Experience Food tours in the best of
Barcelona with Withlocals

"From start to finish, our experience with Brendan in Barcelona was just what we hoped for. I scheduled the three-hour tasting tour to ease our way into the city and set us up for two days on our own. Brendan was born in Ireland, raised on a pig farm in Argentina, studied Spanish history and culture in college. He spent about 10 years working in the tech industry before deciding that living in Spain and being a tour guide was where he truly belongs. Based on our evening with him, I’d say he definitely found his passion and place in the universe. Along with explaining all of the wonderful food we ate, Brendan sprinkled in just enough history – influences of the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, etc. – to give us cultural context. After several emails in advance, Brendan modified one of his tapas and wine-tasting tours to suit both my husband’s medically necessary dietary restrictions and our preference for a stroll over a sprint. Over the course of the evening, we discussed that what has become known as tapas is not traditional. At its start, a “tapa” was a small plate that covered the top of a drink to keep out flies. Whatever was served on the plate — olives, nuts, etc. — was chosen by the bartender, was the same for everyone, and was included in the price of the drink. But, now, tapas are widely enjoyed as appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. We combined them into a full meal for our evening with Brendan. Over the next two days, we enjoyed small plates for lunch on one day and dinner the other at restaurants Brendan recommended to us. We started our evening with Brendan by walking to the Mercado de Sant Antoni, where we visited a stall selling an amazing variety of olives. We learned about the extensive olive production in Spain, which is actually larger than that of Italy and Greece. From the first stop, we learned that Brendan has established relationships with the people at every stop on the tour, and everyone was friendly and accommodating. The next stop was a typical Barcelonan bar where locals stand at the counter for a drink, then may sit to eat. We were introduced to Vermut, the traditional drink of Barcelona, and enjoyed a variety of small plates. The famous Jamón Ibérico, a dry-cured ham that is typically sliced very thin for serving, is a specialty of this area, but it’s also one of the things my husband can’t eat. By ordering it in a croqueta – a small fritter made with a thick, creamy white sauce mixed with finely diced jamón, then coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried – Brendan at least gave him a chance to try it. The final two stops were a restaurant built over an olive oil production facility (aceiteria) and a xurreria, where they make the fried dough strips that are dipped in very thick hot chocolate. Tired and pleasantly full from our culinary adventure, we walked back to our hotel. It was a wonderful way to be introduced to Barcelona and start our visit there. If you ever find yourself in Barcelona, please contact Brendan for a tour. "

"Kritsztina wove together time, people’s and places through the stories of the gothic quarter, medieval warriors and martyrdom, that crosses paths with Roman remains and power couples Ferdinand and Isabelle that ruled with an iron fist. Kritsztina left us with a sense of great kingdoms that rose and fell but at its heart the people of Catalina whose resilient presence still remains through war and cultural lose that saw them stand in the face of adversity. Kritsztina made all this come to life through experienced knowledge, a deep love for Barcelona, and an understanding of cultural nuances. As well she took us to have delicious Tapas and Vermouth down a side street that we wouldn’t have found ourselves. We thank her some much for expertise and a heart that not only loves the stories of Barcelona but has lived them! Thank you Kritsztina!"

"Maria was a great local host! She answered all of our questions with ease, and even came prepared to give us an in depth understanding of the history of Barcelona, which was a nice suprise for a tapas tour."

"Marina led an excellent food and walking tour. My wife and I appreciated her food selections, knowledge-sharing, and showing us parts of the city that we likely wouldn't have seen otherwise. Also, she gave us great restaurants and other recommendations for us to visit during our remaining time in the city. "

"Liliia was a great guide. She was very accommodating to the 2 toddlers in our group. She brought us to amazing places and made delicious food recommendations. We especially loved the vibe and food offerings at our first spot, Ocaña. Liliia also incorporated fun Gaudi history lessons throughout the deliciousness. Thank you for showing us around Barcelona. We had a great time. "

"Sebastian is an excellent guide. We enjoyed our tasting experience and our conversation with Sebastian. When we are back in Barcelona we will do this again. "

"My wife and I had a great time with Federico! Through the food tour you get a wide spectrum of dishes with rich history to explain where they come from and how they integrate into a cultural melting pot that is Barcelona. We got to see some really beautiful parts of town and the conversation was great the whole time! "

"Adi was punctual, engaging and very informative throughout our food focused walking tour including restaurants and bars. He shed light not only on the food/drinks but also the history behind the regional food as well as local culture and personal insights. We would highly recommend Adi’s tour!"

"Bianca was so friendly and knowledgeable! I’m a vegetarian and she was able to find something for me to eat at every place. Bianca knows the city very well and was even able to point out historical sites and answer all of our questions. We had so much fun with her and would highly recommend to anyone! And there was more than enough food - we couldn’t even finish everything on the table! "

"Our time with Maria was amazing! She is so friendly and accommodating. My mom is a picky eater and she's older so she walks slower, but Maria had no problem adjusting to these. We also just moved to Barcelona and wanted to learn from a true local (Maria is born and raised in Barcelona). She was so incredibly helpful and gave us so much insight to the city we now call home. Plus she has an amazing guide and list of restaurants she's put together so you can continue to feel like you have a personal guide by your side. You can tell she truly loves doing this. Can't wait to hopefully see her again soon!"