Food Barcelona

Food in Barcelona is a subject that is not so easy and cheap, but delicious and enjoyable! As one of Europe’s most popular with tourists cities, it obviously has hundreds of restaurants and shops with fast and cheap food.

Barcelona is a Mediterranean city and offers options for all tastes. It produces amazing vegetables, its meats are very noteworthy, while its sea generously provides all kinds of fish.

For a meal at a restaurant, prepare to pay 30 to 50€ per person, with wine. In the city, however, you will also find tons of options for fast and cheap food. At the top are the Tapas and the Pinchos, which you will find in many forms.

Do not leave Barcelona without having tried its traditional products. We start with the famous shrimp, the sardine, the clams, the anchovies, the cod and tuna, which we find in many forms. The small green peppers (they can be fried), the Catalan Fuet sausage, the almonds and the bright red, juicy tomatoes come to bring every dish on another level. Finally, we should mention that as a Mediterranean city, it could not go without extra virgin olive oil.

Some of the local foods you try in Barcelona are the famous Seafood Paella, the Escalivada (mix of cooked vegetables), the refreshing summer Esqueixada salad with salted cod, onion, tomatoes, olives and olive oil, as well as the Empanadas, Tapas and Pinchos for snacks, and the sweet churros! Of course, all of the above can be accompanied by a glass (or better yet a pitcher) of white Sangria! For dessert, you will find the Crema Catalana, which resembles the french Crème Brûlée!

Mini Tips: a) Avoid sitting on touristy streets and squares (especially in the center). People-watching might be enjoyable, but the food is mediocre and prices are high. b) The best and most affordable shops are in the areas of Sants and El Poble-sec. c) The average cost of one serving is 17€! d) In order to find a table on the weekend, you must absolutely have made reservations (either for dining or for drinks).

Check out the restaurants with the best food in Barcelona

Bilbao Berria is located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, just a breath away from the Barcelona Cathedral. The store is an oasis in the eyes of every hungry visitor. After many tries, we can say with confidence that Bilbao Berria is the best pinchos hub in Barcelona. It has a vast buffet, with tons of different and fresh pinchos flavors that will satisfy even the most demanding palate! The staff is polite and prices are at reasonable levels. Must Eat.

We suggest you to try: All the Pinchos!
Cost: €€€
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

El Rincon Restaurant is located in the heart of Barcelona, just 300 meters away from La Rambla. It is housed in a modern and beautifully decorated space and offers Spanish dishes made with passion and love. On the menu you will find small and economical dishes, such as local sausages, bull meat, shrimp, peppers and more, to start your meal. Also, in the restaurant you will find one of the best seafood Paella dishes in Barcelona. The staff is polite, while prices are at normal levels.

We suggest you to try: the Seafood Paella!
Cost: €€-€€€
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The gem of the Gothic Quarter goes by the name Salterio. It is located on a small and dark street and it is the ideal place to enjoy a quick and (relatively) cheap bite. The shop’s distinctive characteristic is that the snacks address solely to vegetarians! The dish that stands out is none other than the filling crepe with mushrooms, vegetables and melted cheeses. In the menu you will also find tapas and other snacks. Do not leave without having tried their amazing white Sangria.

We suggest you to try: their white Sangria!
Cost: €€
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let’s go to something more American, filling and tasty. The Burger Bacoa chain restaurants are an excellent choice for anyone that wants something quick. The special characteristic of these Barcelona’s restaurants is that the customer can make the burger themselves, choosing everything from the bun to the chutney that will accompany the fries! The taste of the burgers is amazing, the products are A-quality and the service is pretty satisfactory. If you love burgers, you are going to adore Burger Bacoa.

We suggest you to try: make the burger of your taste!
Cost: €€
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Lokal Bar is the ideal restaurant for dates or to have a good meal in Barcelona. It is located in the Eixample neighborhood, just south of Gracia and serves flavors based on the Spanish culture. The dishes predispose the visitor with their wonderful arrangement, the options are plenty and flavors (either salty or sweet) are more than tasty and satisfying, in quality as well as in quantity. The staff is plenty polite and attentive and prices rank a bit higher than the city’s average.

We suggest you to try: The amazing beef filets, smoked with rosemary (Beef Tagliata)!
Cost: €€€
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Boqueria Market means…food! Inside Barcelona’s vast covered market you have the chance to try many new flavors from the Spanish market, and more. What you should not miss under any circumstances are the fresh sandwiches of La torna, which are filled with A-quality products. Of course, a sandwich like that must be combined with a frozen beer from Clemen’s! It might sound simple, but it is the best snack you will find at Boqueria Market.

We suggest you to try: the fresh sandwiches!
Cost: €
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another local snack worth trying is the Empanadas. They look like small calzones and inside they have various combinations of ingredients, such as vegetables, meat, cheeses and spices, while there are Empanadas with sweet ingredients. The best shop is located in the El Born neighborhood. They offer a wide variety of Empanadas, in low prices. Fast tip: the Empanadas are getting baked early in the day. Ask to have them reheated well, so that you understand their flavor.

We suggest you to try: the Empanadas with spicy ground meat!
Cost: €
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pinchos lovers everywhere, gather up! We have for you a street full of pincho-shops! The Carrer Blai street is located on the foothill of the Montjuïc hill and hosts many and cheap pincho shops, one of them being the well-known Blai Tonight. The street is flooded mainly with locals, as it is not that widely known among tourists. The only thing you have to do is bring on your good mood, have an empty stomach and go on to discover pinchos of all kinds and flavors.

We suggest you to try: just Pinchos!
Cost: €
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

While exploring the El Born neighborhood, you will find yourselves at the Plaça de Sant Pere. Over there, what awaits you is Barcelona’s most filling pizza. It is made based on Italian recipes and it is rich in ingredients as well as taste. The prices are totally reasonable, service is very good and the pieces are very large and filling. At La mezcla you will also find sandwiches filled with exquisite Italian products, which will wake your palate up. Fast tip: Ask them to reheat your pizza.

We suggest you to try: the pizza with potato and pork bits!
Cost: €
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Πρωινό

The Enrich Bakery has everything you need to start your day in a great way. What are those? But of course, quality coffee and a rich breakfast with wonderful cakes, sandwiches, croissants, tarts and many more delicacies. The variety is wide and prices are at low levels, making it the favorite place of the early birds! Fast tip: Buy a baguette and make your own sandwich.

We suggest you to try: their unmatched baguettes!
Cost: €
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The time has come for you to discover one of the world’s best croissants! The Patisseria Hofmann is specialized in croissants, which, in fact, have received quite a few distinctions and prizes! And how could it be any other way, with such a high-quality dough and suuuch a rich filling. You must only take a walk around the El Born neighborhood and pick the croissant of your liking.

We suggest you to try: the croissant with Mascarpone filling!
Cost: €€
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ugot Bruncherie will become the hangout spot of all brunch lovers. It is located a bit outside of the city center and offers excellent combinations for brunch, with salty flavors following sweet ones and vice versa! The traditional Shakshuka omelet and fresh cakes should not be missing from any table. And now that we mention it, in order to find a table you must make reservations or have patience (waiting to be seated). It is worth the while…

We suggest you to try: their fresh cakes!
Cost: €€€
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The breakfast delicacies chain Buenas Migas is everywhere in Barcelona. In the stores, apart from the modern décor and the clean/bright environment you will find croissants, sandwiches, fresh cakes and quality beverages. Prices might be a little high, compared to the rest of the city, but they reflect the quality of products and staff service.

We suggest you to try: the incredible Red Velvet cake!
Cost: €€€
Total score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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The texts depict objectively and honestly everything that we saw and encountered during our stay, at the specific time period that we visited them. Travelen holds no responsibility for any possible changes regarding prices, decorations, service, change of management or anything else that you might find different during your visit. It is also worth mentioning that our review/opinion pertains ONLY to shops that we have visited.