Barcelona’s most famous mouth-watering dishes

Barcelona is a city packed with incredible architecture, art, and culture, as well as beautiful beaches overlooking the Mediterranean. The one thing you must not miss out on in Barcelona is their mouth-watering gastronomy. It is true that they boast some of the best restaurants you will ever come across, but the real beauty lies within the famous dishes of Barcelona.

The fresh food markets in the city offer you some of the best produce, all locally sourced and used to create the delicious dishes you will find around Barcelona. So, which dishes, in particular, should you be looking out for? Or perhaps even try to cook for yourself? Here’s everything you need to know about the best dishes that are famous in Barcelona.

Paella
If you find yourself along the port, by the beach, or at any traditionally Spanish restaurant in Barcelona, it’s impossible not to find paella on the menu. Although these fragrant rice-based dishes are actually from Valencia, they are still an important factor in Barcelona.

Paella is created in a large flat pan with rice, peas, stock, garlic, tomatoes, and sherry or white wine. The aromas of paella come from paprika and saffron, delicious flavors that will delight your taste buds! Paellas in Barcelona are often topped with fresh seafood, including shrimp, squid, mussels, and more! You can also find meat paellas, rabbit paellas, veggie paellas, and mixtures! This is a great dish to create at home to impress your guests.

Top tip: top off your paella with some lemon wedges for a special Spanish finish.

Croquettes
Croquetas are tapas in Spain and found among most restaurants in Barcelona. If you have never tried a croquette, you are seriously missing out. Croquettes are a smooth blend of béchamel sauce and potato, coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. You will often find croquetas de jamón on your menu in Barcelona, these are Iberian ham croquettes and among the most popular.

Mushroom, crab, lobster, and spinach croquettes are also common. Croquettes will differ depending on the restaurant, in shape, size, texture, and taste. These savory bites are wonderful for a quick pick-me-up alongside a cervecita (small beer) on a sunny afternoon. We can recommend Mimos in El Born for croquettes. For a great mixture of different flavors, order the croquetas caseras!

Gazpacho
Gazpacho is a bit of an acquired taste; it is a cold garlic tomato soup that originated in southern Spain. This is very popular in Barcelona as an appetizer. There are many different ways of serving Gazpacho; you might receive it in a shot glass or a large bowl, depending on where you are.

Patatas bravas
Bravas in Barcelona are hard to miss. No matter where you go, bravas are never too far. These are a potato-based tapa, in which the potatoes are shaped into cubes, fried, and served with a spicy tomato bravas sauce and aioli.

The best bravas are soft and fluffy in the middle with a crunchy crispy edge. Similar to croquettes, these vary depending on where you go, so you can pick your favorite depending on your preference! Our top pick for bravas in Barcelona would have to be El Tomás in Sarria. Although visually underwhelming, they will surprise you with their incredible flavors!

Jamon Iberico
Very commonly found on menus in Barcelona is Jamon Iberico. This is literally thin slithers of Iberian ham, sometimes served with slices of Manchego cheese. This is a delicacy in Spain and a great idea for gifts to bring back to friends and family or to give at celebrations.

Tortilla de patatas
No matter what time of the day, a tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette) is the perfect comfort food. This is an omelette type dish created with eggs, potatoes and onion. You can eat tortilla de patatas hot or cold, and you will find this at any Spanish restaurant. This ones easy to make at home, why not give it a go?