Savour the delights of Catalonia’s fabulous food

The most pleasurable way to explore a culture is surely through its food—and this is truer of Catalonia than almost anywhere else on earth. Whether you’re tucking into a simple slice of pa amb tomàquet—crusty bread, rubbed with tomato and drizzled with olive oil—or sampling incredible ‘molecular gastronomy’ at one of the region’s 50+ Michelin-starred restaurants, we’re sure you’ll succumb to the Catalan obsession with food.

See an example tour

We know lots of fabulous tapas bars, restaurants and cafés for you to discover, as well as wonderful gourmet shops and market stalls. We believe that the best eating experiences combine top quality produce with friendly service and authentic surroundings. While we can recommend plenty of superb higher-end restaurants, we really love the apparently humble eateries run by unsung culinary geniuses that keep crowds of locals happy with their excellent food.

We work hard to find the best local restaurants which are off the tourist radar. They are not always easy to get to, a few are best reached by boat and for one or two a boat is the only option!

Catalan cuisine reflects the natural abundance of the region: the freshest fish from the Mediterranean, plump fruit and vegetables from the plains, and meat and game from the mountains. Just pop in to any market to see the stalls piled high with a magnificent variety of fresh produce. Many towns and villages have a local speciality: the embutits (charcuterie) of Vic are as prized as the anchovies of L’Escala and the prawns of Palamós. Wherever you choose to spend your holiday in Catalonia, we’ll make sure you taste the freshest local produce in an unforgettable setting.

Fancy a cooking class? We can arrange tours that begin with a visit to the market to select ingredients and culminate in a convivial group dinner, sampling dishes prepared in class. Perhaps you’d like to witness a fish auction, or visit a rural farm to watch how cheese is made according to ancient traditions? You could forage for wild mushrooms with our expert guide, or simply relax in a woodland glade with one of our picnic hampers full of local treats.

Tastebuds tingling?

Please see the example gastronomy tour below or contact us to get your holiday started.

1. Day

   Catalan gastronomy and tapas food tour

   We start with some refreshment at one of the city’s iconic examples of Catalan modernist architecture to whet your appetite for what’s to come, before heading off to the first stop on the tour at the Market of Santa Catalina.

   One of Barcelona’s main markets, Santa Catalina is a hub of commerce where the public and local restauranteurs come to snap up the best deals and fresh produce of the day. You’ll discover the huge variety of mediterranean produce on offer and get to try some.

   Of the many stalls in the market one is dedicated solely to Spanish olive oils and we stop here for a tasting of a few of the many varieties on offer. Daniel, the owner, talks you through the different regions and varieties of oil you are tasting. We’ll also stop at a stall to try some of Spain’s famous Iberian bellota ham, without doubt Spain’s most treasured food.

   

2. Day

   We quickly move onto two of the cities best tapas bars for the main event.

   The first of these has a very charming traditional design complete with marble tables and Catalan tiles. The food is a very clever mix of traditional tapas standards with some fantastic touches of new Catalan cuisine. This bar has a healthy respect for innovation and seasonality and its menu changes accordingly, but among its signature dishes are smoked sardine on Catalan toast and crispy ox-tail with foie gras.

   Our second stop is a more modern, take on tapas with some very tempting innovate dishes as well as some exquisite Catalan standards like “fideua negre” – seafood noodles with squid ink or a delicious, classic meatballs with squid and peas.

3. Day

   After a short stroll to discover some of the highlights of the Born district there is a voice of final destinations for the tour:
   The first option is a visit to an artisanal cheese shop in a centuries old dairy that has a selection of hand-made cheeses form around the region, where you’ll enjoy a plate of samples and a glass of wine. Alternatively, for those with a sweet tooth we take you to try some of Catalonia’s signature desserts, such as the Crema Catalana.

   

4. Day

   Price per person €140

   (single person supplement €30)

   What’s included

   • Olive oil tasting
   • Iberian bellota ham tasting
   • A selection of tapas at two of Barcelona’s best tapas bars
   • A choice of artesinal cheese or Catalan desserts
   • A selection of wine and/or other refreshments
   • A guided tour of some of the treasures of Barcelona’s gothic quarter.

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