Mercado del Ninot (Barcelona) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
172 reviews
Excellent
Very good
Average
Terrible
permia
Ireland38,537 contributions
Emporium of freshness
Feb 2023 • Couples
In the l’Eixample area it’s a great outlet of freshness and healthiness. Replete with corridors and stalls heaving with fine foods it is busy from morning time onwards.
Interesting that it was open air till 1933, and it has undergone a number of revampings. Likewise it has had a number of name changes, and has adopted its popular name since democracy’s arrival.
Written April 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
PaulB27August
The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, UK6,284 contributions
Some excellent stall displays
May 2021 • Solo
Some great little tapas bars and a variety of fresh produce. Within easy walking distance of the residential part of the city
Written December 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mossy185
manchester86 contributions
Fantastic market
Mar 2020 • Couples
Recently had a few days in Barcelona, thankfully left before lockdown. After a bit of research located this market, very few tourists mainly locals.
Clean friendly place.
Visited various places to eat all excellent for different reasons, I always try order in the local language and had a fantastic reaction to speaking Catalan, this I found to really help through out the trip.
We would totally recommend to visit.
Written March 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MikeFee
Morrisville, VT513 contributions
Very local market place
Jan 2020
Not nearly as busy nor as well stocked with flashy tourist stuff as La Boquitiera on the Rhamblas but it is a very good market if you are staying in the area and wish to cook in your apartment. There are a few restaurants in the market that are worthwhile.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Graziano G
56 contributions
Amazing Lunch at the chicken place
Dec 2019 • Friends
Perfect place to switch off from Ramblas and all touristic junk. There is a nice chicken place inside (roughly in the middle of the market) with a wide variety of chicken burgers.
The chef cooks in front of you whilst having friendly conversations. The burger was delicious, fries were ace! Nice beer and a VERY cheap bill. You stuff up with less than 10euros. I had to come back the day after!
Written December 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bent G
Makati, Philippines4,451 contributions
Loved that the modern and traditional market are on one roof.
Dec 2019 • Friends
We went here together with our chef guide when we took a cooking class in Barcelona.
I will definitely go back here when I visit Barcelona again.
My Rating :
Ambiance – 5 out of 5
Service – 5 out of 5
Food Quality – 4 out of 5
Cleanliness – 4 out of 5
Price Points – 4 out of 5
Written November 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lorenzo el Jefe
Ontario, Canada3,142 contributions
Stock up with the locals …
Nov 2019
Olives jarred or canned, ham in vac packs, sweets, and olive oil (all sorts of other meats and an ocean full of fish) for those who want to shop not take part in the tourist spectacle of Mercat de Bouqueria … have comfort.
If you can’t find it … go downstairs to Mercadona a huge supermarket with everything imaginable.
Q-Trip: Super restaurant Jobs is just across the street.
Written November 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
izasmycz
Dublin, Ireland29 contributions
Nice place for tests
Nov 2019 • Couples
Really good food, I like seafood and I recommend that place. Always fresh and cheap. But so busy for all day.
Written November 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sam C
Savannah, GA13 contributions
A not-yet-on-the-tourist-radar market!
Sep 2019
Beautifull seafood and vegetables everywhere, and prepared foods as well. Try Perralla’s, where Guadaloupe will serve you a cold beer and many different small plates of seafood.. Medusa has good seafood for lunching in, too. If you tire of this, or want a restaurant, just go across the street to Porvenir, a very good local seafood restaurant that seems always lively with Spanish customers.
Written October 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
barcaranger
Andorra la Vella, Andorra1,917 contributions
Great alternative to la Boqueria
Aug 2019 • Couples
If you find la Boqueria a bit intense and also busy maybe also expensive then this place newly refurbished maybe for you an excellent market with few tourists and a great range of meat, seafood and fruit and veg plus some nice places to eat.
Sure it doesn’t have the bustle but it is where the locals actually do shop and it’s much safer from pickpockets etc. Not to knock la Boqueria it’s really up to you . Easy to find and in a less touristy area of the city but very safe
Written September 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Showing results 1-10 of 54
Shopping at Mercat del Ninot in Barcelona
We enjoyed eating our way through Mercat del Ninot so much that we produced a video about our culinary experience at the bustling Barcelona market.
When we first visited Barcelona in 2007 during our honeymoon, we hit all of the typical tourist attractions. We marveled at Gaudi’s masterpieces including the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and Casa Battló. We strolled around the Gothic Quarter and ogled at the beautiful architecture. And, of course, we ate lots of beautiful food and visited the city’s most famous market, La Boqueria.
Like the rest of Spain, Barcelona has changed quite a bit in the past decade. Catalunya’s largest city is an even more popular destination with international visitors streaming through the city’s expansive, well-planned streets as the amazing Sagrada Familia inches closer to its eventual completion.
But interestingly, we have changed as well. After traveling around the world, most recently for three weeks in nearby Girona, we found that the Boqueria market no longer excites us with its hectic atmosphere and central Las Ramblas location.
Read our Girona food guide.
Don’t get us wrong – the Boqueria is absolutely worth a visit for tourists new to the city. There’s a reason that visiting this market is one of the most popular things to do in Barcelona and a Barcelona bucket list item for many. But for us, as more seasoned travelers and repeat Barcelona visitors, we wanted to visit an intimate market that caters more to locals than to tourists.
We love markets where we can graze our way through the stalls and buy seasonal food to cook at home, and we gravitate to markets where shopkeepers take pride in their products over generations and know their customers’ names.
Plus, we hate waiting in long lines, especially when there’s food involved.
Luckily for us, we had the opportunity to eat our way through the Eixample neighborhood’s Mercat del Ninot, one of the best Barcelona markets. This market is one of a network of 39 Barcelona markets selling products that rival those sold in the Boqueria while offering a neighborhood shopping experience that made us feel like locals.
Hotel Recommendation
We stayed at the comfortable, conveniently located Silver Aparthotel Barcelona during our time in Barcelona.
Mercat del Ninot
Everything old is new again at the Mercat del Ninot in Barcelona where the newly renovated market features fresh, local food in a bright, spacious neighborhood setting.
Dating back to the late 19th century, Mercat Ninot feels refreshingly new after a massive five-year renovation. The market’s current iteration is perfect for modern shoppers who appreciate Ninot’s wide aisles, bright lighting, long hours and available Wi-Fi.
Most important though, the market has some of the city’s best food vendors selling some of the world’s tastiest food.
We’re talking ruby-red tomatoes just begging to be part of the evening’s Pan Con Tomate and super fresh fish with eyes as clear as the bright morning sky. Oh, we can’t forget the fresh mushrooms that spilled out from their baskets in full autumnal glory, yet another reason that we loved visiting the market that Barcelona locals call the Mercado del Ninot.
Opening Bites
Ricardo Monfort Barril and Isaura Monfort Porta guided us through the aisles of Mercat del Ninot, sharing samples and stories along the way.
Within moments of our arrival at Mercat del Ninot, the father/daughter team of Ricardo Monfort Barril and Isaura Monfort Porta warmly greeted us and ushered us to Peixeteria Osteria for our first bites at the freshly renovated market.
The food at tapas bar, Peixeteria Osteria, is literally fresh from the sea.
We were skeptical as to how this market’s offerings would compare to the wonderful seafood we ate at Costa Brava’s seafood market in Palamòs, but the dishes at Peixeteria Osteria impressed us with every bite.
We feasted on seafood like jumbo octopus, crispy squid and massive Galician oysters, washing it all down with glasses of local white wine.
We could have happily nibbled and sipped at this market tapas bar all day, but our guides were anxious to show us more of the mercado Ninot.
Market Tour
The seafood offerings at Mercat del Ninot do not disappoint. Pictured here are shrimp variations from nearby Costa Brava.
Over the next two hours, we strolled around the market, stopping at various stalls where Barril introduced us to the extended family of vendors and their wares. We checked out delicacies like fresh fish at Peixateria Mary and creative chicken at El Pagès.
We learned that salt cod was for the poor back in the day when the market was new but is now more of a luxury item, and we heard stories about how the same families have been shopping for generations at Porta Novau, the lentil shop owned by our enthusiastic guides.
The shopkeepers at Porta Novau have been selling beans and lentils in the Mercat del Ninot for three generations.
Sampling anchovies and prepared fish delicacies at BacaLalo was a particular highlight of our market tour. Not only did we love all of the generous samples, but we also savored the glasses of Cava that magically appeared and fell into our open hands. Seriously, folks, this is the way to shop!
In addition to selling fresh and dried fish, Baca Lalo also sells a colorful selection of prepared foods. Want to eat your purchase in the market? Then be sure to get a glass of Cava as well.
With so many stops and snacks built into the tour, we unfortunately missed eating lunch at Ninot Cuina, the market’s most fashionable restaurant. When we return to Barcelona, we know where we’re eating lunch.
Mercat del Ninot is located at Carrer de Mallorca, 133, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
Mercat del Ninot Video
Not wanting our Mercat del Ninot experience to end too quickly, we continued the fun at nearby La Parada Bar Restaurant where we drank coffees and chatted with Porta about the market and her Barcelona life.
Porta proved to be a charming coffee companion, open to sharing her thoughts with the two of us. Even better, she let us video the conversation. What a sport!
Watch our YouTube video for the inside scoop about our experience at Mercat del Ninot.
Barcelona Planning Checklist
- Buy discounted travel insurance from Heymondo.
- Find a great Barcelona hotel via Booking.com or TripAdvisor.
- Find an apartment in Barcelona with a kitchen.
- Buy a new suitcase from our favorite luggage company
- Buy a universal travel adaptor from Amazon so you can charge your laptop, cell phone and camera in Europe.
- Buy a Barcelona travel guide from Amazon so that you don’t miss any bites or sites.
- Arrange a rental car for your trip.
- Secure airport lounge access for your flights.
- Book a fun Barcelona tour.
About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube.
The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.
Disclosure
Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.
Funding
We self-funded our trip to Barcelona.
Sponsorship
We thank Barcelona Turisme and their partners for supporting our visit at Mercat del Ninot.
Original Publication Date: February 10, 2017
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Where to stay in Barcelona and look for hotels
Where to stay in Barcelona? Overview of areas and recommendations for the best hotels and apartments in the areas Eixample, Gracia, La Ribera, Barceloneta, Poblenou, Gothic Quarter and Sagrada Familia
How to have a good time in Barcelona and not be disappointed in this city? You need to prepare for the trip.
And it is important to choose a hotel and an area where you will stay for a few days. If you make the right choice, you will have a great trip, if you let everything take its course, disappointments will overtake.
First, set your criteria, why are you going to Barcelona?
- for the first time, I want to see the city and the main attractions
- I want to lie on the beach and sometimes get out to the center of Barcelona
- have already seen everything, stay for a couple of days, and then move on to explore Catalonia and other parts of Spain
- I want to hang out in bars and nightclubs all night long, and housing is secondary – the main thing is to be in the thick of parties and events
- shopping – interested in the proximity of shops
What are the requirements and how to get to Spain now look here or here .
Recommended reading: Barcelona in three days – what to see in the capital of Catalonia
Bari Gothic
Barcelona’s Gothic quarter is perhaps the most popular area – that’s why there are so many tourists here.
It is close to the main central attractions of Barcelona. There are many great restaurants here, which is another reason why people love this area. Bari Gothic adjoins La Rambla – a massive pedestrian street with shops and restaurants, behind which begins the multicultural El Raval.
A walk through the medieval streets and beautiful squares of the Gothic Quarter will be the best introduction to Barcelona and the starting point for those who come to Barcelona for the first time. For more grandiose architecture of the city, go to Piazza Sant Jaume , which is surrounded by two government buildings: Palace Generalitat Renaissance and neoclassical façade Ajuntament . And right around the corner you will see the Gothic architecture of Plaza del Rey , Cathedral and the magnificent Royal Square .
During the day, Barri Gòtic is busy with local business and shops, but at night it is a bit quieter than the neighboring area across Via Laietana, El Raval.
Still, the Gothic Quarter is full of lively restaurants, cafes and bars, which is why housing prices here are higher than in other areas of Barcelona, but cheaper than in Paris and New York.
Top attractions in Bari Gothic:
- La Rambla
- Barcelona Picasso Cathedral
- Citadel Park
- Placa Reial
Best hotels in Gothic district Bari Barcelona:
- Hotel Serhs Rivoli Rambla – the hotel is located directly on La Rambla
- Oriente Atiram – cozy hotel with good breakfasts
- Ciutat de Barcelona – Great rooftop pool and great prices
- Grand Hotel Central, Small Luxury Hotels – 5 stars and rooftop pool, harbor views
El Raval El Raval
El Raval is a multicultural neighborhood where different nationalities live.
You will quickly notice this, smelling the smells of Indian or Pakistani cuisine, a bunch of shops with oriental goods and spices. The International has lived here since the time of the Roman Empire. Like Bari Gothic, this area is in the thick of things. Great for young travelers, couples and adventure lovers. If you like parties, bars, restaurants and nightclubs and you are not bothered by noise, then this place is definitely for you.
It’s not guaranteed that your hotel will have good soundproofing, so it’s best to check this in the reviews before booking. The area is not noisy everywhere, but you can never be sure. And if you want to quickly get to the beach in the morning after a night party, you can walk to the beach of Barceloneta.
Hotels in the Eixample area are more suitable for families with children. And in El Raval it is better to come for a walk and see the sights. But if you are traveling with friends, plus you love noisy parties, night bars and shopping – El Raval will take first place on your list.
But be careful in the evening and at night – not only tourists hang out here, but also local thieves.
Top Attractions in El Raval La Boqueria Market
The best hotels in El Raval in Barcelona are: Many advertise Barceloneta for its proximity to the beaches – and it is. But in the same area there is a port and a yacht harbor, where it is very pleasant to walk in the morning, afternoon and evening. Barceloneta offers beautiful views of the coast of Barcelona. But there are also disadvantages – a huge number of restaurants and clubs have turned Barceloneta from a quiet place into a noisy area in the evenings and a dirty area in the mornings. Top attractions in Barceloneta: Best hotels in the Barceloneta area in Barcelona : If you are going to Barcelona with your family, the best place to stay is in the Eixample area. Eixample was designed as a huge area under the urban development plan. It was divided into two parts: Dreta (on the right) and Esquerra (on the left). Moreover, the latter was again divided into Nova (new) and Antiga (old). Esquerra is not as noisy as Dreta with its modernist buildings. But no less interesting: on Esquerra you will find the park Joan Miro , Novecentista Mercat del Nino , the gardens of the University of Barcelona (where concerts and farmers’ markets are held throughout the year). The Eixample Esquerra in San Antonio is a thriving and trendy area with bars and restaurants to be found every few meters. L Top attractions in Eixample :
Barceloneta
If you still want to be close to the city center and quickly get to the beach – Barceloneta is your great option
9001
Eixample – L’Eixample (Passeig De Gràcia)
And all this is one area – Eixample .
3 Sagrada Familia 0023
Best hotels in Eixample:
- Condes de Barcelona – Modern stylish decor
- Axel Hotel Barcelona & Spa – Adults only hotel
- Royal Passeig de Gracia – Great value!
Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is part of the Eixample.
As you may have guessed, this part of Barcelona is named after Gaudí’s most famous building, the Sagrada Familia. The magnificent basilica is located to the west of the district. Next to it, the beautifully manicured Plaza de Gaudí is a pleasant place to relax. Given the fame and popularity of the cathedral, there are often a lot of people here.
It’s as easy to navigate as the Eixample. The streets are arranged parallel and perpendicular to each other – like grid cells. Directly around the basilica you will find many chain restaurants, although the prices in them are designed for tourists. But if you walk a few blocks from the cathedral, you can find cheaper cafes with traditional cuisine. There are also plenty of bars, shops and other entertainment, many of which can be found on Gaudí Avenue.
L Top attractions in Sagrada Familia :
- Sagrada Familia Sagrada Familia
- Pg.
de Sant Joan - Plaça de Gaudí
de Sant Joan 4
Poble Nou
I discovered this area on my last trip to Barcelona. At the end of the 19th century, it was the most industrial area in all of Catalonia. Now there are many modern apartment buildings. Among them, you can find restored factory buildings and brick chimneys that have been converted into working creative studios. Now musicians, artists, publishers, programmers and other creative people live here. They chose Poblenou to open a store, an office, and just as a nice place to work from home.
There are also many modern and classy hotels located near the beaches, next to the Rambla del Poblenou. This is the center of the area, full of life, this boulevard has many cool restaurants, traditional shops and bars.
Pablenow hosts a monthly designer and craft market, one of the most popular in the city. Another plus of Poblenou is its proximity to the sea and one of the best beaches in the city.
L Top attractions in Pablenow :
- Rambla del Poblenou
- Bogatell and Mar Bella beaches
- Agbar tower 9002 4 0003 Best hotels in Pablenou:
- Hotel Paxton Barcelona – beautiful hotel with rooftop pool – lived here in October 2021
- Acta Voraport – a neighboring hotel, according to reviews, a very good trio in an excellent area
- Rambla Beach Barcelonastuff Apartments – apartments near the beach of Sant Marti
Gracia
To the north of Eixample is the district Gracia . It was once an independent city that was absorbed as Barcelona expanded. But he retained his individuality, becoming one of the most popular and vibrant areas of the city.
Festa Major is a weekly street fair that takes place in the area every August. Garcia is decorated with flags, trays are arranged, the festivities sometimes drag on until the morning. Architectural highlights of Gràcia: modernist house Fustera . And also a quiet and cozy square Virreina Square and, a little to the side of the famous Park Güell .
L Best attractions in Gracia
- house Fuster
Festa Major is a weekly street fair that takes place in the area every August. Garcia is decorated with flags, trays are arranged, the festivities sometimes drag on until the morning. Best hotels in Gracia:
Barcelona Apartment Milà – wonderful loft-style apartment
Hotel Barcelona 1882 – hotel with a rooftop pool and stylish rooms, affordable price
Hotel BESTPRICE Gracia – hotel near Parc Güell
Useful Links:
Rent a car – cheap car rental options in 90 rentals03 car.com
Hotels – traditionally booked through Booking
Insurance can be purchased at Hotline.