Free Tapas?

In many parts of the country (most famously in Granada), the tapas are free when you buy a drink such as a beer, wine or even a soda. Place your beverage order and a small tapa magically appears before you eyes.

However, don’t expect any small skillets or free tapas in Barcelona. While there are plenty of excellent eateries serving up small plates of Mediterranean nosh, they will cost you a few euros. Luckily, they are still very cheap, and prices hover around €3 and up for them. Nearly all restaurants serving Spanish-style food in Barcelona will have tapas on the menu, and some bars and restaurants only serve tapas.

Razor clams, pimientos de Padrón and olives are typical tapas you’ll find in Barcelona. Photo: Jeremy Keith

Defining exactly what a “tapa” is always causes great debate in Spain. But you can think of them as small portions or appetizers. In the north of Spain, especially in the Basque Country, tapas are called pintxos and are often served on tiny slices of bread. In Andalusia tapas can also be served as larger portions that are called raciones. In Barcelona you can find a wide range of all types of tapas, especially of the seafood variety, so it’s a great place to explore the culture of tapas from all regions of the country.

Related: Favorite outdoor bars serving tapas in Barcelona

On your next trip to Barcelona keep these tips in mind when searching out an afternoon or evening snack:

Pintxos and a beer in Barcelona. Photo: Regina W. Bryan

When to eat tapas

Locals start with appetizers before lunch around noon (especially on the weekends), and from midday onwards, tapas can be found around the city. Usually this pre-lunch snack is called having a “vermut,” which means having a drink (often alcoholic or vermouth on ice) and something small, such as potato chips, olives, a few white sardines, and maybe a bit of cheese.

Later on in the day you’ll find tapas available almost everywhere. It’s a wonderful and smart Spanish tradition to have abundant trays of tapas displayed along bars around 6 PM in the evening, when it is still too early for dinner (which starts typically at 9 or 10 PM), but your stomach is starting to rumble. This is the time of day I frequently end up ordering a tapa while washing it down with a glass of wine or a beer.

There are also many restaurants that make whole meals of tapas, and in fact it makes good sense to go for a dinner of several tapas, because people eat so late in Spain. Trust us, ordering a few mini-dishes instead of a plate of heavy pasta or rice is easier on the stomach at 11 PM. While it is common to have tapas for dinner, few locals would order only tapas for lunch, which is the largest meal of the day.

A spicy potato croquette at La Cova Fumada in Barceloneta. Photo: Craig Nelson

Recommended tapas

This can depend on your taste buds, but many visitors will want to nibble on a bit of acorn-fed Spanish ham and embotits (embotits = charcuterie and cured meats). Embotits are a Catalan specialty, so make sure to ask for the locally-made varieties.

Similarly, you cannot go wrong with a tray of Catalan and Spanish cheeses, which are strong, rich and often served with dried fruit.

Also, I recommend ordering any seafood dish that’s on the menu. Barcelona is on the Mediterranean Sea, and most local cooks know their way around a fresh clam and a prawn. Opt for a tapa of grilled razor clams drizzled with olive oil or a plate of shrimp smothered in a garlic and white wine sauce.

Whatever you decide to sample, make sure to also get “pa amb tomàquet,” which is nothing more than bread with olive oil, tomato, and garlic, but is an essential dish in any Barcelona tapas spread.

Tapas prices

Tapas in Barcelona can add up fast, so expect to spend at least €20 a person if you’re making a formal dinner out of it. To save a little money, those on a budget can eat a few tapas as an afternoon snack, and then have a more traditional meal with a filling main course for dinner.

Related: Barcelona cheap eats under €6.

Where to eat tapas

Try out any bar or restaurant that calls to you, but try to avoid restaurants serving tapas on the lower portion of La Rambla (the excessively touristy bit). In addition, use common sense when perusing the many tapas on display at a hole-in-the-wall bar. Does the ensaladilla rusa (potato salad with tuna) look like it’s been unrefrigerated for ten hours? Do the cod fritters look overly greasy? Then they probably are, and you would be wise to move on. Choose a place with fresh tapas and a nice ambiance.

Here are a few of our favorites spots to order tapas:

El Vaso de Oro
Seafood tapas and a good selection of craft beer.
Street address: C/ de Balboa 6 (La Barceloneta)
Metro Stop: Barceloneta
Telephone: (+34) 933-193-098
Website

Betlem Miscelánea Gastronómica
Creative, Mediterranean tapas and long wine list.
Street address: C/ de Girona 70 (L’Eixample Dreta)
Telephone: (+34) 932-655-105
Metro Stop: Girona
Website

Casa Mariol Wine Bar
Small, local bar serving cold snacks, vermouth and wine.
Street address: C/ del Rosselló 442 (Sagrada Família)
Metro Stop: Sagrada Família
Telephone: (+ 34) 934-367-628
Website

La Cova Fumada
Old-school hang out famous for La Bomba, a spicy potato croquette.
Street address: Baluard, 56 (Barceloneta)
Metro Stop: Barceloneta
Telephone: (+ 34) 932-214-061

Final note: My husband and I wrote a guidebook on food in Barcelona, and we offer many additional listings for restaurants serving tapas at Eat-Guides.com.

The post Barcelona Tapas Guide: What, where, and when to eat tapas appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s a brief list of budget-friendly restaurants that offer great lunch deals. We’ve tried to cover all the central neighborhoods, so that no matter where you are in the city, you can always find something good to eat.

And if you’re still hungry after reading about these deals, we have plenty of other articles on Barcelona cheap eats including cheap restaurant picks and tips to keep your eats cheap in Barcelona.

Lunch near Las Ramblas

If it’s lunchtime and you’re walking down Las Ramblas, you will want to avoid the ridiculously over-priced drinks and over-cooked food that lurks nearby. Instead try:

• La Fonda (Carrer Jerusalem, 3): An elegant yet modern setting sets the tone for the Mediterranean menu using ingredients from the nearby Boqueria Market. Lunch set menu is around €15.

Related: Cheap hotels near Mercat de la Boqueria

• Fonda de España  (Carrer Sant Pau, 9): This restaurant, located inside the Hotel España, sparkles with an ornate, tiled, and chandeliered modernista dining room designed by architect Domenech i Muntaner. It’s a wonderful backdrop for a substantial €27 (inc. tax) lunch. That’s not so cheap, but it’s worth a splurge for a special meal.

Lunch near Passeig de Gracia

If visiting Gaudi’s La Pedrera or Casa Battlo, head for the short stretch of Carrer Aragó between Passeig de Gràcia and Carrer Pau Claris, where you’ll find three excellent lunchtime restaurants.

• La Rita (Carrer Aragó, 279):  Given its consistent quality, service and value, La Rita is my favorite lunchtime restaurant. The menu costs just €10.40 (including tax) for a three-course lunch with bread, wine and water. Desserts are excellent. The restaurant is very popular with local office workers, so expect to wait in line for ten minutes or so.

• Madrid-Barcelona (Carrer Aragó, 284): If you’re looking for a classic lunch experience, this traditional Spanish cafe serves up excellent food. The menu here is a great value at €15.

• Divinus (Passeig de Gràcia, 28): For a filling Mediterranean meal, it’s hard to beat the deal here in this modern dining room. For €10.50 diners get three choices for each course including an appetizer, main course and dessert.

Lunch near Plaza Catalunya

• Xaica (Calle Jovellanos, 5-7): For a cheap and cheerful meal at a set-price, with self-service menu, check out Xaica. They serve three-courses, wine, beer or a soft drink, from €10.

Lunch near El Born

• Origen 99’9% (Pg. del Born 4): Just across the street from the gorgeous Santa Maria del Mar church, you’ll find Origen 99’9% with a tasty €17 set menu (for lunch or dinner) featuring a sample of dishes form across Catalonia. They also have a location in Gracia.

Lunch near La Sagrada Familia

By all means, avoid all of the fast food joints and head for…

• Els Pollos de Llull (Carrer Nàpols, 272): Els Pollos serves a delicious two-course lunch for €6.95 (three-courses for €7.95). The pickings often include organic chicken with rice and a variety of organic yogurts. It’s a five minute walk from Sagrada Familia.

Related: Tips for visiting La Sagrada Familia

The post Barcelona Cheap Eats: 8 delicious lunch deals appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

No te preocupes (Don’t worry!). Here are five cheap eats that will ensure a full belly, and plenty of extra pocket change for all those Gaudi postcards you’ll send back home. They may not be glamorous, but their fare is tasty and oh so inexpensive.

Related: 4 local dishes worth trying before leaving Barcelona

1. Woki

Asturies, 22
Gracia
Website

One of my all-time-favorites, Woki is located in the vibrant Gracia neighborhood, but also benefits from two other locations, one on the beach in Barceloneta and another in Borne (Carders, 6).

Simply select a noodle or rice base for €4 and then add ingredients (starting at €1.30 each). Finally, choose a free sauce, which can be anything from Thai, Hoi Sin or the “House Sauce.”

Hand in your order and the Woki team throws it all together on an enormous wok right in front of you. Since there’s limited seating at Woki, I usually get my noodles to-go, often eating them right out of the box while watching the tide come in.

Grab a sandwich for a wallet-friendly lunch at this cozy cafe. Photo: Facebook

2. Tallers 76

Calle Tallers, 76bis
Website

Right in the middle of the city and on trendy Calle Tallers, this lavender-colored café and restaurant is a right-on choice for sandwiches. Made with artisan breads, sandwiches come in delectable combos like goat cheese with sun-dried tomato and smoked salmon with cucumber.

Hey, it’s a no-frills lunch, but tasty and under €6, though plan to spend a bit more if you purchase a drink or side.

Related: 5 low-cost hotels in Barcelona with amazing locations

3. Buenas Migas

Passeig de Gracia (with locations citywide)
Website

With multiple spots around town, Buenas Migas is an easy-to-find—and yummy—Cheapo option. Choose from focaccia pizzas, ample salads, plus an array of sandwiches and pastries.

A focaccia pizza will run you between €4 and €5 (flavors include ‘meat-lovers’, tomato and basil, and four-cheese). Add a drink with your focaccia and you’ll have a delicious midday feast for around €6!

4. La Central

Calle Mallorca, 237 (with locations citywide)
Website

Not everything offered on the menu at La Central—an eatery within a bookshop—falls under the budget category. However, during the lunch rush, they do offer reasonably priced deli wraps, sandwiches, and some pasta salads. All items range from €6 and up.

But, the real reason I love La Central is for their coffee and ambiance. The place benefits by being one of the city’s most eclectic book stores right in the heart of an old neighborhood. Grab a cup o’ joe, take a seat, and browse the wares.

5. Pans & Company

Plaça urquinaona, 12-13 (with locations nationwide)
Website

In a way I hate to mention Pans & Company because, well, it’s a chain. However, it is also very cheap and the quality and quantities here is pretty good. Not unlike the U.S.-based Subway sandwiches, Pans is fast-food in style, but takes a healthy approach to eating.

The sandwiches and sides offered at Pans are geared towards the classic Mediterranean eater, with combos like melted brie and Spanish ham, or tuna and olives. They also serve large salads and occasionally offer hamburgers.

All sandwiches are under €6 and depending on what you order you will likely have a euro or two leftover to grab a drink, side, or opt for a meal combo (around €6 or €7). Pans also has an espresso bar that offers cheap, good coffee and tasty pastries and breads.

Note: This article was updated on July 31, 2014 with new information, links and photos.

The post Barcelona Food: Five cheap eats under €6 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Look out for these bars and restaurants which have the perfect combination of excellent tapas AND outdoor seating. Keep in mind that you will almost always have to pay a little more (5-10%) if you choose to sit outside, but it’s worth letting go of our cheapo spirit for a few hours to bask in the warm Barcelona air.

Barcelona’s port has plenty of options to enjoy tapas in the fresh air. Photo: Regina W Bryan

Betlem

C/ Girona 70
Tel: 93-265-51-05
Website

Come for one (or two) of the many Spanish wines available at this stylish bar in the Right Eixample. There are only a few tables outside on the street corner, and they are sought after when the sun is shining. If there’s no outside seating, sit at the bar by the wall of windows inside, which is almost as good as being in the fresh air.

The waitstaff at Betlem know their vinos. If you’re feeling adventurous, tell them what you’re in the mood for and let them choose the bottle for you. While their tapas menu is not huge, what’s on offer is top-quality. Try the bravas (spicy potatoes) or the olives for a quick bite.

Attractive terraces line the streets in Barcelona. Photo: Regina W Bryan

L’Óstia Taverna Gastronòmica

Plaça de la Barceloneta 1-3
Tel: 93-221-47-58
Website

During the summer months, there is a constant river of tourists flowing from the Gothic Quarter to the seashore along the portside street called Joan de Borbo, in La Barceloneta. This means that almost all the eateries on Joan de Borbo cater to these tourists, and charge more because of their presence.

To get a better price and away from the hubbub, take a left into the narrow lanes that make up La Barceloneta. Here you’ll find many authentic restaurants and bars, one of which is the newish L’Óstia on Plaça de la Barceloneta. Sit outside on its herb-filled terrace area, or take a seat at the long ‘L’-shaped bar indoors. Wine, beer on tap, tapas, and exceptional coffee are offered at fair prices. Try the cod fritters for €5.35.

La Candela Bar Restaurant

Pl. Sant Pere 12
Tel: 93-310-62-42
Website

On Plaça Santa Pere, this tiny eatery will fill up fast on the weekend. Get there early to find a seat if you plan to have dinner al fresco. Make sure to order their “potato skins” which are served with rich side dips ranging from sweet to salty to tangy. They also offer many dishes made with organic ingredients.

These are just three of many bars and restaurants with terrace seating. Remember that if you do sit outdoors in downtown Barcelona, keep a close watch on your personal belongings. Things can disappear fast if you’re not paying attention. Salud!

The post Barcelona cheap eats: 3 outdoor patios for tapas appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Keep an eye out for Almogaver, a popular craft brewery based in Catalan. Photo:Manel Zaera

Craft beer movement in Barcelona

Beer and ale are a big deal in Barcelona, and all over Spain, these days. Microbrews are trendy, innovative and in-demand. Most people don’t think ‘beer’ when they think ‘Spain’, and the craft beer scene is still small compared to Belgium, Germany or sudsy cities such as Portland or Denver in the US. Nonetheless, brewers are busy in Catalonia creating some great beers, so keep an eye out for Almogaver, Les Clandestines and Llupols i Llevats.

Sipping craft beer in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Regina W Bryan

Barcelona Beer Festival

Many of these tasty craft beers will be available at the Barcelona Beer Festival taking place April 11-13. The event showcases several up-and-coming Spanish brands but also a few international labels. The festival works like most foodie fests: you buy a half-pint glass for tasting, a wad of tickets and off you go to sip and tip as many beers as you can muster. The same tickets also work for food. This year the festival will be held right at the end of La Rambla in the Maritime Museum, a more ideal venue than last year’s which was in the conference center of a mall. It’s open to the public and popular with locals—expect a long line to get in at night!

Hostal Benidorm is a stylish cheap sleep along La Rambla. Photo: EuroCheapo

Where to Stay

Hostal Benidorm (with doubles from: $83 to $104) is within walking (or maybe stumbling) distance from the brewski bash as well as several great nightlife and dining spots. It’s hard to beat this central location. The interior offers a funky, modernist style, and each accommodation comes with a private bathroom, flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. A few select rooms even sport balconies that offer views of the bustling scene along Las Ramblas.

Ale&Hop has a modern tap system with several local beers available. Photo: ScottRobertson2009

Where to find local brews

If you’re not able to make it to the Barcelona Beer Festival, but still want to try some locally-made ales, pop into Ale&Hop, a pub in La Ribera ‘hood that is a self-proclaimed beer geek hangout with 10 taps and vegetarian snacks. Cervecería Jazz in Poble Sec is another option with a robust list that pairs with burgers hot off the grill. Or how about a beer library? That’s what you will discover at La Cerveteca that stocks a wonderful selection of Catalan bottles. It’s the perfect spot to browse and taste to see what suits your fancy. You’ll also find bottled craft beer in many wine shops (bizarre as that sounds), a few in supermarkets and at any decent restaurant (okay, maybe not…but eateries are starting to carry microbrews, so keep a sharp eye out for them). Salud!

The post Craft beer in Barcelona: Breweries, festivals, bars and where to stay appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are a few foods that make up the daily diet of most people in Mediterranean Catalonia, which should be on your list of edibles to sample:

1. Ham

Oh yes, ham. Though I don’t ever eat it, just about everyone else does. Ham is not so much Mediterranean as Spanish, and is devoured throughout Spain. If you eat pork, try to find a bit of pata negra ham when you’re in the city, which is said to be the best. Note that whole legs of ham often hang, hoof, hair, and all, in bars and restaurants. The queasy may not crave ham after glimpsing these haunches.

Seafood is often on the menu in Barcelona.

2. Crayfish and seafood

They look like shrimp they are actually escamarlà, or crayfish. You’ll often get these clawed critters on top of a paella. Seafood and fish is an important part of the Mediterranean Diet and most restaurants offer at least one fish dish.

3. Cheese

Like its neighbor to the north, France, and many other European countries, Spain produces potent, make-you-eyes-water, cheeses. None of that Kraft crap here. If you feel lost when you go to the cheese counter at the market, order with these tips in mind:

• local is better, so if you’re in Catalonia go for a Catalan cheese from the Montseny area or Cadí

• about 200 grams will get you a nice packet of sliced cheese, though you may have to ask them to cut it up  (you can also just get a hunk of cheese by the gram)

4. Wine

Though Rioja and Ribera del Duero are the two most common wines in Spain, they are not produced along the Mediterranean. Order a Priorat, Montsant, Empordà, or Penedès for a wine from Catalonia. Other Mediterranean wines from the Balearic Islands – Formentera, Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca – are also worth a taste test if you can find them (they are not very common, though you will probably come across them at a wine shop).

5. Fruit

Often, fruit is served as a dessert instead of cakes and pies. Expect pears, apples, mandarines, pomegranate, figs, and oranges. Bananas are flown in from the Canary Islands. Berries, like blueberries and raspberries, are not the norm and are expensive.

6. Olive Oil

This liquid gold is on every dining table in every restaurant. It’s poured on salads, bread, and is a significant ingredient in many dishes. Spain produces the most olive oil in the world. More than Italy. It is delicious and inexpensive, so enjoy it! Of course, olive oil comes from the olive, which is also abundant and affordable. Green olives are more widespread than black.

7. Cava

A sparkling wine drunk across Spain but especially important in Catalan culture. Penedès, a cava-producing region just 45 minutes form Barcelona, puts out some of the best cavaon the globe. The majority of bars and restaurants in Barcelona will have a couple cava labels on the menu.

Tapas in Barcelona; not free, still good.

8. Bread

It is impossible for my Mediterranean husband to eat a meal without bread. A baguette from which to rip spongy chunks, a sliced loaf of wheat, a few seeded rolls… whatever, but there must be “pa” (bread in Catalan). Barcelona is filled with bakeries meeting the pa demand. I’m not sure if there are more bakeries or bars, both being such a critical part of the culture here.

9. Tapas.

Sadly, Barcelona is not the “land of tapas” I wish it were. Tapa culture is fabulous because tapas are usually free. In many villages in the south of Spain, and some parts of the north, when you order a drink, be it a beer or a Coca-cola, the bartender gives you a tapa for free. This could be something as simple as a plate of chips or an elaborate rice dish. Sounds great, right?

Well you can forget about it in Barcelona. Instead, you’ll pay for those tapas, which generally range between €2-€8 a plate. Just because tapas aren’t free here, does not mean that people don’t eat them, they do, and in copious amounts. Try an order of white anchovies in vinegar or steamed muscles.

10. Vegetables

Friends who have come to visit me in Barcelona have often been surprised by the wide array of veggies on most menus. I’m not sure why. I guess they didn’t expect large goat’s cheese salads. The Mediterranean Diet calls for lots of salads, steamed vegetables, and plant-based dishes. If you’re a vegetarian or simply like to eat fresh greens, you won’t have any trouble along the Med.

You’ll eat well in Barcelona if you shop at markets, bakeries, and you local wine shop. The Mediterranean Diet is a tasty one, a healthy one, and for the most part, an affordable one.

The post The Mediterranean Diet: Eat these 10 foods in Barcelona appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

I’m still not an expert, but these are a few tips on how to eat like a local when in Barcelona:

8 am: First Breakfast

What time do you eat breakfast? 8 am? In Barcelona they eat breakfast like Hobbits. At 8 am you have your “First Breakfast” which may be little more than a coffee with milk or a hot chocolate.

These can be part of either the first or second breakfasts. Photo: Regina W Bryan

10 am: Second Breakfast

Around 10 am you eat “Second Breakfast,” which is normally a sandwich, or bocata/bocadillo. What sort? Ham. Or maybe cheese. The bread is a baguette and is rubbed down with a tomato and then drizzled with olive oil. You might have another coffee, you might have a Coca-Cola, you might even have a glass of wine! Hey, it’s 10 am and any time after 7:30 am is wine-time, am I right?! (I’m making that up. There’s no wine-time… but you will see people drinking red wine with breakfast.)

Forget your pancakes or eggs and baked beans with bacon. That’s not on the local menu. (Of course, if you want an American, English or Aussie breakfast in Barcelona, I’ve got some tips here.)

Also see my related article on Barcelona breakfasts, including my favorite local spots.

12 noon… what’s that? You’re hungry? Too bad. Lunch isn’t until 2 pm.

2 pm: Lunch

If it’s a weekday, you’ll see locals in Barcelona doing one of three things: going home for a two-hour lunch break; eating out of Tupperware that they’ve brought from home on a park bench; going to the local bar or restaurant for a Menú del Día, one of Spain’s best inventions.

Some points to consider during your lunch in Barcelona:

Yummy, creamy soup that’s part of a menu del dia. Photo: Regina W Bryan

• Menú del Día: To eat like a local, find a restaurant serving a Menú del Día for €10. You get three courses and wine. This is a steal and a good way to fill up for a day of sightseeing. The same Menú del Día meal at night will cost you twice as much.

• Dining early: If you come at 1 pm or 1:30 pm you’re more likely to get a table.

• Wine: It’s socially acceptable to drink wine with lunch and then go back to work. (Don’t ask me how a person concentrates on much more than Facebook after a heavy lunch with wine.)

• Ordering: Sometimes the waiter will ask you for your complete order at once. This includes your starter, main course and dessert, so be prepared to decide.

• Weekdays: Weekday lunches are meals designed for workers, so service tends to be a lot faster.

• Napkin position: You don’t have to put your napkin in your lap. You can set it beside your plate.

• Gotta go: If you’re not getting attention from the waiter and you want to pay and leave, it’s usually OK to go up to the bar and ask to pay.

• You’ll get bread. If you eat it before your food comes then you’ll look like a guiri (a foreigner)… but let’s face it, you probably look like a guiri anyway, so go ahead! If I’m hungry I eat the bread and anything else they put in front of me.

• After lunch coffee: You’ll notice that no one orders a large coffee with milk after a meal. This was something that took me a while to get used to. A Catalan friend told me that it’s too heavy to have a large coffee after lunch. Fair enough. So the solution is to order an espresso or a “cortado” which is espresso with milk. If it’s hot out, I order the “cortado con hielo” – an espresso with milk over ice. Fabulous.

• Tipping: You are not expected to tip in Barcelona. If you want to leave something, leave a few coins. It is not common to leave 10%. I know it’s hard to not tip if you’re from a country where it’s the norm. It took me three years to stop tipping.

5-7 pm: Nibbles

It’s 5-7 pm and it’s snack time. This can mean almost anything. Sadly, most bars in Barcelona do not give a free tapa with your drink order. In other parts of Spain they observe this tradition and it comes in handy when you feel like a 6 pm refreshment.

You’ll see locals having a beer, or a tea, or another coffee and soft drinks. A quintessential snack in Barcelona are olives or a plate of “bravas” (spicy potatoes) or a bag of potato chips to go with your drink. My preferred snack is a glass of white wine, some boquerónes (white anchovies), and a plate of green olives.

See my related posts on 5 bars not to be missed in Barcelona.

Fish for dinner. Photo: Regina W Bryan

9-10 pm (start): Dinner

The Spanish do not tend to eat huge dinners unless it’s a special occasion. Some points to keep in mind about “la cena”:

• Timing: If you reserve a table before 8:30 pm or 9 pm, you’ll be the only one in the restaurant. Many restaurants don’t even open for the dinner shift until 8:30 pm.

• Staying up late: If you’re invited out for dinner during the week with a group of Spanish friends, do not think that the fact that they have to work the next day will keep them from staying out until 4 am. Fun trumps responsibility and food and friends come first.

• Splitting the bill: In a group you’ll either be asked to split the check evenly or someone will calculate it to the penny to see what each person owes. This really depends on the people with whom you’re dining.

• Cocktails before dinner? Cocktails are not commonly consumed pre-dinner. For example, in the US I might have a gin and tonic with a friend and then go eat. Not so in Barcelona. Mixed drinks and cocktails are for after dinner when you’re getting your groove on at the club. Have a beer to quench your pre-dinner thirst.

• Again, no one really tips. If there are a couple of euros left over from a group meal, I tend to leave them for the waiter instead of trying to equally divide them among the diners.

Finally, on the weekends restaurants fill with families having long, wine-drenched lunches. It’s not unusual to spend three or four hours at lunch. Afterwards, go have a siesta.

As they say in Catalan, Bon Profit!

The post 18 tips for eating like a local in Barcelona appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The heat makes me crave cool drinks, gazpacho, salads, fresh fruit, and grilled fish (not to mention chilled white wine, better if it’s a Priorat), all foods that go well with my diet and the warm weather.

Cava for summer in Spain

Here are some of the best local cheap eats to look for in Barcelona from June to September:

Gazpacho

A tomato-base soup served cold. Typically, the waiter will bring you a side of minced cucumber, red onion, and bell pepper, which you can mix into the gazpacho, along with croutons. Most restaurants will offer this refreshing and healthy soup in the summer for lunch or dinner, usually as a starter. €5, aprox.

Ice Cream and Gelato

Not in my diet, but delicious! There may be more gelato stands than bars areas like the Gothic Quarter and El Born. My preferred ice cream place in Vioko, in La Barceloneta. Try the rose and raspberry flavor. €4.

Rose wines for the summertime

Rosé and White Wines

Spain does wine well. Summer is the time for sangría, which is made with red or white wine or even cava, plus fruit and liquor. I don’t normally order sangría, as it’s akin to mixing Coca-cola with red wine for me (yes, people do this, it’s called kalimotxo).

Instead, I stick to the basics: an excellent rosé from Navarra, a cool white from Priorat or Galicia, and cava from Penedès. Have a glass of wine or two at Vila Viniteca’s La Teca in El Born. €3, a glass aprox. (See more of my favorite wine bars in town.)

Horchata and Granizados

Nothing says “it’s freakin’ hot” like a line in front of your local horchata shop. Granizados are like slushies… but made with natural ingredients such as lime, lemon, etc. Horchata is made from tigernuts, and is bitter-sweet. I’m not sure if I like it or not. I’d probably go for the granizados.

They say the best Horchata in Barcelona is found at El Tío Ché in Poblenou, which has been in the biz since 1912. Under €5.

These tasty Barcelona treats will keep you cool and happy this summer. What foods do you crave when the heat hits?

The post Cheap Eats for the Summertime in Barcelona appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Them: “How long have you lived here?”
Me: “Almost 8 years.”

Them: “Do you like it?”
Me: “Yes.”

Them: “Why did you move to Barcelona?”

Depending on my mood, I give some long-winded story about adventure and heartbreak, blah, blah, blah, or I tell the truth; “I came for the olives and wine.”

I am a wino. I also like a good beer, but if made to choose, go for the wine over beer every time.

Wine in Spain can be exorbitant or dirt-cheap. There is a lot of excellent wine for under €5 the bottle, making Spain and Barcelona a shoestring wino’s paradise. If you, too, swoon for fermented grapes, then put these bars on your must-drink list.

Onofre

Onofre
Carrer de les Magdalenes 19, 08002, Barcelona
Website

Serving pretty much all Catalan and Spanish wines, here you’ll come across an extensive wine menu and 16 labels served by the glass. Over 200 types of wine can be ordered by the bottle! Onofre also does tasty tapas and an excellent lunch menu for less than $20.

La Vinya del Senyor
Plaça Santa María, 5, 08003, Barcelona
Website

La Vinya del Senyor carries over 400 wines in a fab setting right in front of Santa Maria del Mar Basilica. Remember the book “Cathedral of the Sea” by Ildefonso Falcones de Sierra? It’s written about this basilica. Their 20 wines by-the-glass change every 15 days. You can choose between reds, whites, cavas, Champagnes, and sweet wines like sherry.

Vila Viniteca
Agullers, 7, 08003, Barcelona
Website

Vila Viniteca is enormous, taking up an entire street. Go into the deli and down the stairs to find the tiny bar. Any deli item can be served up with one of their 13 wines by the glass, which are mostly Spanish. They also carry 350 types of cheese!

Do you have a favorite wine bar in Barcelona?

Tell us about your favorite spots for wine in the comments section!

The post Barcelona Wine Bars: 3 picks from a self-confessed “wino” appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s some photo inspiration of tasty bites and spots to dine in Barcelona, Spain.

BREAKFAST- The breakfast of champions, frothy coffee with flaky croissants in the sun! (Read more about breakfast in Barcelona, with addresses for the best breakfast in each neighborhood.)

TAPAS – What would a trip to Spain be without tapas? Afternoon snack or for dinner, tapas should be an important part of your diet in Barcelona. Pictured above: patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and seasonal wild mushrooms (common in the fall). (Read more about tapas in Barcelona.)

LUNCH SPECIAL- Monday – Friday (and in some places on the weekend) look for chalkboards like this one featuring the Menú del Día or “Daily Special”; a set menu usually under $15 for three courses.

LENTILS – Legumes anyone? Spain is big on lentils, garbanzos, and other legumes. Above is a veggie lentil soup eaten at Blavis, a restaurant in the Gracia hood.

SEA SNAILS- Snails are often eaten in Spain. Their texture is, um, not for everyone. The snails above are sea snails served with rock salt.

ROASTED VEGETABLES- Asparagus, potatoes, spicy peppers, eggplant… all grilled up and served with thick, flavorful romesco red sauce.

SPANISH RICE- Otherwise known as paella, this is a must when in Barcelona or traveling along Spain’s eastern Mediterranean seaside. Paella can be made with seafood or meats, such as rabbit and chicken.

BURGERS – Suddenly, beer and burgers are popular in Barcelona, and “American-style” diners are appearing all over the city. Apolo Diner in the Poble Sec hood is a good choice.

COZY BARS AND RESTAURANTS – Barcelona has an endless selection of bars and eateries hidden away on cobblestone plazas and tucked down tiny streets. Avoid Las Ramblas and find something special and more local in El Raval, El Born or La Ribera.

The post 8 tasty and cheapo meals in Barcelona (with mouth-watering photos) appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.