This blog post was originally posted on November 19, 2015, and was updated on October 13, 2017.
One of the best ways to see a place is through its food. And what better place to do that than a beautiful Barcelona market!
Here in Barcelona, a huge part of the food culture are the many covered markets that populate the city. Each neighborhood has its own, and it serves as the lifeblood of the community. These places are not only filled with beautiful sights, smells and tastes, but also people, families, stories, and soul!
If you’re visiting for the first time, you will definitely need to experience the famous La Boqueria Market, as well as a stop at the beautiful and recently reformed Santa Caterina Market. However, if you’re ready for more serious adventures it’s time to explore a few spots off-the-beaten-path! Read on and check out some of these lesser-known food markets in Barcelona.
Click to expand or embed this image on your site
Mercat de l’Abaceria Central
What can we say? We love Mercat de l’Abaceria Central! Why else would we include it on our Gracia Neighborhood Food Tour? It’s the epitome of your humble neighborhood market in Barcelona and has been standing in the charming area of Gracia for over 100 years.
Love cheese? La Trobada del Gourmet has one of the best cheese selections in all of Gracia. Or perhaps you want to try some ham 100% made in Gracia? Head to Fabregas Xarcuteros, a 5th generation stall that makes all its own embotits, or cured meats, in a workshop nearby.
Address: Travessera de Gràcia, 186
Mercat de la Llibertat
The other market that you can find in Gracia is Mercat de la Llibertat, a beautiful modernist building decorated by Antonio Gaudi’s right-hand man. Under Barcelona’s market renovation program, Mercat de la Llibertat recently got a makeover and is now shiny, new and leaning towards the gourmet.
Have a walk around, and definitely bring your camera! You can head to Crustó to marvel at the many different loaves of freshly baked bread and pastries and then stop for a hearty esmorzar de forquilla, or a fork and knife breakfast at La Pubilla across the street. They’re famous for it!
Address: Plaça de la Llibertat, 27
Mercat de Ninot
The latest market to re-open after five years of renovation is the Mercat de Ninot in Barcelona’s Eixample district. Though the market boasts many new features, there are still plenty of nods to old Barcelona traditions.
All food markets in Barcelona have at least two or three bars or cafeterías as they’re called. They are usually a small corner stall with a bar or a few tables to have a coffee or snack. Mercat de Ninot has these and much more. Stop by Perello, one of the oldest salt-cod and conserve stalls in the market, for an aperitif of sweet red vermouth and a snack of esqueixada, a delicious salt-cod salad.
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 157
Mercat de Sant Antoni
As of 2015, the Mercat de Sant Antoni is still under renovation. The project has taken far longer than originally planned. For now, you can find the actual market stalls across the street in a temporary setup they have for the neighborhood. However, the building itself is absolutely spectacular, and well worth the walk around, even if you can’t go inside! This is definitely one of our favorite food markets in Barcelona!
Address: Carrer del Comte d’Urgell
Mercat de la Concepció
Depending on where you are in Barcelona, the Mercat de la Concepció might not be so off-the-beaten-path! However, if you are staying down in the old town, you might never know of this gorgeous market’s existence! Occupying nearly a full block of the Eixample, Barcelona’s extension district, the Concepció market is also known as the mercat de les flors, or flower market. Why would that be? Well, you can visit their beautiful flower market any time of the day, any day of the year. In a city where virtually nothing is open 24/7, you can count on the flower market to always be there! As far as food markets in Barcelona go—this is a must-visit!
Address: Calle Aragó, 313-317
Want to see inside a Barcelona market? Check out this great video of our lovely co-founder Lauren Aloise as she explores inside one of our favorites in the Born!
