If you want to experience an authentic cataln adventure, don’t miss any of the best dishes and fresh products in the capital city. Explore the food markets in Barcelona.

When living in Barcelona, you’ll get to know a whole new culinary culture: here you can find an amazing mix and match of traditional and international cuisines, such as the Spanish and French one, the Italian one, some influences from Latin America and others from the Middle-East. 

Whether you prefer something more mainstream or you want to try new dishes, these places that we are going to list, piled with fresh products, will give you an extremely tasty experience: they’re the best food markets in Barcelona, one of the most vibrant and colored cities in Spain (and in the whole world!).

Which are the most famous food markets in Barcelona?

From the worldwide famous La Boquería market to the local (and more hidden) Llibertat market, here we’re going to tell you the unmissable places you should visit to have the ultimate food experience in Barcelona.

1. La Boquería

La Boquería is the most popular one in the city, the largest among the food markets in Barcelona and it is located right off the famous La Rambla (the long boulevard that links the city centre to the port). Here, many of the chefs working in the top restaurants in the city decide to pick some quality and fresh products for their star dishes.

Here you can find little shops with fresh food (such as vegetables, fruit, fish and meat, cheeses, spices) or some open-air little restaurants selling some quality dishes, such as paella or meat ones.

2. Mercat de Santa Caterina 

Another one of the most famous food markets in Barcelona, which you can easily spot in the city because of its super colored and curved roof, right in Via Laietana, the main street in El Born neighborhood. Just like La Boqueria market, Santa Caterina boasts first quality products - with above-average prices going along with the premium quality. You can come here to breathe some amazing smells that will blow your tastebuds or to look for some speciality ingredients that you won’t easily find in an ordinary supermarket.

3. Mercat de la Barceloneta

La Barceloneta, the area home to the fishermen community of Barcelona, hosts a beautiful market a little hidden away from the waterfront. Back in the past, Mercat de la Barceloneta used to be the central hub of the fishing industry in the city; nowadays you can still come here to find the premium quality sea products from the local coastline and admire the maritime roots of Barcelona. 

4. Mercat de Sant Antoni

Sant Antoni market, located in the homonym neighbourhood, is relatively less known compared to La Boquería and Santa Caterina to the tourists. It was designed by Antoni Rovira i Trias in 1882 and it boasts an amazing metal structure, large enough to contain several stalls for food products but also many other goods, such as vintage stamps, wooden handicrafts, clothes and much more.

5. Mercat de la llibertat

Here we are with the last one of our tour of the food markets in Barcelona. Mercat de la llibertat is the least popular market in the city, but it is located in Gràcia, the most central and coolest neighbourhood of Barcelona. This market is not famous among tourists, but local folks know well it and appreciate the relaxed atmosphere when it comes to buy quality gastronomy products.

Top must-eat food in Barcelona

Well, this might be the most interesting part (or at least the tastiest) of this article. When you go to explore the several food markets in Barcelona, you’ll be tempted to eat so many things! But there are some must-eat foods from the local tradition that you can’t miss at all.

• Paella. Even though this rice-based dish comes from the Valencian tradition, no trip to Spain is complete without tasting a delicious paella! And in Barcelona you’ll find plenty of restaurants offering a premium quality one.

• Bombas. It’s a dish inspired by the Civil War period in Spain, when Anarchists fought back Francisco Franco’s forces launching grenades (bombas). This tapa is a potato croquette sized like a tennis ball, served with 2 different sauces: a tasty and spicy red sauce, like a bomb, and the white sauce with a garlic alioli.

• Crema Catalana. Get ready to dive your spoon into a crunchy top layer and find happiness in a creamy custard (whose glassy crust is made by blow torching it).  

• Calçots and salsa romesco. This dish is very very local, coming from the rural areas of Catalunya where it marks the arrival of winter season and street food festivals. The calçot is a green sweet onion, grilled and dipped in this romesco sauce, made by red peppers, hazelnuts and almonds.

• Esqueixada. A very Catalan salad, easy to find, to prepare and perfect all year round. It’s made up of romesco sauce, black olives, tomatoes, onions and raw salted cod (“bacalao” in Spanish).

• Escalivada. Simple yet delicious dishes are the best and this is perfect to crunch while exploring one of the food markets in Barcelona. It’s a toasted bread topped with grilled eggplants, red peppers, quality olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.

• Mató. Coming with a ricotta-like texture, mató is the most famous Catalan (goat) cheese, contending with the premium quality of the French ones. You should try it topped with honey and walnuts.

Are you watermouthering? Because we are! Well, it’s time to explore the city foodie spots with your international friends and live a unique experience in Barcelona.