How to feel like a Catalan

Table of Contents

Eat Jamón

Jamón is a type of dry-cured ham from Spain. It is eaten all over the country, and deeply appreciated in Barcelona, where you will find several establishments dedicated to selling only that. There is even a museum dedicated to it called Jamón Experience.

Go to la Boqueria Market

La Boqueria Market is one of the oldest markets in Barcelona, having first opened its doors in the year of 1840. Today it has a surface of 2583m2 and more than 300 booths that sell local and imported items. It is the most emblematic market in the city, where many Catalans come to do their grocery shopping or to have a nice meal.

Practice El Vermut

El Vermut is refers not only to the drink (vermouth), but the habit of having appetizers and a drink before lunch time, towards the end of the morning. This is a widespread Catalan habit that you can easily identify during your visit. Just take a stroll in the city a Saturday morning and you will find dozens of people sitting on the bar’s or restaurant’s terrace, basking on the sunlight while enjoying some chips, olives and a beverage.

If you want to try practicing El Vermut, here are some places you can visit: Lolita, Cal Pep, Bar Seco, Quimet I Quimet.

Stop for a siesta

If you come to Barcelona, don’t be surprised to find a variety of establishments closed around lunch time. The explanation for this is connected to the ancient Spanish tradition of the siesta, a period in which people take a nap after lunch. The siesta was originally practiced by people who worked in the fields, who would stop working during the time the sun was strongest. Today the siesta doesn’t only refer to the post-lunch nap, but a period during the afternoon, between 2 and 5pm, where a lot of establishments close so those who work in them can have lunch and spend time with their families.

Drink Orchata

Horchata is a drink that can be made using a variety of ingredients like almonds, barley, rice, tigernuts or sesame seeds. In Barcelona the most famous type of horchata is the horchata de chufa, which is made with ground tigernuts (chufa), water and sugar. It is a highly appreciated drink in Catalonia, which people can have any time of the year.

Try it at El tío Che, La Valenciana, or Planelles Donat.

Watch a Barça game

People in Barcelona are crazy about soccer! They gather in their homes or at local bars to watch the games, cheering and suffering together. The most famous team in Barcelona is the one that represents the city: Barcelona FC.

If you want to feel the intensity of the Catalan pride, go to Camp Nou, Barcelona FC’s official stadium, and watch one of the matches, immersed inside a crowd of fans.