La Boqueria Market – Barcelona, Spain

La Boqueria Market in Barcelona, Spain is a famous food market that will excite and delight the senses. One of Europe’s largest public markets, it’s located on La Rambla, a touristy and very congested street. Follow the throngs of people to the large building with impressive ironwork at the front entrance and a food adventure awaits.Entrance to La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

Stepping into La Boqueria Market, it’s immediately sensory overload. The expansive space is filled with rows of stalls spilling over with fresh produce, meats and seafood, cured meats and cheeses, sweet and savory treats and more. The market is noisy, crowded and bustling with tourists and locals in a frenetic activity. At La Boqueria Market, the aroma of each stall entices and beckons the visitor to take a closer look. Everywhere the eye can see is beautifully displayed food. Because each vendor’s space is pretty small, the foods are stacked and often hung from the ceiling to showcase the abundant offerings.

My Visit to La Boqueria Market

A trip to La Boqueria Market was definitely on my list when I decided to vacation in Spain. I love exploring public food markets when travelling. I enjoy learning about local cuisine and the availability of different meats, produce and ingredients from across the globe. And of course, it’s just fun to explore and eat! 🙂

It’s difficult to decide where to start when you first enter La Boqueria Market, so I started at the first stall and meandered leisurely down each aisle. Walking casually and stopping for frequent snack breaks, it took about 3 hours to see most of the market. There are lots of artfully displayed foods to feast your eyes on, many oddities to attempt to identify and a plethora of tasty foods and tidbits to try. Many of the amazing foods can be purchased and enjoyed as you wander through the market. There are also a few small eateries where you can casually dine at standing tables.

Cured Meats and Ham at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

The famous Iberian Ham, Jamón ibérico – definitely a must-try!

Fresh Fruit at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

Stands like this offer beautiful and lush fruits. Purchase the fruit in bulk or fresh-cut and packaged in snack cups, ready to enjoy. This stand offers fresh coconut juice straight from the coconut. Look at the cute red straws–how convenient! Some fruit stands also offer assorted fresh-pressed juices and smoothies. It’s such a healthy way to enjoy fresh fruit!

Dried Fruit and Nuts at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

Dried fruits and nuts galore!

Candy and Chocolates at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

Sweet treats, cookies and chocolates to satisfy any sweet-tooth

Assorted Organ Meats at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

The variety of meats, organ meats and seafood is plentiful and fresh. Looking at this inspires and reminds me of some great recipes I love to make. The fresh fish would be delicious in Sour Soup with Fish (Canh Chua Ca) or Braised Fish in Clay Pot (Ca Kho To).

Fresh Fish and Seafood at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

Every kind of fish and seafood you can imagine and so fresh too!

Meat and Cheese Samples at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

La Boqueria Market is an awesome place to taste new foods. Many stands sell samples so you can try a little before committing to buying larger quantities. Above are samples of the famous Iberian Ham, Jamón ibérico and Parmesan cheese. The cones are small leaving plenty of room for more snacking!

Assorted Dried Red Peppers at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

The beautifully hung dried chilies and aromatic fragrant spices drew me to these stalls. I purchased a few packages of the curry and red chili flakes as gifts for family and friends.

Fragrant Spices at La Boqueria Market | runawayrice.com

Hopefully, I’ve intrigued and enticed you to visit the La Boqueria Market in Barcelona. If you’re in the area, I highly recommend a trip. Give yourself a few hours to see and experience the entire market. Visit with an empty stomach, an open mind and an adventurous spirit and you’ll leave La Boqueria Market with an appreciation for the varied and abundant foods lovely Spain has to offer. Happy Travels!

Placa Portal De La Pau, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain | runawayrice.com

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