What today is called food market in so many places is a modern name for something that has always existed in the city: markets. Barcelona’s markets are the real seed of the local gastronomic culture true gastronomic temples where, day after day, week after week, the best of the best bread is distributed, never better said.
At a city with 43 markets for 73 neighborhoods, it’s clear that daily shopping at bus stops is essential and therefore we wanted to make a small tour of some of the most prominent markets in the city for you to take a walk through them and practice eating with your eyes at their stops or with your mouth, in a traditional way, in one of the great market bars that are in the city.
So say goodbye to food markets with food trucks selling street food, and hello to Barcelona’s markets that sell real food for you to cook at home or eat at their bars.
Sant Josep de la Boqueria
What was once the best market in Barcelona is becoming more and more touristy. That is undeniable, and their own managers recognize this. The market is almost always full of tourists and it is clear that a visit to the market is a must for everyone that walks down the Ramblas,. In addition, stalls selling fresh produce are becoming fewer and fewer, in favor of those selling prepared food, and iconic bars such as Pinotxo are being lost.
It all sounds bad, but the truth is that this market is still one of the most impressive in the city. Its huge rooftop nestled in the middle of the Raval is still a visit worth enjoying early in the morning, when no one is there yet, and the large market is owned by the stallholders and the pigeons, who roam it as if it were their home. Having a coffee for breakfast out there and then rushing out before it gets crowded is a great plan to start the day.
📍 La Rambla, 91
Santa Caterina Market
Also in the downtown area, also certainly touristy, but at somewhat less congested. And also worth a visit. Only for the ceramic colored cover the new building, which represents modernism, designed by the Miralles-Tagliabue architectural firm, is already worth a visit.
And if this reason doesn’t convince you, the dozen or so fish stops you’ll find are sure to. And if not, the archaeological remains exposed outdoors and integrated into the market of the convent dedicated to Santa Caterina that occupied this space. And if not, some of the cheapest bravas in the city. Come on, you are not lacking in reasons.
📍 Avinguda de Francesc Cambó, 16
Sant Antoni Market
Newly reopened, the face that shows the Mercat de Sant Antoni could not be more attractive. The renovation has left it beautiful and strolling inside looking for what we will eat at noon is one of the pleasures of the city.
But the Mercat de Sant Antoni is many markets in one. For this reason, in addition to food stalls, encants and fresh food, a market of used books, furniture and other collectibles is held on Sundays from 08.00 to 15:00. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth a visit because both the interior and the facade are worth taking out your camera.
📍 Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, 1
Mercat de les Corts
It is not one of the best known but that does not mean that the products are bad. That e t is off the beaten tourist track is a plus, and strolling through its classic stalls, with lifelong signage or sitting in one of the bars watching the locals go about their daily shopping, is a great way to pass the time.
📍 Travessera de les Corts, 215
Abaceria Market
Another market that is off the beaten tourist track. And it is far away both in distance – it is not in the main tourist loitering area – and in offer: it is not a place, like the Boquería, to go to eat bugs, among other eccentricities. A good breakfast at Bar Cal Mingo y Loli is an example of this.
It is currently in a temporary marquee (but will remain there for a few years) until the original building in the center of the city is renovated of the district of Gracia.
📍 Passeig de Sant Joan, 168 (provisionally)
Lesseps Market
The concept of neighborhood, understood in its purest sense, is completely reflected in this market. Being, perhaps, less known in Gràcia because of the Mercat de l’Abaceria, the Mercat de l’Abaceria is not to be blamed offensively Lesseps is an ode to fresh, quality and local products and not so much to gourmetization for snobbery’s sake. Its location, on the route to Park Güell, makes it even more of a bastion of authentic neighborhood market culture.
📍 Carrer de Verdi, 200-210
Sagrada Familia Market
Just two blocks away from the monument that gives it its name, the Mercat de la Mercat de la Sagrada Familia despite its location next to one of the most photographed icons on instagram it is not excessively crowded with tourists. A bit for the same reasons as the previous ones: their audience is mainly from the neighborhood. That’s why most of the stops are fresh food stands.
The space, well refurbished, is pleasant, and some of its bars have tables on an interior terrace where it is a pleasure to sit and have a drink. By the way, one of these bars, the Pocavergonya, won one of the editions of the famous TV3 contest, Joc de Cartes, and we can assure you that it has its reasons.
Liberty Market
This classic of Catalan modernist architecture was born where the peasants gathered, coming from the mountains, to sell their products. In addition to its classic stalls of all kinds you can visit Joan Noi’s bar, a fish stall where they cook at the moment from rations of prawns to rice. The building, by the way, one of the oldest modernist markets in the city, is worth a visit in itself.
📍 Plaça de la Llibertat, 27
Ninot Market
The Boqueria market in the face of the decline of the Boqueria market. The Ninot is currently one of the best markets in the city. Away from the noise of downtown, in the heart of Eixample Esquerra, ninot is a huge market where you can find all kinds of first class products, and bars like Ket, where you can have a great breakfast. A place to go to eat and to buy food, and that reconciles us with the spirit of going to the market to find the best.