Barcelona Tapas Tour: Sant Antoni and the Raval with a Local Guide
Two hours on foot through Sant Antoni and the Raval with a guide who knows the neighbourhood and its bars: five neighbourhood bars, tapas to share, local wine, a go at the porró and churros to finish.
- 2 hours on footEvery evening at 18:00
- Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, full refund
- Guide in EnglishPrivate tours in English or French
- Small groupUp to 8 guests around the table
- Five stopsBars, a bodega, the market and a xurreria
- Pay as you goUsually €5 to €10 per person at each stop
Highlights
- Two neighbourhoods where people from Barcelona actually go out in the evening, a few streets from the Rambla but a world away from it
- A guide who orders for the table: the tapas, platillos and local wines worth sharing at each bar
- The Sant Antoni market, the iron-and-glass market hall from 1882 that fills a whole block of the Eixample
- Wine from a porró, the glass jug Catalans pour from at arm's length, if you're brave enough
- Churros at a neighbourhood xurreria to close the evening
About this tour
Sant Antoni and the Raval sit side by side just west of the old town, and in the early evening their bars fill up with people on their way home from work. This is where we take friends who visit, so it's where we take you.
We meet at a casa de menjars, the plain, everyday kind of eatery where Barcelona sits down to lunch, then walk into the Raval for a bar on Carrer de Joaquín Costa, past the Sant Antoni market and on to an old bodega on Carrer de Manso, and finish with churros. At each stop your guide picks what to share, from patatas bravas and pa amb tomàquet to whatever the bar does well that day, and tells you the story behind the dish and why food matters so much in Catalonia.
Food and drinks aren't bundled into the price. Everyone pays at each bar for what the table shares, usually €5 to €10 a person per stop, so you eat and drink as much or as little as you like. And at some point someone will hand you a porró.
The route
Start: Ronda de Sant Antoni 84
Meet your guide in front of Casa de Menjars Buenavista at 18:00.
Casa de Menjars Buenavista
A casa de menjars, the everyday eatery you find in every Barcelona neighbourhood. A first plate and a first drink, and your guide explains how Catalans actually eat: when, what, and why dinner rarely starts before nine.
Bar La Parra, Raval
A neighbourhood bar on Carrer de Joaquín Costa. The Raval's name means "outskirts": for centuries this was the edge of the city, outside the old walls. More tapas, a glass of something local and a few stories about how the neighbourhood changed.
Mercat de Sant Antoni
The market hall opened in 1882 in iron and glass and takes up a whole block of the Eixample grid. It reopened in 2018 after a long restoration, and on Sunday mornings the second-hand book market sets up around it. Your guide tells you how markets still shape the way the city shops and cooks.
La Bodega d'en Rafel
An old neighbourhood bodega on Carrer de Manso. This is where the porró usually comes out: the bravest pour it at arm's length straight into their mouth.
Finish: Xurreria Pau 2005, Carrer de Calàbria 23
Churros to end on something sweet, and your guide's tips for where to eat for the rest of your stay.
The bars can change now and then, depending on the day and how busy they are.
What's included
Included
- A local guide who lives in Barcelona
- Help choosing and ordering at every stop
- The stories behind the dishes and the neighbourhood
- Your guide's tips for where to eat for the rest of your stay
Not included
- Food and drinks, paid at each bar (usually €5 to €10 per person per stop)
- Tips, which are up to you
Where we meet
Metro: Universitat (L1, L2) or Sant Antoni (L2)
The meeting point is on the Ronda de Sant Antoni, the wide avenue between Plaça de la Universitat and the Sant Antoni market. Please arrive a few minutes before 18:00 so we can set off together.
The tour does not start at our bike tour meeting point in the Gothic Quarter. It finishes at Xurreria Pau 2005, Carrer de Calàbria 23, a short walk from the Sant Antoni market.
Good to know
- Food and drinks are paid at each bar. Bring a card or some cash.
- Alcohol is served only to guests aged 18 and over. Younger guests get soft drinks.
- The walk is short and flat, and it works with a wheelchair or a stroller.
- Vegetarian? Tell us when you book. There's always something without meat on the table, and your guide will help you order. For serious allergies, please write to us before you book.
- Online booking closes two hours before the start.
- The tour is not suitable for pets.
What guests say
"The expérience was very amazing! We took the tour with 3 friends and we really enjoyed it! We visited spectacular places and tried delicious tapas. Overall, we spent a very good moment thank to the guide, Pierre, who was passionate about the Catalan culture which bring the tour to an other level. I recommend 100%"
"We had an absolutely fantastic time on this tapas tour! Everything was great, from the delicious food and drinks to the atmosphere and the stories behind each stop. Pierre was an amazing guide, super friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate. He made the experience really fun and enjoyable, and we felt like we were discovering Barcelona like locals."
"We had so much fun! And the food was absolutely delicious too. Especially if it's your first time in Barcelona, this is definitely something you should do! Pierre is an amazing guide! He shared so many interesting facts and stories with us. You definitely have to try the croquettes, and make sure to drink some wine from a porró!"
"We really enjoyed this tour! Great tapas, good wine. We've learned a lot about the culture and Catalan traditions. Everything felt authentic rather than overly touristy, and the atmosphere was fun and friendly from start to finish. It's definitely something I'd recommend! Egor is the best!"
These are reviews from verified bookings on Viator and Tripadvisor, shortened in places. You can read all of them on Viator.
Questions before you book
Are food and drinks included?
No. Everyone pays at each bar for what the table shares, usually €5 to €10 per person per stop. Your guide recommends what to order, so you taste the things each place does well without overspending.
Will I have eaten enough for dinner?
That's up to you. Because you order and pay as you go, you can keep it light or turn it into a proper dinner. Your guide will happily order another round.
Can children join?
Yes. Children under 4 join free. The route is short and flat, works with a stroller, and anyone under 18 gets soft drinks instead of alcohol.
Is there food for vegetarians?
Yes. Tell us when you book and your guide will steer the table towards dishes without meat, like pa amb tomàquet or patatas bravas. For serious allergies, please write to us at hola@tresgatos.es before booking.
What language is the tour in?
The group tour is in English. Private tours run in English or French.
Do you offer private tours?
Yes, at the same time, 18:00, for up to 8 people: €100 per person for one or two guests, €90 per person for three, and €80 per person from four. Pick the private option in the calendar, or write to us at hola@tresgatos.es.
Can you take a large group?
Yes. We work with companies, schools and agencies, and just as happily with a big group of friends. Larger groups walk in several small groups, each with its own guide. Write to us at hola@tresgatos.es with your date and the size of your group.
Where does the tour start and finish?
It starts at Ronda de Sant Antoni 84, in front of Casa de Menjars Buenavista, near Metro Universitat and Sant Antoni, and finishes at Xurreria Pau 2005, Carrer de Calàbria 23. It does not start at our bike tour meeting point.
Can I combine it with a bike tour?
Easily. Our Barcelona bike tour rides in the morning or early afternoon and finishes in the Gothic Quarter, which leaves time to rest before tapas at 18:00.
Can I cancel my booking?
Yes. If you cancel up to 24 hours before the tour starts, you get a full refund.
More in Barcelona
Barcelona Bike Tour
Three hours through the centre, from the Gothic Quarter to Gaudí's houses and the Sagrada Família.
Montjuïc E-Bike Tour
Up to the castle and the Olympic Ring on an e-bike, with a terrace stop and the whole city below.