Cities to visit for gastronomic experiences in 2017

Luke Durden
Aug 22, 2017 · 4 min read

Choose between: Bilbao, Barcelona or Madrid. Or all 3. Yes we know: you cannot choose without wanting to be part of this complete gourmet triangle. A tour of Iberian flavours: the Mediterranean, the Meseta and the north. Could you ask for more? Yes- days for packing your case and getting on the road. The best of Spanish cuisine awaits us, fellow foodies.

There’s nowhere better for good, delicious food than Spain. The history of bonfires in this country can be seen in different cities, civilisations and traditions, making up its most essential and typical collective roots, from production from the Mediterranean land to the flavours of the Atlantic Ocean and Cantabrian sea. The mountains, large estates, small private country houses, farms and hunting found in Spain, from north to south, can be discovered by trying their most typical dishes.

Any city will provide an unforgettable experience in terms of gastronomy but there are undoubtedly some that offer unique flavours. In their recipe book you’ll discover an equal combination of products from the sea, mountains, farms and earth. The richness of their surroundings becomes an ideal base for demonstrating the excellence of their culture in dishes that form good meals.

It is impossible to visit Bilbao and not talk about its food. In fact, one of the best activities to do is take a stroll around its famous 7 streets in the old district and discover, bar to bar, its most succulent “pinchos”(small tapas on cocktail sticks) and portions at the bar or sat down in a traditional restaurant, and dedicate time trying the soups and most historical recipes of the Basque Country.

The thing that most stands out about Basque cuisine is the simpleness of its preparation and high quality of its main ingredients. A luxury for food lovers. Gastronomic tourism is so popular that many hotels make sure this is an experience for all guests in their establishments, as in the case of Petit Palace Tamarises, in Getxo, where you can try some of the most authentic specialties of traditional Basque cuisine.

From the north we head directly to Madrid, the tapas capital. There is no other place like Madrid to try tapas and beers whilst, at the same time, enjoying the beauty of the city and its frantic rhythm. The friendliness of its people and the care put into all the dishes makes the capital of Spain one of the most prized gourmet destinations at present. Added to this is the fact that leading chefs in today’s Spanish cuisine have opened top-class restaurants in their most central areas.

The innovation of traditional products is what marks the cuisine in the centre of Spain and especially in Madrid. You can enjoy a cured cheese and iberian ham platter as well as a high-quality meal without hardly having to cross over two streets. The trend of having a vermouth has breathed new life into traditional tapas, mixing them with aperitifs inspired by international cuisine. The influence of South America is now even more relevant, not only in products that can be found on the markets but in the number of gastronomic spaces and high-quality restaurants that you can discover in Madrid on a tour of the best dining places.

Madrid centre is perfect for this, from the renovated San Miguel market to the bustling wine cellars or La Letras neighbourhood. If you have the chance, book a stay at a central hotel from where you plan different routes, like the Petit Palace Santa Bárbara, in the trendy tapas zone, very near to the Puerta del Sol. Do not forget to make a reservation at one of the legendary restaurants where you can taste the classic Madrid cuisine, a must when visiting in winter.

From Madrid to Barcelona on a direct flight and high-end gastronomy waiting on the other end. In Barcelona you can enjoy the best of gourmet restaurants. It is true that we are not talking about gastronomic routes for all budgets and, if you want to try some dishes, you have to plan and book ahead. However, Barcelona has a lot more to offer. Gastronomic routes are very different and varied, from the most authentic and Mediterranean to those that are the reason why people come from all over the world to taste the delicious riches of this city.

Even with it being on a smaller scale than Madrid, Barcelona still has vermouth and delicious tapas. And for the coolest of us, Sundays are home to brunches in cafés and restaurants practically created ad hoc for this English-speaking tradition which our society has caught on to. This is now trendy and now hundreds of people meet up every Sunday, making it necessary for famous local eateries to hang up menus offering these huge breakfasts.

There is not a lack of restaurants owned by famous chefs either, whether in the centre or the outskirts of the city: Lasarte, Moments, Enoteca or Àbac, by the TV personality Jordi Cruz. To try them you must make a reservation early. We are talking about months. Yes, gastronomy is a very in-demand thing, especially when it concerns high-quality cuisine, which, at present, is considered a revered experience in a tourism trip to cities like Barcelona or the above-mentioned.

Other places of reference in Barcelona for market food is, without a doubt, Mercat de la Boquería. There, very close to the Petit Palace Boquería Garden hotel, recommendable for its rooms for groups, thus perfect for trips with friends, sits the famous Sant Josep market; a festival of colours and Mediterranean flavours and aromas.

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Passionate abut travelling, hotels and gastronomy. Promoting the very best and always looking for new discoveries!

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