La Boqueria Barcelona | Highlights, What to Eat & More
What is La Boqueria Market in Barcelona?
Sant Josep Market, otherwise popularly known as ‘La Boqueria’ is located in the heart of Barcelona city at La Rambla. Known for being a perfect picturesque market, this was once a patio to Sant Josep Church which was eventually converted into an indoor market.
The exteriors of the markets are made of a metallic/glass structure, but the interiors are what make it stand out in the world for its immense diversity and quality of products. La Boqueria is today, a symbol that has put Barcelona on the map of the world when it comes to the sale of fresh produce. Visting La Boqueria is one of the best things to do in Barcelona for anyone visiting the city!
Why is La Boqueria so famous?
- La Boqueria is a place apt for all food lovers and is open all day with free entry.
- Located at the heart of Barcelona, the space has 330 stalls that sell the highest quality products.
- Catalunya’s top chefs visit early morning to have their pick of top fruits, vegetables, seafood, and animal products.
- One of the best places to find excellent Jamon and local cheeses that are packed well.
What does Boqueria mean?
Mercat de la Boqueria is derived from an old Catalan translation which means – a place where billy goat meat was sold’. Another insight to the market’s name is that it came from the times when the Spaniards fought against the Moors to reconquer Andalus.
Another theory is, once, a decorated door was brought to Barcelona from the southern city Almeria and was placed at the entrance gate of the city’s walls. People passing by were impressed by the astounding figure and their mouths were left open. (‘boca’ is a Spanish word for mouth).
Where is La Boqueria in Barcelona?
Mercat de la Boqueria is found on La Rambla and is about half down the popular street. If you are taking the metro, you will be getting down at Liceu.
Address: Rambla, 91 08001 Barcelona, Spain. Find on map.
While you are here, there are a lot of famous landmarks that can be explored:
Highlights of La Boqueria Barcelona
Find Fresh Produce Like No Other At La Boqueria
Enjoy top-quality food and fresh produce at Barcelona’s La Boqueria market. Products from across the world are found under one roof and is a one-stop destination for everything you desire. The floors are wrapped with melted ice and fruit skins, adding charm to the experience. The stalls throughout the market sell fresh fruit juices, a refreshing treat in the middle of the mayhem.
A splash of color, everywhere!
The La Boqueria market in Barcelona is a very famous one and is a real feast for the senses. The market is structured neatly with an array of fruity rainbows or multi-colored bell peppers. The space is often crowded but you will be lost in the aromatic mix of great food and variety around you. The rates are quite affordable and you can indulge yourself in a shopping spree.
Explore top-notch bars and restaurants in La Boqueria
Dotted around the market are great bars selling both food and drinks. Need a light snack? Head to the very famous bar called El Pinotxo, situated at the right of the entrance. The food is exotic and is priced similarly to a top-quality restaurant. El Quim de La Boqueria is famous for its fried eggs, delicious ham croquettes, and squid.
Take a class at the Boquería Food School
Attend a class at the Boqueria Food school and learn all about how to eat, and how to cook that perfect cuisine. You will get an insight into the origin of products, understand the basic cooking techniques along with the preparation of conserves. You will be very well guided by renowned chefs and sommeliers and it is an experience worth cherishing.
A Great Abode for Ham Lovers
Wondering what else is La Boqueria famous for? HAM! Yes, the place serves top-quality ham that is rich in taste, is perfectly salty and the meat dissolves as soon as you grab a bite. You can learn all about how ham is made from the experts themselves. Italian Prosciutto and Spanish Iberico can get your lip-smacking and are a must-try.
Barcelona’s very own Vietnam in La Boquería
Did you know that the southern side of La Boqueria is called ‘Vietnam’? Lot of the exotic produce comes from this side of the market and you will be able to find a great variety of fresh herbs, spices, chilies, and exotic fruits and vegetables. If you are a seafood lover, enjoy great deals than those from the central plaza.
Plan Your Visit to La Boqueria Barcelona
- La Boqueria is open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm.
- They are shut on Sundays and bank holidays.
- If you are coming in a group, on Fridays and Saturdays, more than 15 people are not allowed to enter at a time.
Address: Rambla, 91 08001 Barcelona, Spain. Find it on a map.
- Metro: You can get to the closest metro station, Liceu, and board L3. Opt from either of the two exits – right in front of the market or at Plaça Catalunya (L1 and L3)
- Hop on Hop off bus: Board from Placa Catalunya
- Bus: Get onto BUS 14, 59, N9 or N12 stop at La Boqueria
- Bike: This is the easiest option, but you will have to lock it outside as your bike won’t be allowed inside the market.
When in Barcelona, make sure you eat right and have the best bite:
- El Falafel de Shani: A kosher and vegan restaurant located in the heart of Barcelona with great Mediterranean flavors.
- Eslice: You get great choices of pizzas to pick from. Grab a slice and a drink for 5 Euros. Ideal to swing by and grab a quick bite.
- Bar Boqueria: The restaurant offers you simple dishes with the best ingredients to produce the perfect Mediterranean Catalan cuisine.
- Pez Gordo: A great terrace dining with cocktails to choose from. The menu reflects the heritage of the place and serves the finest seafood alongside a variety of tapas and paellas.
Why not explore more while you are already at La Boqueria. There are many attractions that you could visit while you are in the area. Here is a list of a few famous ones near La Boqueria market:
Interesting Facts about La Boqueria Barcelona
- A section of La Boqueria Barcelona is dedicated to the market’s more exotic produce. This is located on the southern side of La Boqueria and is called ‘Vietnam’.
- The official name of La Boqueria – Mercat de Sant Josep, came into being when a convent stood at its current location in the 13th century.
- Boqueria is derived from the Catalan word ‘Boc’, meaning goat.
- A Catalan count brought a beautifully decorated aesthetic door from the reconquered city Almeria. This was placed at the entrance gate of the city’s walls, close to the La Boqueria market in Barcelona.
Visitor Tips
- We recommend you to visit La Boqueria in the morning hours as more stalls are open. Also, you can beat the rush by visiting in the early hours.
- You will be able to see that most of the locals will be doing their groceries between 8:00 am and 9:00 am.
- Avoid visiting during lunch time as it will get extremely crowded.
- The average duration to visit all the stalls is about 30 minutes, but it completely depends on your pace of shopping.
- Make sure you have a great appetite because there is a variety of things for you to try out at the market. There are plenty of bars and restaurants that serve excellent food. You may have to wait slightly due to the rush, but it is worth it!
- You can take a walk and explore La Rambla followed by a visit to the Raval or the Gothic quarters on your visit to La Boqueria.
Frequently Asked Questions About La Boqueria Barcelona
La Boqueria is a famous market in Barcelona, located at La Rambla Avenue. Initially known as the Sant Josep Market, the space is open to the public for free entry and sells a variety of fresh produce, right from fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood and so much more.
A famous market in Barcelona that provides a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, sweets, meat, cheese, fish, dairy and so much more. This is a one-stop destination for all your daily produce under one roof.
The popular market in Barcelona is El Mecat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, famously known as La Boqueria. Situated at the centre of the city, the place is well known for its tapas restaurant and the fresh produce sold in the stalls.
The name is believed to be derived from Catalan boc, which means ‘goat’. Hence, a boqueria in Spanish would mean a place where goat meat is sold
Mercat de Sant Josep de La Boqueria is the famous food market in Barcelona. It is located along La Rambla and its popularity has made it an official landmark in the city.
Metro: get down at Liceu (L3)
Bus: Take bus 14, 59, N9 or N12 and get down at La Boqueria
Hop on hop off bus: Placa Catalunya
The La Boqueria market in Barcelona has become the largest and the most comprehensive food markets that offer fresh produce. It is privileged with the great location of Las Ramblas, which is a tourist hotspot.
The La Boqueria market is the first local market in Barcelona and opened in 1840. But its history spans much earlier as the first food peddlers were said to have been around since the 13th century selling meat on the streets.
There are more than 400 stalls in La Boqueria that sell fresh fruits, vegetables, sea food, meat, nuts, and so much more.
In 1217, there was a presence of meat stalls that were set in the location as a part of a series of street markets on the Rambla. These markets were temporary stalls set in the open air by farmers from the surrounding village.