A typical Spanish breakfast is fresh tomatoes on toast. It is so delicious and so fresh, served with the best tomatoes only and using the freshest of olive oil. Toast and tomatoes, with an espresso, and perhaps a Spanish frittata, is a typical and perfect breakfast.
Lunches in Spain are also completely delicious. The Spanish really enjoy their food. A lunch can consist of many courses. Usually a Tapas or two to start off with, then perhaps a paella or a piece of large fresh fish. The fish in Spain is fabulous and nobody eats frozen!
And then dinners. The bars and restaurants in Spain are always full and the selection of Tapas is enormous. People can eat two or three, at least, and then a main meal with grilled meat, fabulous Spanish style vegetables, and then - of course, dessert. Desserts are creamy and rich, often accompanied by an after dinner dessert wine or liqueur.
If you are on holiday in Spain, it’s a good idea to mix up your meals. Try different places, some local, some simple and some super fancy. There is a wide range of food on offer, at various prices, and it’s a good idea to try a little of everything.
Some of the best food in Spain comes from the markets. There is always an enormous selection of olives and an even bigger selection of anchovies. Olives and anchovies are staple starters too, always soaked in olive oil, always delicious.
If you are travelling in Spain, there is a list of our favorite food markets.
- Mercado San Fernando, Madrid
- Mercado San Anton, Madrid
- Mercado de San Ildefonso, Madrid
- Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid
- Mercado de La Boqueria, Barcelona
- Mercat de Santa Caterina, Barcelona
- Mercat de Sant Antoni
- Mercado de la Ribera, Bilbao
- Mercado de Abastos, Santiago de Compostela
- Mercado Victoria, Cordoba
- Mercado del Puerto, Gran Canaria
- Mercat Central, Valencia
All of these markets sell food but also have tables and chairs and bar counters where you can sit and eat, right there, fresh and perfect. The markets are filled with locals and tourists alike and are exceptionally busy from mid morning through too late at night. No visit to Spain is complete without a time spent and a wander at a busy, bustling market.
The markets we mentioned above are trendy and hip, and always filled with people. The Tapas at these markets are unbelievable and you can literally move from one counter to the next. What is very interesting about Spain is that each area has its own food culture and specialty. The food in Madrid is totally different to the food in Barcelona, which in turn is totally different to the food in Bilbao. All of these cities have a few Michelin starred restaurants - Akelaŕe, Arzak, Azurmendi, DiverXO, El Celler de Can Roca, Lasarte, Martín Berasategui and Quique Dacosta are just a few - and it’s a good idea to book in advance.
If you are planning a trip to Spain, definitely add Madrid and Barcelona to your itinerary. Both have incredible architecture, incredible art and culture, and incredible food. And the outlying areas of Spain, the hills and the beaches, are divine, with the most fabulous food too. A seaside holiday in Spain is ideal, with beautiful beaches, excellent swimming and the freshest of food.
Book your flight to Spain, right now! It’s a beautiful country, the people are great, the prices are good and it really does make for the best kind of holi