Barcelona is a popular travel destination for culture vultures and beach bums. It’s also an ideal destination for foodies. Discover everything you need to eat in Barcelona whether you’re a foodie or if you’re simply hungry. Some of the best Barcelona foods will be familiar while others may be new to you. They’re all delicious!
1. Michelin Gastronomy
Barcelona currently has 28 Michelin starred restaurants including four (ABaC, Cocina Hermanos Torres, Disfrutar and Lasarte) with three stars each. Michelin dining isn’t cheap and requires advance planning. However, for those who have the budget and make advance reservations, dining at a Michelin starred restaurant will likely be a trip highlight.
Dig Deeper: Great Barcelona Restaurants
2. Jamón (Ham)
You’ll want to eat as much jamón as possible in Barcelona. The best, Iberico Jamon Bellota, is made from special Iberian black pigs that roam freely in Spain and Portugal and spend the latter part of their lives feasting on acorns and olives. Artisan producers cure the resulting pork for months if not years, creating super-luxurious ham with the price tag to prove it.
3. Bocadillos (Sandwiches)
A dainty yet fulfilling nibble, the bocadillo is a tapas-sized sandwich served on a roll similar to a baguette but smaller. Bocadillo fillings run the gamut and typically include proteins like jamón, pâté, omelets and seafood.
Dig Deeper: Great Global Sandwiches
4. Potatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes)
There’s good reason why pretty much every Barcelona tapas bar serves patatas bravas. The flavorful potato dish tastes great on its own and even better with beer.
5. Croquetas (Croquettes)
Croquetas sound fancy but they’re actually a typical fried treat served at any and every tapas bar in Barcelona. You’ll understand why they’re a must-eat after you pop one into your mouth, bite into the breaded, fried, crunchy outside and taste the creamy, savory center.
6. Bombas
Bombas aren’t so different from croquetas. Both are fried finger foods with tasty potato-based fillings. However, the bomba always comes with white garlic ailoli and a red sauce that may be spicy enough to make you say “kaboom.”
7. Gazpacho
Gazpacho is a chilled summer soup that refreshingly blends tomatoes, stale bread, cucumbers, olive oil and garlic. Don’t worry during the colder seasons – Barcelona restaurants serve the popular soup as a starter throughout the year.
Dig Deeper: Great Global Soups
8. Olives
Not all olives in Barcelona are created equally. Some like the picual are plentiful. Others like the arbequina are small. Then there are olives stuffed with anchovies. If you’re lucky, you may even bump into spherified olives during your visit.
9. Queso (Cheese)
Barcelona is a happy place for cheese lovers who want to sample a range cheese produced throughout the Iberian country. While many Americans are familiar with Manchego, the hard sheepy cheese produced in La Mancha, the country produces more than 100 cheese varieties with 26 achieving protected D.O.P. status within the European Union.
10. Pan con Tomate (Bread with Tomato)
Rubbing bread with fresh tomatoes and adding olive oil and salt seems so simple but the end result is so good. Be aware that some restaurants serve the ingredients in lieu of a finished dish. If that happens to you, just roll up your sleeves and start rubbing.
11. Fideuà
Despite luxurious ingredients like prawns, squid and saffron, fideuà was originally a noodle dish of poverty eaten by Spanish fishermen. To make this traditional Spanish dish, Catalan cooks simmer short, golden noodles in rich broth flavored by the region’s bounty of fresh fish and seafood.
Dig Deeper: Great Global Noodle Dishes
12. Crema Catalana
Both casual eateries and fancy restaurants serve crema catalana, a creamy dessert with hints of both lemon and cinnamon, in Barcelona. A caramelized top layer of burnt sugar transforms the dish from a simple custard to one of the best desserts in the world.
Dig Deeper: Great Global Desserts
13. Cava
While sangria rules the roost in much of Spain, drinking cava in Barcelona is a must. Locals adore the sparkling white wine produced with Penedés grapes that include Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel varietals using same double fermentation process as Champagne.
Read Next: The Best Barcelona Restaurants
Now that you know the must-eat Barcelona foods, it’s time to learn where to eat them all. Start your Barcelona restaurant crawl at the city’s best restaurants. They range from cheap eats to fine dining and they’re all great.
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