Barcelona: Food Tour with Tapas, Vermouth & Historic Bars

Summary

Barcelona’s flavors come alive in old city bars with vermouth and stories

You’ll follow a local guide through Barcelona’s winding old streets, tasting classic tapas like boquerones fritos and tortilla de patata in historic bars, sipping vermouth during ‘la hora de vermut’, and finishing with crema catalana near St. James Square. Expect laughter, stories you won’t find in any guidebook, and those little moments that make travel stick with you.

What’s the experience like?

You know that feeling when you just land somewhere new and your senses are all on high alert? That’s how it started for me in Barcelona, right near Plaça de l’Àngel — I could hear mopeds buzzing past and smell bread baking somewhere close by. Marta, our local guide (she called herself a “foodie but not snobby”), waved us over with this easy grin and immediately started chatting about the neighborhood like we were old friends. We set off through these narrow stone streets — honestly, I kept losing track of where we were because every corner seemed to hide another little bar or bakery. The first stop was an old tapas place that looked like it hadn’t changed since the 60s. There was a chalkboard menu I couldn’t decipher, but Marta ordered for us: fried anchovies (boquerones fritos), tomato salad, and this sausage thing on pan con tomate. The bread was rough in my hands, tomato juice soaking through — messy but so good.

I didn’t expect the next place to feel so…lively? There was a guy behind the counter slicing jamón ibérico like it was an art form, and someone popped a bottle of cava right as we walked in. We tried tortilla de patata (still warm) and manchego cheese that tasted way nuttier than what I’d had back home. Marta explained how “vermuteo” is more than just drinking vermouth — it’s kind of a ritual here before lunch or dinner. She poured us glasses of deep red vermouth at the next stop (I tried to say ‘salut’ in Catalan and totally butchered it; she laughed but promised nobody would mind). Patatas bravas came out hot with this smoky sauce that clung to my fingers. There was something about the way people greeted each other in these places — lots of cheek kisses, loud voices bouncing off tile walls.

The last stop was this tiny bakery near St. James Square where the air smelled sweet, almost burnt-sugarish. We tasted crema catalana — apparently one of the oldest desserts around here. The top cracked under my spoon just right. By then I felt full but also kind of light? Maybe it was the cava or maybe just being out wandering with strangers who didn’t feel like strangers anymore. It’s weird how quickly you can feel at home when you’re sharing food.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Walking food tour with local expert

• Meet local expert at Plaça de l'Àngel
• Pass emblematic and ancient city spots
• Taste vermut with patatas bravas and croquetas
• Visit oldest tapas bar for wine and fried anchovies
• Enjoy charcuterie, tomato bread, tortilla with Cava
• Taste famous Catalan dessert at old bakery

Top questions

How many food stops are included on this Barcelona food tour?

The tour includes at least 4 different bars or bakeries for tastings around central Barcelona.

Is alcohol included on the Barcelona tapas tour?

Yes, alcoholic tastings like wine, cava, and vermouth are included for guests over 18 years old.

Where does the Barcelona food tour start?

The meeting point is Plaça de l’Àngel, near Hotel Suizo in central Barcelona.

Are non-alcoholic drinks available on this tour?

Yes, guests under 18 will be served non-alcoholic beverages instead of alcohol.

What traditional foods will I try on this Barcelona walking food tour?

You’ll taste dishes like boquerones fritos (fried anchovies), pan con tomate with botifarra sausage, jamón ibérico, manchego cheese, tortilla de patata, patatas bravas, croquetas, and crema catalana dessert.

Is lunch included on the Barcelona tapas & drinks tour?

The experience includes enough tastings across several stops to make up a full meal.

How big are the groups on this Barcelona food tour?

The tour runs with small groups to keep things personal and interactive.

What’s included

Your day includes several generous tastings across four or five stops in central Barcelona — from fried anchovies and charcuterie to classic Catalan desserts — plus alcoholic drinks like local wine, cava or vermouth for adults (with non-alcoholic options for younger guests). A local guide leads you through historic neighborhoods on foot; bottled water is provided too.