The Ultimate Barcelona Food And Drink Guide

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So, despite returning from Barcelona over a month ago, I realised this week that I never actually got round to sharing my ultimate Barcelona food and drink guide. I truly do believe that great food and drink can make a holiday, and we tried out some really yummy places on our short trip to the city that I'm so excited to tell you about. We only scratched the surface really, but if you're going to be in Barcelona anytime soon, I hope these recommendations come in handy!

The Ultimate Barcelona Food And Drink Guide

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food

If you're a foodie than Barcelona is the perfect city break destination for you. With authentic tapas bars on every corner and a burgeoning gastronomic scene, you'll be spoilt for choice. Here's where we ate and loved...

Caravelle

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This was without a doubt our favourite brunch spot! Located in the El Raval district, it's super easy to get to, and a quick read of the menu will have your mouth watering. I opted for the Huevos Rancheros, while Sam enjoyed what he claimed to be the best Eggs Benedict of his whole life - they're served with pulled pork instead of ham, and they certainly looked delicious!

La Esquina

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This was another yummy brunch spot that we found on our last morning in Barcelona. It's located right near Plaça de Catalunya, which makes it a great place to fill up before a day of exploring. The decor is super hip and the food was delicious - plus they have an outdoor seating area if the sun is shining.

El Nacional

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Okay, so if you're a big Wes Anderson fan, you're going to need to visit El Nacional! The only way I can describe the space is like a set off one of his movies - think pastels, festoon lights and lots of old world features. There are a few different restaurants and bars inside, but we opted for the steak option which turned out to be a very good choice.

La Cova Fumada

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If you're in the market for some delicious tapas (and let's face it, you're in Barcelona, of course you are!), you need to head to La Cova Fumada. This little tapas bar is set just off a bustling square in La Barceloneta, and we visited on Friday evening it was jam packed with locals. They claim to have invented the bomba, which is one of my favourite tapas dishes, so make sure you order one if you visit, but everything we tried was delicious.

Les Quinze Nits

I've visited Les Quinze Nits on every trip I've ever taken to Barcelona, and I know I'll keep going back whenever I return! It's one of the restaurants in Plaça Reial and I love nothing more than grabbing a table outside in the sunshine, ordering some patatas bravas and a cerveza and watching the world go by - bliss!

booze

There's no shortage of brilliant bars in Barcelona, but I've rounded up a couple of our faves from our most recent trip below...

Bar Sauvage

We stumbled across this little bar on Passeig del Born after a long afternoon of walking. We were ready for a little cocktail pick me up, and I don't think we could have found a better location. The bar is super hip, serving well made and innovative drinks and an excellent selection of bar snacks.

El Xampanayet

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If you only visit one bar in Barcelona, make it this one. Visit late on in the evening, order yourself a glass of cava (which will cost you less than 2 euros!) and soak in the bustling vibe around you. I particularly love the gorgeous tiled walls, and if you fancy a cheap snack then the food is good here too.

Can Paixano

This place was recommended to us by my friend Laura and we loved it! We visited mid-afternoon on a Saturday and it was packed wall to wall with locals. Make sure you try the red cava which they make on site.

markets

Finally, you can't go to Barcelona and not visit at least one food market! There are quite a few dotted over the city, but I can highly recommend the two below.

La Boqueria

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La Boqueria is the most famous market in Barcelona for a reason - it's brilliant! Set just off La Ramblas, his market is packed to the brim full of stalls selling fresh fruit and veg, or serving up some of the freshest tapas in the city. Grab a seat and eat in, or build yourself a little picnic to take down to the beach...

Mercat Santa Caterina

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We stumbled across this market accidentally while we were doing the Marco Polo La Ribera discovery tour, but I'm so glad that we did! There is a traditional part to the market, with stalls selling fresh fruit, fish and vegetables, but the real gem is the restaurant next door. They get all of their produce from the market, and the result is some very delicious, fresh food.

Have you visited Barcelona before? Please do leave a comment if you have any other recommendations! 

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The Ultimate Barcelona Food and Drink Guide

The Ultimate Barcelona Food and Drink Guide