill you up. When you're finished, your bill is calculated by the toothpicks on your plate. Featured below is a blood sausage pincho topped with a quail egg.
Of course we had paella, which is a signature dish of Spain. It is a rice dish that is traditionally cooked over an open fire. It is typically served family style in a large skillet. It can be ordered with vegetables, fish, or meat. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy my paella experience. We ordered this dish at a touristy restaurant on the Barcelona port. I was so looking forward to this meal! I feel as though I would have enjoyed it more at a more local and authentic restaurant. But paella is a signature dish, so it is essential to try at some point during a visit.
La Boqueria is a must for any trip to Barcelona! It is located right on Las Ramblas and features some of the most amazing foods I have ever seen. Strawberries were the brightest red I have ever seen and bursting with flavor. It is a popular place among the tourists but definitely worth the experience. Crowds can get large, but the food selection is unlike any other. I could sample chocolates, cheeses, fruits, and meats all day. It can be an easy stop for lunch or a snack.
My biggest regret the first two days in Barcelona was eating at the tourist traps. Las Ramblas is filled with restaurants advertising the same tapas and long hours. It can attest that it is a good place to get a café, chocolate caliente, or gelato. However, many of the tapas served at these restaurants can be overpriced even after sitting out on the counter all day. The truly authentic restaurants are closed in midday for siesta and open again after 8PM for dinner. Our best meals happened when we ventured off Las Ramblas into the El Born and Eixample. Here are some of my favorite meals.
We ventured to main location about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. When we arrived, there was a line out the door and the wait was extremely long. I had done my research on this place, though, and was insistent that we wait for a table. Instead, the hostess sent us to one of their other locations called "Travel and Cake" with a similar menu. Thankfully my friends trusted me and made the hangry walk with me. It was certainly worth it. THIS PLACE WAS AMAZING! It was a cute little coffee shop and bakery that serves brunch all day. The presentation of the food was exquisite. The food was fresh and bursting with color on each of our plates. My sister's eggs benedict was served on a shovel. Who would have thought of plating that creative? My pumpkin burger was garnished with bright pink hummus and placed on a bed of greens and sweet potatoes. Not only did it look good, it also tasted amazing! We spent so much time at this cafe, taking photos for our Instagram stories and enjoying each-other's company. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Barcelona. You will not be disappointed. One thing to note: Since we ventured into the neighborhood of Eixample, the staff did not speak English very well. We had trouble communicating our orders with our waitress, but the manager came out to help our waitress take our orders. The staff was so accommodating to our group.
So we really like Brunch foods, okay? Our days in Barcelona included long mornings of touring historic buildings and city streets, with nice breaks in the late afternoon to get something good to eat. We would not be eating dinner until 9PM, so it was important to eat a good late afternoon meal. Caravelle was a brew pub and cafe relatively close to La Boqueria that we found on Yelp. The restaurant was full of young adults stopping in for a coffee or meal. The menu had some interesting items on it, leading me unsure on my order. Finally, I asked the girl at the table next to us what she ordered because it looked fantastic. It was pulled pork eggs benedict, a combination that just seemed oddly delicious. The bread was thick, fresh, and toasty. The eggs were cooked to perfection. And the pork was tender and flavorful. Three of us ended up ordering this dish. It seemed to be the most popular item on the menu. I would have loved to go back for dinner or honestly brunch again!
This restaurant recommendation came from one of our bicycle tour guides in Barcelona. We were looking for a nice wine bar to spend the evening at. This restaurant was located in El Born. Not going to lie, it was a little hard to find when venturing the alleys of Barcelona in the dark. Google Maps was our best friend in finding this restaurant.
We arrived about 9PM, and I was honestly a little worrisome when we checked in with the hostess. The place looked tiny. To my surprise, we were quickly seated in the back of the restaurant where there were so many tables, bottles of wine, and cuts of meat to gaze at. I ordered a glass of wine and charcuterie for the table. Manchego cheese and Iberian ham are signature to Spain, so I was sure to include them in our order. For dinner, I ordered the octopus which came over a bed of creamed potatoes. This was my first octopus experience. It had a smoky flavor which paired well with the creamy potatoes. I loved it!
Overall, this is an excellent restaurant for small plates, wine, and cheese. If you are looking for a quieter wine bar to relax and enjoy a meal with some good friends, I would definitely recommend this place. Our waitress was also excellent in her recommendations. We never felt rushed nor treated like tourists. They spoke English well here!
Saving the best for last! This wine bar was by far our favorite place in Barcelona. Tucked away in the alleys of El Born, Arcano was exceptional from appetizers to dessert. The restaurant atmosphere is cozy with dimmed lighting. We sat in the wine cellar, which was very quaint. I would also suggest this restaurant for a date night. It was also a very romantic setting. I am not going to lie, we definitely splurged on this meal ($$$), but it was one of our last nights in the city. It was well worth it!
We were immediately seated at a table in the wine cellar for dinner. It was perfect. We did not have reservations, but I would recommend making them. After taking orders, our waiter brought us green bean "soup shots" as a complimentary appetizer. The soup was a warm puree of green beans literally served in a shot glass. Sounds a little different, right? SO DELICIOUS! For dinner, I ordered the grilled red tuna loin. It came with quinoa and vegetables. It was so flavorful and the presentation was exquisite. Another favorite dish of ours was the lamb with pumpkin. Some of the meat entrees were rather larger, so I would recommend splitting one and ordering a plate of grilled vegetables. The vegetables were fresh, seasoned well, and plentiful.
Dessert topped off our night. The tiramisu was the best we had in all of Spain. It was served in a little flower pot. When our waiter brought the tiramisu to the table, he "watered" it with some coffee liqueur. HOW CUTE! It was really an exceptional dessert! Other desserts we enjoyed were the a chocolate mouse and a mango parfait.
10/10 would recommend Arcano! After paying our bills, we were each given a small bottle of olive oil from the restaurant. The bottle has a magnet on the back, so naturally it is hanging on my fridge at home. I will always remember this place!
Barcelona has some of the most amazing restaurants I have been to. I am always looking for "farm to table" restaurants when I travel. Spain's access to the Mediterranean land and sea, allows for fresh food to be supplied to markets and eateries in the area. My biggest tip is to stay away from the tourist traps! Food there is overpriced and many of their tapas have been sitting out all day. Yelp can be your best friend for finding restaurants, even internationally! Researching before is always best. In peak tourist times of the year, make reservations!
Until next time!
Adéu.
-Mia
Comments