I love exploring local markets in every city I visit—they’re the best way to experience authentic everyday life and see where locals truly eat and shop. When visiting Barcelona, a visit to Mercat de la Boqueria market was top on my to-do list. This open-air, historic market dates back to the 13th century and remains a major attraction for both tourists and locals. Various online sources say that Mercat de la Boqueria of the world’s best fresh-food market, but I set out to see if this claim was really true. As it turns out, this massive food market was even more impressive in person than it looked online.
About Mercat de la Boqueria
Barcelona’s Mercat de la Boqueria is located in the Ciutat Vella area of the city, right in a centralized spot that’s easily accessible no matter where you’re staying in the city. The market is open every day (shortened Sunday hours), which makes it easy to fit into your Barcelona trip itinerary. As I approached the exterior of the market for the first time, I almost expected the interior to be smaller. Upon walking in, I was instantly greeted with an endless amount of every food imaginable — from tapas to Catalan pastries to cheese and meat stalls. If you’re as much of a true foodie as I am, you’ll want to make sure you’re hungry before visiting Mercat de la Boqueria.
What to get at the market
The hardest part of visiting Mercat de la Boqueria is deciding what to eat. My husband and I chose to share a few items, allowing us an opportunity to try more flavors. For those with a sweet tooth, I recommend La Torna for the best pastries I had while visiting Barcelona. You can’t go wrong with any one of their amazing pastries here, but I recommend the crumble or the Crema Catalana. If you haven’t already indulged in Spanish tapas elsewhere, you can also use a visit to the market as a chance to try a few classics, such as patatas bravas (spicy Spanish potatoes) or Croquetas de jamón (Croquettes filled with ham).
Tips to know before visiting
Like many similar markets, the vendors at Mercat de la Boqueria offer a selection of fresh foods (meant to be brought home and to be prepared) and pre-cooked foods that you can either take to-go or enjoy while standing at the market. Some restaurants located within the market also have barstools where you can grab a seat and enjoy a meal right in the market. These spots can get pretty busy, especially if you’re visiting the market on a weekend. I recommend getting there as early as possible on Saturday or Sunday.
Other things to keep in mind when visiting this Barcelona market:
- Most vendors do accept credit cards; however, it may be useful to have cash on hand
- Restrooms are available inside the market; however, you will need coins to enter
- Read reviews of restaurants before going, as many tapas restaurants that surround the market target tourists and may offer sub-par food
- Some vendors may close early, such as those offering baked goods and pastries
- Leave time to get there twice to try more foods (I regretted leaving this visit to the last day of my trip).
