Planning a trip to the Catalan capital? Here's an overview of food prices in Barcelona in 2021. What to try from the local cuisine? Prices in shops and Catalan fast food. What is important to know about cafes and restaurants. Tips on how to save money on food.
Prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Barcelona - 2021
The cost of meals depends on the location of the restaurant and cafe. If the establishment is at a crossroads or near tourist attractions, prices are higher. In just a 5-10 minute walk, there is sure to be a place where you will be fed 10-20% cheaper.
What are the prices for food in Barcelona? Breakfast is usually coffee with croissant or sandwich for 2 €. The continental breakfast familiar to Europeans is more expensive - 5-8 €. Dine at a budget restaurant for one - 15-25 €. "Menu of the day" is cheaper - from 10-12 € per person.
Here are the prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Barcelona in 2021:
- gazpacho - 2-4 €
- shellfish soup - 3-7 €
- paella - 7-10 €
- cheese plate - 13-14 €
- Catalan sausages - 9 €
- pasta - 8 €
- Catalan stew - 13 €
- mussels - 5-8 €
- grilled octopus - 14 €
- freshly squeezed juice - 3.2-3.5 €
- sangria, 1 l - 11-12 €.
Find out where to eat inexpensively in Barcelona.
Prices for alcohol and drinks
The weather in Spain is hot, so in the national cuisine much attention is paid to drinks. Catalans drink a lot of coffee. The most popular espresso costs € 1.5, cappuccino € 2 and latte € 1.2. There are also varieties: café cortado - espresso with a drop of milk and café bombón - coffee with condensed milk at the bottom of the glass.
In Barcelona they love sangria, Basque apple cider, cava, light white wine Txacoli and vermouth. On a hot day, a soft drink made from wine with ice quenches your thirst. Tinto de verano - 1.5 € per glass. Bars serve beer - cerveza... A small glass with a capacity of 0.2 l costs 1 €, a pint (570 ml) - from 3 €, and 1 l - 8 €.
The prices for alcoholic drinks in Barcelona shops in 2021 are very attractive! A liter of sangria costs 2-3 €, and sherry costs from 8 €. Bottle of beer 0.33 l - from 0.5 €. The price range for wine is large, from 1.5 € to 20 €!
Find out how much money to take to Spain.
Food Prices in Barcelona - 2021
In the capital of Catalonia, the leaders in prices, assortment and quality of products are held by three popular Spanish chains - Mercadona, Dia and Carrefour. There are more than 180 Mercadona stores in the city.
Tourists enjoy buying fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and seafood from local markets. The most famous markets are Boqueria, Santa Caterina, Honey Market, Barceloneta and Sant Antoni.
Here are the food prices in Barcelona shops in 2021:
- baguette - from 0.5 €
- milk, 1 l - 0.8 €
- cheese, 200 g - from 1 €
- jamon serrano, 125 g - 1.5-2 €
- flan dessert - 1-3 €
- jar of olives - 0.75 €
- fruit juice, 1 l - from 1 €
- drinking water, 5 l - € 0.46.
In Barcelona, it is profitable to buy fresh seafood from the supermarket and cook yourself if you have a kitchen. They cost less than in Russia: 1 kg of shrimp - only 9-12 €, 0.5 kg of squid - 3.7 €, and mussels - from 2 € in general!
Some fruits are inexpensive: bananas - 0.8 €, oranges - 1 €, grapefruits - 1.25 €. Vegetables: cucumbers - 0.9 €, tomatoes - from 1.4 €.
Catalan fast food
There are many McDonald's, KFC, Subway, Burger King restaurants in Barcelona. A set of sandwich with chicken and vegetables, fries and soft drink costs 5-8 €.
However, Barcelona residents and tourists alike prefer traditional Catalan fast food - it can be found in Pans and Company... They look like McDonald's, but they bake their own bread and cook from natural products. A set with a drink costs 3.9 €.
So, prices for street food in Barcelona in 2021. Many Catalans eat breakfast coffee with churros... This is the name of the fried choux pastry sticks, which are eaten dipped in sugar or chocolate. Churros with chocolate start from 3.5 €.
Also popular in Barcelona pintxos - small sandwiches with a skewer and different fillings. They cost 2-3 €.
There are tapas bars in town serving hearty snacks tapas... The menu often lists two prices. Small tapas cost 2-7 €, and raciones - large portions of tapas - from 10 €. Ideal when you are really hungry! Plate of tapas Platos Combinados - 8-18 €. These plates are good for a group of friends, because everyone can taste different snacks. Some establishments do not have a menu, but all tapas options are displayed under the glass at the bar. Point to the dish that you liked and they will serve it to you.
What to try in Barcelona
Catalan cuisine is Mediterranean, but has its own traditions. They use a lot of sea fish, seafood, they like to cook meatballs and sausages.
What food to try in Barcelona? Let's list the most popular dishes:
- paella - a dish of saffron-tinted rice with fish fillets and a seafood cocktail
- escudella - hearty soup with meat and vegetables
- aioli - delicate sauce made from garlic, lemon juice and olive oil
- calsot - green onions cooked over charcoal
- catalan rabbit in sauce with snails
- baked cod
- Pa amb Tomaquèt - Catalan bread with tomatoes
- beans with sausage butifarra
- escalivade - baked eggplant with tomatoes, bell peppers and onions
- Crema catalana - a dessert that looks like a French crème brulee.
What is important to know
It's hot in Spain in summer. The siesta starts at 14:00 and lasts about three hours. During this time, most shops, shops and cafes are closed. If you are hungry, grab a fast food snack or buy something from the supermarket.
When choosing a table in a restaurant, keep in mind that a seat on the terrace is more expensive than a half-empty hall. For the opportunity to eat in the fresh air, you will have to pay an additional 10% to the bill.
It is customary to order food in Catalonia gradually. Starters first, then main course, and then desserts. If you order everything at once, be prepared that some dish will be delivered at the wrong time. Service in Barcelona is unhurried. Be patient and wait while the chefs prepare the food.
Do not try to pay immediately after ordering. According to the Catalans, food is not rushed. Relax, chat with friends, enjoy your meal and only then ask for the bill la cuenta.
Food prices in Barcelona
Tipping is 10% of the order. They are usually included in the bill. If you did not see the accruals on the check, but want to thank the staff, leave cash.
Almost all supermarkets and markets are closed on Sundays. To shop for groceries, head to small shops, Caprabo chain stores or OpenCor supermarkets.
During religious holidays, some shops are open on a different schedule, and sometimes even closed.
How to save money on food in Barcelona
In front of any cafes and restaurants there are boards with menus and prices. Choose a place that is suitable for the money without going inside.
We recommend inexpensive restaurants: Xeroga at Carrer Parc, 1; bar-bistro The Benedict on Carrer den Gignas; Wokto Walk buffet restaurant at La Rambla, 95.
On Wednesdays and Sundays, cheap snacks for 1 € are offered in the pub "100 sandwiches" - 100 montaditos.
Look for the "menu of the day" - menú del día... It's like our business lunches - dinners with two or three courses and a drink. Usually they are offered from 12:00 to 16:00. However, the prices for such food in Barcelona are higher than in Moscow. A set of gazpacho, paella and a glass of sangria will cost 8-12 €.
Any supermarket has departments with ready meals... One liter of gazpacho costs € 1.6, a serving of sliced salad € 1.5-2, paella € 3.75, two sandwiches € 2. Everything will be heated for free in microwaves at the checkout.
