What Food To Try in Barcelona and Food Prices
How much does lunch and dinner cost
Examples of food prices, cafes, street food and other dining options in Barcelona for 2024.
National currency: Euro, symbol — € (international currency code EUR).
General Cafe Price Guide
Average prices in Barcelona cafes and restaurants
$16.4
Quick Lunch for One
Starting from $10.92
$60.1
Dinner for Two
to celebrate your trip
Starting from $43.67
$9.8
Combo Meal
Starting from $8.73
What to Try in Barcelona
Must-try Dishes
Pan con Tomate - Bread with Tomato - Crusty bread rubbed with ripe tomatoes, drizzled with olive oil and sea salt. Locals enjoy this as a typical breakfast or a snack, often paired with cured meats.Bocadillo de Calamares - Fried Squid Sandwich - Fresh squid rings battered and fried, stuffed into a baguette with a squeeze of lemon. This beloved street food is popular among locals and best enjoyed at any casual bar around La Latina.
Escudella i Carn d’Olla - Savory Stew - A hearty winter stew made with meats, vegetables, and sometimes blood sausage, served in two parts. Locals typically eat this as a central family meal during Sunday dinners, sharing stories over the pot.
Suquet de Peix - Fish Stew - A rich Catalan fish stew with a variety of seafood, flavored with saffron and served with a side of alioli. This dish embodies coastal life and is cherished during family gatherings.
Esqueixada - Cod Salad - Flaked salt cod mixed with fresh vegetables like tomatoes and onions, dressed lightly with olive oil. You'll find it frequently on summer menus, enjoyed as a refreshing starter on sunny days.
Butifarra amb Mongetes - Sausage with Beans - Juicy Catalan sausage served alongside creamy white beans. A winter favorite, it’s usually enjoyed at lunch during colder months, reflecting the rustic flavors of Catalonia.
Canelons - Cannelloni (Catalan Style) - Baked pasta tubes stuffed with leftover roast meat and béchamel sauce, often enjoyed on St. Stephen's Day after Christmas. It's a delicious homey dish that embraces local traditions of resourcefulness.
By the way, don’t be surprised if your salty fried squid sandwich comes without any dipping sauces; locals usually savor it as is!
Desserts & Drinks
Café au Lait - Café con Leche (coffee with milk) - Strong coffee blended with steamed milk, creating a rich and creamy beverage. Locals savor this during breakfast, gathered at their favorite cafés, often accompanied by a croissant or a slice of ensaimada.Vermouth - Vermut (herbal aperitif) - A fortified wine infused with various herbs and spices, typically served chilled with a slice of orange and an olive. It's a popular choice for pre-lunch gatherings on weekends, enjoyed at lively vermuterías while the sun shines.
Churros - Churros (fried pastry sticks) - Crispy, golden, fried dough pastries typically dusted with sugar. Served warm, they are often dipped in thick hot chocolate and are a favorite among locals during breakfast or an afternoon treat, especially on colder days.
Granizado - Granizado (shaved ice dessert) - Refreshing crushed ice flavored with fruits like lemon or watermelon, enjoyed on hot days. You’ll see people enjoying this at beach bars or parks during summertime, perfect for cooling off.
Turrón - Turrón (nougat dessert) - A traditional almond and honey confection, often found during Christmas celebrations. It's typically served in blocks or bars and is a favorite among families, passed around as a festive treat with a warm cup of café con leche after a big holiday meal.
By the way, don’t forget to enjoy your café con leche before noon, as many locals shy away from drinking coffee later in the day!
Food and Groceries in Barcelona
Vegetables, Fruits and Bread
| Bread | $1.51 |
| Bananas | $2 |
| Oranges | $1.88 |
| Potatoes | $1.62 |
| Apples | $2.09 |
Beverages
| Water 1.5L | $0.87 |
| 0.5L Local Beer | $1.23 |
| Imported Beer | $1.76 |
| Wine Rating >4.0 | $6 |
| Milk 1L | $1.13 |
Various Groceries
| Meat (Beef or Pork) | $13.27 |
| Chicken | $8.21 |
| Cigarettes | $5.46 |
| Rice | $1.42 |
| Local Cheese | $13.06 |
Overview of Cuisine and Specialties
The first thing that hits you about Barcelona's food prices is how pleasantly affordable many options are, especially when you venture away from the tourist hotspots. For example, I recently had a delightful set menu lunch for just €12 in the bustling district of Sant Antoni. That’s not uncommon here. Meanwhile, if you wander into the more touristy areas like Las Ramblas, a similar meal could easily set you back around €20 to €25 for not much more than mediocre fare. The city’s diverse neighborhoods tell their own stories through food pricing, and that’s something that can really surprise newcomers.
Forget everything you know about lunch hours if you're shifting from a fast-paced eating culture. While in many cities, lunchtime means a quick bite at noon, here in Barcelona, locals don't even start to think about lunch until around 2 PM, and you’ll find restaurants buzzing with energy until 4 PM. This leisurely rhythm is a breath of fresh air. Dinner begins much later, typically around 9 PM—a far cry from the 6 PM dinners you might expect elsewhere. If you’re planning to go out for dinner, don’t show up too early unless you enjoy dining with an empty room.
Oh, and before I forget, payment customs have a little twist too. Many locals prefer to use cash for smaller meals, sometimes to avoid card fees, but credit cards are widely accepted in most places. Tipping is an easy-going affair; rounding up the bill or leaving a couple of euros is appreciated, but it’s not obligatory.
One of the charming local habits I've picked up is the tradition of “sobremesa”—lingering at the table after a meal to chat and enjoy each other's company. It’s completely normal to find yourself caught up in conversation for hours, which, as you can imagine, can throw an unprepared tourist for a loop!
However, a common tourist mistake is underestimating the need for reservations, especially on weekends or holidays. Many gem restaurants fill up fast, and nothing ruins your evening plans like having to scramble for an open table after a long day.
With the seasons shifting, fall starts to bring hearty dishes back to menus as people seek comfort food. As temperatures dip, expect to find more stews and roasted chestnuts appearing. Local eating habits reflect this seasonal change, with many enjoying traditional fare that warms the soul—the kind of meals that give you that cozy feeling on a cool evening.
Looking ahead, there’s an emerging trend of younger chefs reinterpreting tradition using modern techniques and local ingredients, giving even classic dishes a refreshing twist. This creative energy is a testament to how Barcelona's food culture is evolving while staying deeply rooted in its rich history.
Forget everything you know about lunch hours if you're shifting from a fast-paced eating culture. While in many cities, lunchtime means a quick bite at noon, here in Barcelona, locals don't even start to think about lunch until around 2 PM, and you’ll find restaurants buzzing with energy until 4 PM. This leisurely rhythm is a breath of fresh air. Dinner begins much later, typically around 9 PM—a far cry from the 6 PM dinners you might expect elsewhere. If you’re planning to go out for dinner, don’t show up too early unless you enjoy dining with an empty room.
Oh, and before I forget, payment customs have a little twist too. Many locals prefer to use cash for smaller meals, sometimes to avoid card fees, but credit cards are widely accepted in most places. Tipping is an easy-going affair; rounding up the bill or leaving a couple of euros is appreciated, but it’s not obligatory.
One of the charming local habits I've picked up is the tradition of “sobremesa”—lingering at the table after a meal to chat and enjoy each other's company. It’s completely normal to find yourself caught up in conversation for hours, which, as you can imagine, can throw an unprepared tourist for a loop!
However, a common tourist mistake is underestimating the need for reservations, especially on weekends or holidays. Many gem restaurants fill up fast, and nothing ruins your evening plans like having to scramble for an open table after a long day.
With the seasons shifting, fall starts to bring hearty dishes back to menus as people seek comfort food. As temperatures dip, expect to find more stews and roasted chestnuts appearing. Local eating habits reflect this seasonal change, with many enjoying traditional fare that warms the soul—the kind of meals that give you that cozy feeling on a cool evening.
Looking ahead, there’s an emerging trend of younger chefs reinterpreting tradition using modern techniques and local ingredients, giving even classic dishes a refreshing twist. This creative energy is a testament to how Barcelona's food culture is evolving while staying deeply rooted in its rich history.
Tourist Reviews
All photos and texts belong to their authors
This place combines the essence of a market; there's some messiness with litter here and there, but at the same time, there are great restaurants where people are happily enjoying their meals and the atmosphere, even if it feels a bit strange to me. The market is located not far from the Catalonia square. They even had some delicious snacks available! »
And now here’s the part from me. Want a romantic lunch in the fresh air for €10 for two with an amazing view of the city? Just pop into the supermarket - great wine starting at €1 a bottle 😅 for 2.5, treat yourself to something special. Salmon fillet 40g for €1, cheese pack for €1, and delicious little sausages with cheese (the flavor is quite nice) in the same price range.
So, for €10 you can gather a variety of tasty snacks, head to the Montjuïc Park and enjoy your time there, complete with a picnic and stunning views of the city.
If you have any questions about Barcelona - feel free to ask! I’ll share everything I know 🤗. »
The price for a basic lunch is €12.58, while the dinner is €16.58. Plus drinks (separately).
There are diverse "dishes" (if that’s the right word): sushi, rolls, crab 🦀, shrimps 🍤 in different forms, eel, fruits 🍇, vegetables 🍏, desserts 🍰, and so much more. You want to try everything right away, but you get full so quickly and can’t stop eating 😂
Our dinner for two at this establishment cost nearly €40! In my opinion, that's a bit pricey, especially if you convert it to dollars! 😱 But it's definitely worth visiting this place if you're in Barcelona! »
And it seems we've found our first city where we’d love to stay. Barcelona is simply amazing: stunning architecture, delicious food, and inexpensive wine (a bottle costs about the same as a juice box - starting from €1.5). Even the slightly cloudy and cool weather is a pleasant change (after +36°C in Africa, when you're falling asleep feeling beads of sweat running down your body)... Plus, we're still getting used to walking around with a camera and not being afraid to snap pictures. Sometimes I pull out my phone and nervously look around. »
A snack consists of fresh fruits and smoothies; there's an enormous selection in the city markets, the most famous being La Boqueria. It's somewhat of a tourist hotspot, but if you venture a little deeper, away from the crowds, you can find everything a bit cheaper. For example, a smoothie for $1.10 and a plate of mixed fruits for $1.65 or sliced mango and papaya for $1.10. It's all so delicious and beautiful! 🍉🍍✨ »