There is so much to see, do and taste in Barcelona that you will never truly experience it all, no matter how many tapas, pintxos and menu del dias you sample. However, despite all the city has to offer, there are great day trips to be had to medieval towns, cute villages and charming seaside resorts all around Barcelona. Just like in the city itself, the food can be hit and miss on the tourist trail – here are our top picks for eating well on your day trips outside of Barcelona. First up, Sitges and Girona.
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Sitges
Sitges is a great combination of picturesque beach town and gay holiday heaven – there is something for everyone here amongst the chic shops, cool bars and first class restaurants.
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El Cable
A local, family run restaurant, El Cable offers mouthwatering homemade tapas. Wine and vermut line the bar in barrels and the menu offers delights such as chorizo with padron peppers, fried picarels, marinated anchovies, meatballs in tomato sauce and steamed octopus. An authentic gem not to be missed.
Nem
The concept at Nem is hard to resist: ten savoury and four sweet tapas that you can combine together with eight wines offered by glass. Each month the tapas list changes to follow what the season offers and many ingredients come daily from the Sitges market. The name Nem comes from a Vietnamese roll (that is always on the menu) and this is the theme of many of the dishes here – fresh Spanish ingredients cooked with international flair. Great food, great value, great concept.
Girona
A medieval gem, Girona’s ancient walls and windy cobbles offer a romantic, historic day trip.
Boira
Situated on Plaça Independencia, Boira offers modern tapas in an attractive setting. Set on the corner of the colonnaded square that is the heart of the city’s social scene, Boira has tables on the square itself and windows onto the river on the other side.
El Celler De Can Roca
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If you are looking to push the culinary boat out, look no further. The Roca brothers, Joan, Josep and Jordi, set up a restaurant beside their parents’ simple eatery and they now have three Michelin stars to their name. At El Celler, the world class cuisine retains a Catalan flavour – parmentier of squid; lightly smoked sea bass with pineapple and fennel; roast pigeon with rose jam and strawberries are examples of the innovative flavour combinations on offer. Not one for anyone on a budget but a true dining experience.
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