5 OF THE BEST BARCELONA FOOD MARKETS
A true Food Lover must experience at least a couple of the Barcelona food markets. The smell of fresh seafood, the fruits from all over Spain, beautiful vegetables and incredible charcuterie will satisfy anyone’s dreams of a Spanish food market.
Mercat de la Boqueria / Sant Josep
Barcelona’s best-known market has its own unique atmosphere and offers a wide range of fresh vegetables, tropical fruits, sweets, an unforgettable world of fresh seafood, as well as several tapas bars for a quick market snack. Though la Boquería is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Barcelona, it’s still an important food market for locals and chefs.
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday: 08:00 – 20:30 Sunday closed
Where: La Rambla, 89
Mercat de Santa Caterina
Quieter and less touristy than La Boquería, Santa Caterina Market is just a two minute walk from the Cathedral of Barcelona. The colourful rooftop was designed by the famous Catalan architect Enric Miralles a is a representation of colourful fruits and vegetables, reflecting a historical connection to Barcelona’s modernist tradition. It’s well known for its vibrant and lively atmosphere and with the beautiful assortment of the fresh products, it is easy to imagine the architect’s inspiration for the unique rooftop design.
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 7.30am-3.30pm; Thu-Fri 7.30am-8.30pm; Sat 7.30am-3.30pm; Sun closed
Where: Av. Francesc Cambó, 16
Mercat de la Concepció
The market of Concepcion was built in 1888 in the centre of Barcelona in the neighbourhood of Eixample and it is the ideal meeting place to sample traditional market tapas alongside a wide range of delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. It is particularly well known for its flower market located at the back of the building.
Opening hours: Mon & Sat 8am-3pm; Tue-Fri 8am-8pm; Sun closed
Where: Carrer d’Aragó, 313
Mercat del Ninot
El Ninot Market dates back to 1893 and was originally an open air market. It was recently reopened, in May 2015, after a five-year refurbishment. The market now has a modern appearance mixed up with the original designs of steel and glass. As with all the Markets of Barcelona, the Mercat del Ninot can be pretty busy at certain times, but the wide aisles allow for the movement of many and therefore, a light and laid back atmosphere.
Opening hours:
Mon-Sat 8am-9.15pm; Sun closed
Where: Carrer de Mallorca, 157
Mercat de la Llibertat
Barcelona’s Mercat de la Llibertat has stood on this site since 1888 and allows you to dive at once into a local, village market feel. The market invites you to absorb the atmosphere created by distinctive smells and flavours in an extremely beautiful modernist building, which has been refurbished several times. It all amounts to one of the most important food markets in Barcelona and don’t miss out on exploring the small alleyways of the neighbourhood Vila de Gracia.
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 8am-8.30pm; Sat 8am to 3pm; Sun closed
Where: Plaça de la Llibertat, 27
More reading: Barcelona’s authentic district “Vila de Gràcia” & the Street Festival “Fiesta Mayor de Gràcia