About this experience
You’ll explore the Gothic Quarter and El Born alongside a local guide, on a small-group tour with no more than 8 guests.
Over 3 hours and 15 minutes, you’ll visit three family-run spots for 8 to 12 tapas and desserts, paired with vermouth, Spanish red wine and cava. Expect slow-cooked house favorites, properly carved Jamón Ibérico and a sweet Catalan finish at a bar dating back to the 14th century.
Between tables, the stories flow: the Roman forum where Barcino was born, the medieval Jewish quarter, and the Civil War marks still visible in Plaça Sant Felip Neri. You’ll also learn how to 'hacer el vermut', the weekend ritual locals guard closely.
At a glance
- Duration: 3 hr 15 min
Plan your experience
Set aside 3 hr 15 min for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Compare the available options before choosing: their itinerary, inclusions and pickup arrangements can differ. Check the price for your date and whole group.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What is included
- Experience “hacer el vermut” like a proper local at a traditional vermutería
- 8 to 12 tapas and dessert tastings and 3 drink tastings: vermouth, Spanish red wine and cava
- Local English-speaking guide (Spanish available for private tours, depending on departure time)
- Three family-run tapas spots, ending with Catalan desserts at a bar dating back to the 14th-century
- Small group of no more than 8 guests, exploring Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and El Born on foot
- ‘Food & the City’ Insider Tips
Not included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Extra drinks
Itinerary and highlights
Hidden on a quiet corner of El Born, this peaceful 12th-century Romanesque square houses the ancient Capella d’en Marcús, a little sanctuary once linked to pilgrims and medieval postal riders.
Warm, family-run restaurant where traditional Spanish cooking meets creative flair. Here you'll sample some of the following tastings: eggplant with honey, pork cheek, pork meatballs with cuttlefish, padrón peppers, cannelloni with pork sausage, or burrata cheese , along with a glass of vermouth.
Step into a buzzing El Born tapas bar built around an open fire grill and a list of 180+ wines. Share plates fresh off the flames, like Iberian pork shoulder grilled over rosemary wood, croquetas topped with melting Jamón Ibérico or others, with a glass of Spanish red.
While the focus of the tour is very much on the iconic Gothic Quarter, we often pass through a few corners of the other beautiful old parts of the Ciutat Vella (Old City): El Born and La Ribera.
We will pass through some gorgeous streets and plazas, such as Plaça Sant Jaume, the historic and political heart of Barcelona, where the Roman forum once was. Now home to Catalonia’s main institutions, it’s the perfect spot to discover local politics, flags, and the tradition of human towers, called castells.
Historic Jewish Quarter, a labyrinth of narrow medieval alleys, ancient stone buildings, and hidden courtyards. Once the city’s Jewish heart, today it invites you to explore centuries of history and heritage.
Finish with a tasting of a classic Catalan dessert: a fig ice cream, a crema catalana, or a chestnut pie, paired with fine Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine, in a charming wine cellar tucked into Barcelona’s historic Jewish Quarter.
A hauntingly beautiful square in the Gothic Quarter with Baroque architecture and visible scars from Barcelona’s past, offering a quiet, reflective moment steeped in history.
Meeting and pickup information
- Your guide will be waiting for you directly in front of the statue of Ramon Berenguer riding his horse, and wearing a purple Eating Europe bag!
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Europe Taste by Eating Europe
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This activity requires a minimum of 2 guests. Should this not be met, we will contact you directly to help you get rescheduled or reimbursed.
- Please note that the tastings mentioned are a selection of the delicious foods we often feature. Both offerings and tour stops may vary by day or season, but you're sure to enjoy a delightful array of local flavors!
- This tour is suitable for guests aged 18 and above.
- Have dietary requirements? Simply email us or add a note at booking, and we’ll do our best to accommodate vegetarians, gluten-free guests or other dietary needs where we can. For guest safety, this experience isn’t suitable for those with severe or life-threatening food allergies to ingredients found on the tour, and the company cannot take responsibility for any food allergies or intolerances.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Questions about this experience
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Service animals allowed
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