If you’re coming to visit Barcelona and have done some research, it is known that the food here is amazing. Only here for a short period of time?  Here are a few “must try” traditional foods to experience and where to try them.

Trying to save money in order to eat your way through Barcelona? Stay at the Amistat Beach Hostel in Barcelona. Here, you are surrounded by many restaurants on the list below. Looking to try and cook some of this delicious food? Gather some friends and use the hostels’ kitchen to master the meal.

Tapas:

Calçot and Romesco Sauce

  

If you plan on visiting Barcelona between December and March, calçot and romesco sauce is one food that you must try. Calçot is a type of green onion that is local to Barcelona and are in season for only a couple of months. To celebrate their arrival, locals grill these onions and other vegetables and join in street barbecues. Don’t forget the romesco! To complete the tapa, these sweet onions are dipped into a sauce made of red peppers, nuts, garlic, and olive oil.

Where to try it:

  • El Jardí de l’Àpat
  • Bodega Maestrazgo – Wine Shop, Wine Tastings & Wine Bar in Barcelona
  • Taverna El Glop

Pan con Tomate

Who doesn’t love bread and tomatoes? This tapa takes five minutes to make. Toast some bread, cut a vine tomato in half and spread it. No need to cook the tomato, they are soft enough to come right out of the skin when spreading. Then, drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle on some salt and it’s ready to eat. This is one of my favorite tapas.

If staying at a hostel with a kitchen, as Amistat Beach Hostel in Barcelona, this is an easy and affordable tapa to make. Join some friends and have a meal of tapas.

Where to try it:

  • El Benjamin de los Tallers
  • La Vinoteca Torres
  • Almost any restaurant around Barcelona

Jamón

If you’ve heard anything about Catalan food, you have probably heard that the Jamón (ham) is better than anything you can get in the United States. Walk down the street of Barcelona and every other store has Jamón in the windows or being thinly cut for sandwiches or for mixed ham and cheese platters.

Where to try it:

  • Reserva Ibérica
  • Jamonarium
  • Jamón y Vino

 

Croquetas

Love Jamón? Try Barcelona’s famous tapa, jamón filled croquetas. Not a fan of Jamón, croquetas come with all different stuffings. Try them with potato and mushroom, cheese, chicken or prong. You’ll love them!

Where to try them:

  • Cervercería Vaso de Oro
  • La Pepita
  • Paco Merlago

 

Tortilla de Patatas

  

Made at least once a week, locals eat tortilla de patatas often. This cake shaped egg and potato meal consists of combining eggs, potato, and onions into a special pan. Looking to make a fun and easy meal? This is the one. After combining all the ingredients into the pan and cooking it on one side for about 8 minutes, it needs to be flipped. Try and flip it without spilling or dropping it! Try it out in the kitchen at Amistat Beach Hostel Barcelona. Bring some friends and see who can flip it the best.

Where to try it:

  • El Xampanyet
  • Casa Lolea
  • Cal Pep

Patatas Bravas

Almost everyone loves potatoes with ketchup but once you try patatas bravas you will never go back. These perfectly cooked potatoes topped with bravas sauce (olive oil, seasoning, flour, and broth) and garlic aioli (garlic, egg yolk, lemon juice, honey, and olive oil), give the comfort food of french fries while also giving you a delicious traditional Barcelona meal.

Where to try them:

  • Elsa y Fred
  • Senyor Vermut
  • Güell Tapas Restaurant

Main Courses:

Paella

Walking around Barcelona, paella is one meal that is hard to miss out on. This rice dish can be made with seafood, chicken, meat or any combination of these. Originally from Valencia and made with beans instead of seafood, Catalonia has borrowed and changed the recipe to make it their own.

Where to try it:

  • Amistat Beach Hostel Barcelona – For only €6 you can have homemade paella made right in front of you! Best part?  When staying with the hostel, just walk down to the kitchen to join.
  • Restaurante La Boqueria
  • Barceloneta

Sweets:

Churros con Chocolate

  

This treat is good at any time of the day. Breakfast, snack, or dessert, churros and chocolate will satisfy your sweet tooth and tide you over until your next delicious meal. Not a huge chocolate fan? Try it with Café con Leche (coffee with milk) or just with cinnamon and sugar.

Where to try it:

  • Xurreria Laietana
  • Xurreria Trebol
  • Petritxol Xocoa

 

Crema Catalana

This Spanish creme brulee is one dessert you need to try. Made from eggs, milk, and cornstarch, this dessert is a traditional Barcelona dish. Try and make this decadent dessert in the kitchen of Amistat Beach Hostels in Barcelona after eating our delicious paella or go out and try it.

Where to Try it:

  • Granja M Viader
  • Cerveseria Catalana
  • La Pastisseria Barcelona

Drinks:

Cava

From the Cava region of Catalonia, Cava is a sparkling white or rosé that can be had during a meal to enhance the foods taste or just as an evening drink.

Where to try it:

  • Take a drive up to Cava and see how the drink it made
  • Restaurante La Boqueria
  • El Xampanyet

 

Sangria

Traditionally, this simple fruity drink is made with red wine, fruit, orange juice, and brandy. Looking to mix it up a bit? A though it is a little more expensive, you must try sangria with cava. This sparkly white wine makes the fruit flavor pop in a whole new way.

Where to try it:

  • BarCeloneta Sangria Bar
  • Casa Lolea
  • Cocktail Bar Patagonia

Café con Leche

If you drink coffee, café con leche is a must. The coffee here is a little stronger but because of this, the flavor is more apparent and delicious.  Looking to live like a local while here? The perfect Catalan breakfast consists of café con leche and pan con jamón.

Where to try it:

  • Barcelona Bagels
  • Cafés El Magnífico
  • Nomad Coffee Lab & Shop

 

Vermouth

Here in Spain, lunch is the most important meal of the day. It’s when you get together with friends and family to catch up and have a meal. However, before lunch, locals will go out for vermouth. It is usually the first drink of the day and has become a social outing. Go out for Vermouth before lunch or eat with tapas.

Where to try it:

  • Casa Mariol
  • Bar Electricitat
  • Vermuteria del Tano

Barcelona Food • By Jocelyn Spitz • February 26, 2019