Barcelona Tapas Food Tour in El Born
Description
Taste your way through the Catalan capital on our award-winning Barcelona Tapas Tour. We handle the details so you can skip the crowds and enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine made by locals. Food is central to Catalan culture, and there’s no better way to experience it than by sharing tapas with fellow foodies. Over two and a half hours, you’ll visit four top tapa spots across the Gothic Quarter and El Born, sampling classic small plates and local drinks while uncovering hidden cultural gems. Along the way, see Roman ruins, charming squares, and landmarks like the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar. From patatas bravas and pimientos de Padrón to crispy fried fish, croquettes, paella, and a traditional Catalan dessert, you’ll taste the best of Spanish and Catalan gastronomy, paired with wine, vermouth, and cava. Perfect for friends, families, and solo travellers, this social experience is the ideal way to meet fellow food lovers and discover Barcelona like a local, with a local guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your friendly local guide at Pl. de Correus, 1, near the main post office in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. Look for the yellow Carpe Diem Tours flag or sign. Please arrive 10 minutes early, as the tour begins promptly and no refunds are available for late arrivals.
At the heart of Catalan cuisine, the Gothic Quarter is a must-visit for any foodie. Explore Barcelona’s oldest neighbourhood through its flavours, starting at a family-owned tapas spot. Sample Spanish classics like croquettes, patatas bravas, and pimientos de Padrón, perfectly paired with a glass of local wine.
This family-owned bodega has been doing things the right way since 1945. With only four tapas on the menu, it showcases the no-frills soul of Spanish cooking. Just steps from the port, we’ll eat like the sailors did long ago, sharing cones of crispy boquerones, sampling traditional Catalan butifarra sausage, and washing it all down with a pour from a porrón and a glass of Spanish vermouth. *Due to seasonal holidays, weekend availability, and weather conditions, we may not be able to go to this spot but we will compensate by ordering additional food at another stop or replacing this spot with another venue.*
We’ll wander through the city’s oldest neighbourhood marvelling at former Roman walls and towers on our way to the next food stop.
After leaving the Gothic Quarter we'll head to the bohemian El Born where we'll wander down picturesque alleyways, window-shopping at artisanal shops and art galleries.
Learn the story behind tapas in the lively setting of a classic pintxos bar, inspired by the Basque Country. Then dive in, selecting your favourite pintxos straight from the bar.
Before our final stop we'll see one of Barcelona's most stunning basilicas.
We’ll return to the Gothic Quarter for the grand finale: a hearty paella, a glass of sparkling cava, and a classic Spanish dessert that will make you fall in love with Barcelona all over again.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Alcoholic beverage will only be offered to travellers who are 18 or older
- Gluten-free or vegan diets cannot be accommodated. However, vegetarian options are available. Please inform the activity provider about dietary restrictions in advance
Reviews(397)
Lovely food tour of Barcelona. Darren was super knowledgeable and funny and also did a great job entertaining our kids. Would highly recommend!
Juan was an excellent guide - so knowledgable. We enjoyed all the restaurants. His knowledge of history was great!
Amazing! Sara was a supe knowlegable and fun guide. Thank you!
Thank you! We're thrilled you had such an amazing time with Sara. We're glad her knowledge and fun personality made the tapas tour so enjoyable. We truly appreciate your kind words!
Good experience for meeting different people and having fun.
Thank you, Nicoleta! We're glad you had a fun experience meeting new people and enjoying the tour together. We truly appreciate your kind words!
Roberto was an excellent and informative guide! I came with my family of all ages and we all had a great time. It wasn't too far of a walk so it was very accessible and easy- even in the heat! We got to tour around the area and even step into the church in the Gothic District. The food was great and our guide was so funny & friendly. The best hospitality we received during our time in Barcelona was from him :)
Thank you, Reena! We're delighted you and your family enjoyed the Barcelona Tapas Food Tour with Roberto. It's wonderful to hear that his knowledge, humor, and warm hospitality made the experience memorable for everyone. We're glad you enjoyed the food, the sights, and the relaxed pace of the tour. We hope to welcome you back soon!
We sampled some delicious Tapas in The Gothic Quarter and El Born areas of Barcelona. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. Definitely recommend this tour.
Thanks so much! 😊 Glad you enjoyed the tapas and exploring El Born and the Gothic Quarter 👍
Roberto is a warm and easy going guide. He shared fun cultural facts about Spanish culture but also helped the people in the tour connect with one another which made it special as we all experimented with tasty bites. Come hungry and get ready to drink! 🍷🍾🥃
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the food, culture, and great atmosphere with Roberto 🌟
The tapas tour was fantastic! Lots of local food and drink, nice (air conditioned!) restaurants to sit and chat with fellow travelers, great walk around old town, and Claudio was a wonderful guide! He explained all of the food and talked about Catalan traditions and the area. Highest recommendation!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the tapas tour, the local food and drinks, and the insights into Catalan traditions with Claudio. It's great to hear you had a fantastic time exploring the old town and meeting fellow travelers. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
We had such a fun evening with the wonderful Tahmi who was so informative and so friendly. We had a great group who all mixed in together, Aussies from Sydney and Melbourne, fantastic American ladies from Maryland and DC and us Brits. Nice to be guided around 4 bars/ points of interest. Food was great and to have a drink included at each stop was great value. Would suggest that you are not shy about saying if you are not a fish or seafood fan when you purchase or again when you meet the guide. They definitely accommodated my request which was great to see but others didn’t meaning my vegetarian food had to be shared quite widely when we arrived for the paella at the last venue. If you don’t ask in advance don’t expect last minute changes to be accommodated as the tour is on quite a tight timeline to reach each venue. Thanks to Tahmi for a wonderful evening, we highly the tour
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're delighted you enjoyed exploring Barcelona's tapas culture with Tahmi and had such a fun evening with your group. We also appreciate your helpful tips for future guests regarding dietary preferences. We hope to welcome you back for another delicious adventure soon!
It was a lot of fun to learn more about the El Born and Gothic areas of Barcelona and have the opportunity to be shown places that locals choose to eat. This was a wonderful to way try many different foods and drinks and meet new people.
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad you enjoyed exploring El Born and the Gothic Quarter, discovering local favorites, and trying a variety of food and drinks. It's wonderful to hear you also enjoyed meeting new people along the way.
