La Boqueria market has recently been recognized as the best market in the world by the prestigious Global Tastemakers Awards, organized by Food & Wine magazine.
This recognition not only highlights the gastronomic excellence of La Boqueria, but also highlights its ability to adapt and evolve over nearly two centuries of history.
The award was a great achievement for Barcelona. Food & Wine magazine, which organizes these awards, has praised the gastronomic variety, quality and quantity of fresh products offered by the market stalls.
In this way, La Boqueria is ahead of other world-renowned markets such as Tokyo’s Tsukiji Outer Market and London’s Borough Market.
La Boqueria, also known as the San Jose Market, first opened its doors almost 200 years ago. Located on La Rambla, one of Barcelona’s most iconic promenades, La Boqueria has witnessed countless changes and has been able to adapt to the needs of a city in constant transformation.
The market was built on the site of a former convent and was designed by the Catalan architect Josep Mas i Vila. Since its inauguration on March 19, 1840, La Boqueria has been a point of reference for locals and tourists alike.
The evolution of La Boqueria
Over the years, La Boqueria has evolved from a local market to an international tourist destination. This change has been accompanied by a transformation in the supply of products and services.
While originally focused on fresh local produce, today the market offers a wide range of options from fresh fruit and fish to gourmet products and prepared foods.
The gastronomic offer of La Boquería
What makes La Boquería unique is the combination of high quality fresh produce with a wide variety of dining options. Visitors can find everything from fresh seafood and select meats to exotic fruits and traditional sweets.
As the profile of visitors has changed, La Boqueria has adapted to meet the demands of an increasingly international public. The COVID-19 pandemic further spurred this transformation, leading the merchants’ association to present a strategic plan to modernize and adapt the market’s foundations to its current context.
This plan includes the opening of stalls adapted to new trends, with a focus on vegan and vegetarian products, take-away convenience food options, and snack stores and gastronomic experiences.
Currently, La Boqueria receives between 20,000 and 60,000 visitors a day, reflecting its popularity with both locals and tourists. With an area of 2,500 square meters and more than 300 stalls, the market offers an incomparable culinary experience.
