Last Updated on November 12, 2025 by Emma Fajcz | Published: September 10, 2025
Planning your meals in a new city can be overwhelming, especially somewhere like Barcelona, where there is so much to taste and experience. That’s why we’re here to help: Our Ultimate Barcelona Food Tour takes the guesswork out of eating well in la ciudad condal.
From exploring the local bakery scene (pastisseries are serious business here) to indulging in freshly-made paella by the sea, we’ll guide you through the city’s most essential culinary experiences—no research or reservations required. While many parts of the world stick to three square meals a day, Barcelona operates on a different schedule. Here, it’s typical to have five (or sometimes even six!) distinct moments for eating; from multiple breakfasts to late-night dinners.
So get a head start and check out our First Timer’s Guide to Eating in Barcelona and learn the ins and outs of tackling the Catalan capital’s vibrant culinary culture.
Desayuno, or café – Breakfast
In many cultures, breakfast may be considered “the most important meal of the day”, but in Barcelona, it’s usually something light, ranging from a pastry to even just a coffee.
We recommend starting your morning with a flaky croissant. While France may be the croissant capital in name, Spain has a thriving pastry scene of its own—including a national croissant competition that Barcelona bakeries consistently win. On our Ultimate Barcelona Food Tour, we’ll introduce you to some of the city’s top baked goods, so you don’t miss a bite.
For an even sweeter Catalan staple, stop by La Colmena in the Gothic Quarter and try their xuixo—a crispy, sugar-dusted pastry originally from Girona, filled with silky cream or rich chocolate. To wash it down, grab a top-notch café con leche at Cafés El Magnífico, a family-run roastery in El Born, or explore the city’s third-wave scene at Dalston Coffee in El Raval.
Our small-group tours take you off the beaten path and behind the scenes of the places Barcelona locals know and love best.
Esmorzar, or almuerzo – “Second breakfast”
While breakfast in Barcelona might be light, there’s a reason—you’re saving room for esmorzar, or “second breakfast,” usually enjoyed around 10:30 or 11 am. But what does one eat for a second Catalan breakfast? The beauty of esmorzar is its flexibility: it can be anything you’re craving, from a gooey tortilla to a glass of cava.
One of the best ways to experience esmorzar culture is by visiting one of Barcelona’s 39 municipal markets—places that are just as much about socializing as they are about shopping. On tour, we like to start the morning by exploring the stalls and meeting the vendors—the people who truly make the market come alive.
To keep us fueled for a morning of exploration, our esmorzar consists of a spread of cured meats, local cheeses, and freshly made bocadillos at one of the city’s most beloved market bars.
For a truly local market, head to Mercat de Santa Caterina—home to a 13th-century ruin site in the back—or the flower-filled Mercat de la Concepció in Eixample.
Insider Tip: If you’re a pork fanatic, don’t miss sobrasada—a cured sausage that’s spreadable, smokey, and highly addictive.
L’hora del vermut – Aperitif
L’hora del vermut, or “vermouth hour,” is a cherished pre-lunch ritual in Barcelona, which involves sipping on a glass of vermouth and snacking on tapas or conserves before sitting down for the main midday meal.
A great way to experience vermouth hour is to pair your aperitif with a bomba –the only tapa to have originated in the Catalan capital. Essentially a cross between a croqueta and patatas bravas, this crispy tapa features seasoned ground beef or pork encased in mashed potato, that’s breaded and deep-fried to perfection, and topped with garlicky allioli and a spicy red sauce.
Our Ultimate Barcelona Food Tour stops in Barceloneta, where the tapa was born, to experience this tradition firsthand, tasting house-made vermouth and bombas at some of the neighborhood’s most beloved vermouth spots.
Insider Tip: For tinned-fish enthusiasts, consider repeating l’hora de vermut at Quimet i Quimet—a vermouth-and-conserva institution that’s been around since 1914.
Dinar, or comida – Lunch
In Barcelona, lunch typically begins no earlier than 2 pm and is traditionally the heaviest meal of the day. It’s a great opportunity to try paella, which is traditionally considered a lunchtime dish (believe it or not, some places won’t serve it at dinner!).
On tour, we make sure you get to try the real deal—visiting beloved local spots for ultra-fresh paella, featuring locally caught seafood just meters from the Mediterranean.
Another great lunchtime tradition is the menú de mediodía—a very reasonably priced fixed menu typically featuring a starter, main course, dessert, and wine, for a very reasonable price and available at restaurants all over the city.
For a classic Catalan lunch, try Bar Muy Buenas in El Raval, known for traditional dishes like fricandó.
Berenar, or merienda – Tea-time snack
Just like second breakfast, merienda—Spain’s version of a late-afternoon snack or “tea time”—can be whatever you’re in the mood for (nobody’s going to judge you if you go for a croqueta). That said, it’s also a great opportunity to take advantage of Barcelona’s thriving sweets scene.
If it’s summertime and you’re looking to cool off, make your way to La Campana, where their award-winning horchata is always a crowd-pleaser on our Ultimate Barcelona Food Tour. Alternately, in the winter, warm up with a suizo –a rich hot chocolate topped with fresh cream– at Granja Viader.
Spain’s bonus mealtimes, like merienda, make it a bit easier to adjust to the strange schedule when eating with kids!
Sopar, or cena – Dinner
Dinner in Spain tends to be a lighter, later affair—but that doesn’t mean compromising quality. If you’re hungry after a long day of exploring, we’ll point you in the right direction. For tuned up tapas, head to Bar Pimentel, where you’ll find takes on classic dishes like salmorejo but paired with tuna tartare.
For something more classic, don’t miss canelons—Catalonia’s béchamel-smothered spin on cannelloni, traditionally served on Sant Esteve (Boxing Day). You’ll find them at spots like Bodega La Palma.
Why Our Barcelona Food Tour Is the Best Way to Eat Like a Local (and Save Time)
With so much to try, it can be hard to navigate the city’s vibrant culinary scene with limited time. Experience the best of eating in Barcelona in one delicious morning on our Ultimate Barcelona Food Tour, where we guide you from esmorzar to dinar.
Along the way, you’ll taste essential local specialties and uncover hidden gems you might otherwise miss—learning about the history, culture and idiosyncrasies of Barcelona’s culinary landscape. It’s the perfect way to navigate like a local, without the stress of figuring out where to go or what to order.
Frequently Asked Questions: Eating in Barcelona for the First Time
How many meals do people typically eat in Barcelona each day?
Barcelona locals often eat five or six times a day—starting with a light breakfast (desayuno), followed by a mid-morning esmorzar, a large lunch (dinar), an afternoon snack (berenar), and a late dinner (sopar). Aperitif time (l’hora del vermut) is also a beloved ritual before lunch.
What are some must-try local dishes and where can I find them?
Key dishes include xuixos (Catalan cream-filled pastries), sobrasada (spreadable cured sausage), bomba (a fried tapa born in Barceloneta), and paella. You’ll find these at markets like Mercat de Santa Caterina or neighborhood favorites like La Colmena, Bar Muy Buenas, and La Campana.
What makes the Ultimate Barcelona Food Tour unique?
This tour offers a curated way to explore the city’s food scene without worrying about where to go or what to order. From market breakfasts to seaside paella, it includes tastings at local favorites and historical insights that make every bite more meaningful.
Is the food tour worth it if I have limited time in Barcelona?
Absolutely. The tour is designed to help you experience the best of Barcelona’s culinary culture in just one morning. It saves you time on planning, helps you avoid tourist traps, and ensures you taste a wide variety of local specialties with guidance from expert hosts.
Join our Ultimate Barcelona Food Tour to discover the best of Catalan food, all while learning the amazing stories behind each dish!
