Barcelona Food
Think of Spain and tapas and paella inevitably come to mind. Barcelona is no different in this respect and is perhaps better placed than many a Spanish city to indulge its visitors in traditional seafood paella. Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, the local markets offer plenty of fish to provide the local restaurants with all the ingredients they need.
Most of the items on any Barcelona menu will come drenched in the obligatory olive oil, but this does not detract too much from the fact that the Catalan capital is an excellent example of Spanish cuisine and can offer some very impressive options for tourists.
Even breakfast is an event in this city. Take a trip down to El Corte Ingles, in Placa de Catalunya on a morning and watch the hordes of people queuing outside the department store eagerly awaiting its opening. But when the doors do open, it is not the special offers or designer clothes that the crowds rush to. Rather, locals in the city quickly head up to the top floor, where they can enjoy a truly continental breakfast while enjoying views over the city.
The main meal of the day in Barcelona tends to be eaten between 2pm and 4pm, a slow-paced affair, and it is usually the main meal of the day as Catalans indulge in the traditional siesta. Seafood is almost always a compelling option in Barcelona, but the various sauces used to flavour meat dishes means there is never a dearth in choice.
While the city may enjoy a sleepy mid-afternoon meal, Barcelona comes alive again as the sun goes down, with more lively bars and cafes serving a range of lighter dishes. Dinner is generally a late affair, with many restaurants not opening before 8pm and most not filling up until 9pm at the earliest. Dinner can easily take up the whole evening – Catalans take their food very seriously – meaning that restaurants are generally open until 1am, although most stop serving at 11:30pm.
The most difficult problem with Barcelona is being able to combine sightseeing with eating out. The city is very good at capitalising on its burgeoning reputation as a tourist hotspot and as such most of the city's attractions are accompanied by either expensive restaurants (such as those which flank Las Ramblas) and typical Western staples such as fast food chains.
However, look hard enough and there are some gems to be found. While travelling out of the tourist centres is one alternative to ensure a reasonably-priced meal, there can also be some bargains in the quieter streets, particularly those off Las Ramblas and near the old cathedral. In this area, some traditional restaurants mingle in the backstreets and can prove to be reasonable.
Given the variety and diversity of the city, prices can range considerably. While at the top end a three course meal could cost as much as €100, not including wine, much more affordable options are available. Even trendy cafes, bars and restaurants will serve a dinner for as little as €10, without any significant reduction in quality.
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Eating and drinking
