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Food is one of the most important parts of Spanish culture and celebration, and a trip to the country is incomplete without a deep-dive into the culinary offering of Spain. In every city, there are plenty of options to choose from, ranging from authentic Spanish fare to the best of international cuisine, and from budget-friendly options to fantastic fine-dining experiences at some of the world’s best restaurants. To ensure that you taste the very best on your trip to Spain, we have put together a list of where to eat in Spain for every type of traveller and trip.
It is clear that Spain’s culture of food and drink has a lot to offer for everyone. Whether you are travelling on a budget or splashing out on a luxurious holiday, whether you are vegetarian or a meat-lover, the sheer breadth and depth of Spanish cuisine means that you will have plenty of options to choose from. If your mouth is watering after reading our round-up of the best food in Spain, pop into your local SOTC brand and let’s start planning out your holiday. You can also browse through the many Spain tour packages that we offer for Spain on our website. As they say in Spain: vamanos!
You do not have to spend a lot of money to enjoy the best Spanish food. In fact, some of the best places to eat in Spain are the food markets that dot the country. One of the most iconic markets is La Boqueria, located off Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Here, you can not only buy fresh produce and meats, but also indulge in a wide range of staple Spanish and international street food as well. In terms of what to eat in Spain’s markets, we recommend sampling some of the country’s staple dishes like paella, patatas bravas, bombas, chorizo and fresh sea food.
Most cities in Spain will have a big food market – other famous ones include Mercado San Miguel in Madrid, Mercado de la Ribera in Bilbao and Mercat Central in Valencia.
There are plenty of mid-priced Spanish restaurants when it comes to places to eat in Spain. We recommend straying away from tourist hotspots, where prices at cafes and restaurants are higher than in other parts of the city. Agut, located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, is a must-do for authentic Catalonian cuisine, as is Ca L'estevet. For a more modern take on Spanish food and tapas, we recommend visiting Bar Lobo in Barcelona, which reflects the character of Barcelona city as we see it today.
In Madrid, Pescador is a must-visit restaurant for anyone who loves good seafood. Seafood is a quintessential part of Spanish food, and the dishes at Pescador are always fresh, simple and scrumptious. For an authentic wine, jamon (ham) and cheese experience, visit Stop Madrid which is a cute wine bar that is loved by locals in the capital. Chocolateria de San Gines is the best place for churros with hot chocolate sauce, which is the ultimate Spanish dessert or accompaniment with a good cup of coffee. Along with authentic Spanish food, there has been a big wave of new-age restaurants that serve up fusion cuisine, taking the best of Spanish cuisine and reinterpreting it with new flavours, techniques and pairings. Juana La Loca in Madrid serves up innovative tapas dishes – the tortilla is a must-eat here!
Whichever city you are visiting, it is always a good idea to ask a local for their restaurant and Spanish food recommendations. Locals love to share their insider information and tend to direct you towards places that are reasonably priced and serve up some mouth-watering authentic dishes, so do not be afraid to ask!
If you want to indulge in a fine dining experience, Spain is one of the best places to do it. There are many Spanish restaurants amongst the best in Europe. As these restaurants are very popular and seating is limited, it is important to make a reservation well in advance (often, months before you visit) to ensure that you do not miss out on the food experience of a lifetime.
Es Calo Restaurant in Formentera is an iconic restaurant for seafood and considered to be one of the best fine-dining experiences in the country. The dishes are simple, allowing the fresh flavours of the seafood to steal the show, and the beautiful view of the beach as you chow down only adds to the experience.
Disfrutar in Barcelona is one of the most popular Spanish restaurants in the country, but also, across the globe. The cuisine is highly unique, featuring ingredient and food pairings that are counter-intuitive and often, paradoxical in nature. From tucking in to gazpacho in a sandwich format to eating egg yolk that is crispy instead of runny, Disfrutar will surprise and delight your taste buds in the best way. The atmosphere is simple and minimalistic, letting the food and flavour do most of the talking.
