EAT

Barcelona is the food capital of Spain. Start by sampling its fare at the renowned 19th-century food market Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, which teems with local ham, cheese, churros, olive oil, tapas (made by the same people for 50 years) and wine, with stalls boasting the best of Catalonia. It's an unmissable culinary and Instagram paradise. Lovers of Iberian cuisine should try El Nacional, which has four restaurants specialising in different regions.

For a semi-Asian vibe, the Catalan-Canadian chef Jordi Artal has relocated his famous Cinc Sentits and its tasting menus to the Eixample district, with a distinctly Japanese zen-esque aesthetic; there's also a cool new venue called Clubhaus, a cross-platform space of karaoke, ping-pong, Mexican and Asian street food, and a members-only club and restaurant (US$25 to join). Bao Bao does pan-Asian food and cocktails, while Parco will sate your piscatorial cravings; this latter gem does Barcelona's best sushi on Passeig de Gracià.

The Marina area teems with seafood restaurants and an impressive aquarium (in fact, Barcelona's fourth most-visited destination). Pez Vela serves scrumptious paella and wild-caught fish, with inspiring beach and sea views. Xiringuito Escribà, on the waterfront of Bogatell Beach, is a Barcelona institution for seafood, paella and cascades of cava.