Eating on a Budget

Eating well in Barcelona without emptying your wallet is entirely possible if you know where to look.

The set lunch menu ("menú del día")

It's the best money-saving tool for eating in Barcelona: Monday to Friday at lunchtime, most restaurants (including many upscale ones) offer a fixed menu with a starter, main, dessert or coffee, bread and a drink for a set price, usually between €12 and €18 outside the most touristy areas. It typically doesn't exist outside those hours and days, so it's an option specifically meant for weekday lunches.

Move away from the most photographed spots

As a general rule, the closer a restaurant is to a major monument or to La Rambla, the more expensive (and often worse) it will be. Walking two or three streets into any neighbourhood usually cuts the price of a set lunch menu in half, with the same or better quality.

Sandwiches and food to go

Neighbourhood bakeries and delis prepare fresh sandwiches (entrepans) on the spot for €3-5, a quick and cheap option for eating in a park or on the beach instead of sitting down at a restaurant.

Supermarkets and neighbourhood markets

For anyone with a kitchen or an apartment with a fridge, shopping at a supermarket or a neighbourhood market (not at the Boqueria at noon) to cook even just one meal a day significantly cuts overall spending on a multi-day trip.

Share tapas instead of ordering an individual dish

At tapas bars, ordering 3-4 dishes to share between two or three people usually works out cheaper — and lets you try more things — than everyone ordering their own main course.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the menú del día cost in Barcelona?

Usually between €12 and €18 outside the most touristy areas, Monday to Friday at lunchtime.

Can you eat cheaply in Barcelona without cooking?

Yes, with bakery sandwiches (entrepans) for €3-5, or by sharing tapas portions between several people.