Mercat de Santa Caterina in Barcelona is a bright, vibrant food market in a historic building offering sights, smells and culture. Here you can walk through a historic covered building with a treasure trove of prepared and fresh local foods. But make no mistake; while this is the oldest covered food market in the city, there's nothing traditional about it.

Here you'll find an ultramodern design in the Modernista tradition with a layout and architecture created from unbridled imagination. At the market, you can enjoy fresh produce, cafes, bars, restaurants and Barcelona culture.

Mercat de Santa Caterina in Barcelona - one of the highlights of 10 Best Markets in Barcelona (Read all about Barcelona here)

What are the highlights of Mercat de Santa Caterina in Barcelona?

Mercat de Santa Caterina in Barcelona's first highlight is the endless aisles of stalls offering fresh produce, prepared foods, arts and crafts. The building is marked by its colourful ceramic roof formed by a mosaic of bright ceramic tiles, a reproduction of a photo of a farmer's vendor stand. It's a fine example of the trencadís decorative style.

At the far southern end of the market, you can explore the historic ruins of the 11th-century monastery that once occupied this site. The ruins have been excavated as part of an archaeological dig to preserve the city's past.

Valokuva: Enric (CC BY-SA 4.0) muokattu

What else is good to know about Mercat de Santa Caterina in Barcelona?

Mercat de Santa Caterina in Barcelona is a public market, and the vendors are very friendly and eager to engage with visitors. They are happy to make recommendations, offer advice and even suggest recipes from their own family traditions. The market offers ample parking spaces, and you can get vouchers to cover parking when you make a purchase at the market.

The market offers public toilets with changing tables for babies, and is accessible for people with disabilities. The bathrooms do require a purchase from a dealer to access. An on-site checkroom allows you to stow your things and check for lost property.

Mercat de Santa Caterina in Barcelona

Osoite: Av. de Francesc Cambó, 16, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

Avoinna: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7.30 am to 8 pm (closed on Sundays)

Puhelin: +34 93 319 5740