Barcelona 2014 - La Boqueria Market

One of the big attractions along La Rambla is the La Boqueria Market. This is a covered market that is housed in a cast-iron structure in the Spanish Modernist or Art Nouveau style. Unlike the Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid which is a gourmet market concentrating on prepared food, the Boqueria is a market for fresh produce. It is much bigger and a lot more chaotic.

If you love chocolate you are in luck. Right at the entrance of the market is a huge chocolate stall with the biggest chocolate selection I have ever seen.

There are several mini-restaurants inside the market that have become famous and extremely popular. One of the most popular is El Quim, and the other one is Bar Pinotxo. Try getting a seat at either one during their service - it is almost impossible.

Having had no luck at El Quim or Bar Pinotxo - I was wandering around looking for other options and came across this pie shop with a dizzying array of pies, pasties and empanadas. I bought a couple for lunch and they were delicious.

Another great snack you can buy at the market is Jamon. Many of the Jamon stalls sell small portions - some conveniently speared on a stick so you can eat them while walking around.

La Boqueria is a market that you definitely want to visit with a hungry stomach. The variety of food on offer is endless - even the pickiest eater will find something here to sate their appetite. What a way to enjoy the tastes of Barcelona.