La Boqueria represents a must-stop for visitors to Barcelona, and also for Barcelonians themselves who do not give up strolling along its Rambla despite it being crowded with tourists. Its privileged location, the colors of fruits and vegetables, the rhythm and vitality of the stallholders, and the variety of its products not only attract hundreds of daily visitors, but also have earned it recognition as the best market in the world.
This has been confirmed by the annual Global Tastemakers Awards from Food&Wine magazine, which describes the Barcelona market as "the cathedral of Catalan cuisine." In granting the award, the publication highlighted the quantity of local dishes offered by its gastronomic spaces, as well as the fresh produce. The ranking places iconic markets such as Japan's Tsukiji Outer Market and London's Borough Market behind La Boqueria, which complete the world podium.
And it is that La Boqueria is "a market to enjoy the experience and culinary richness in all its essence," according to its president, Jorge Mas. "If you love La Boqueria, you love Barcelona. The market is an international loudspeaker for the greatness of the city," proclaimed Mas, who has presided over La Boqueria since 2022.
The market, whose history dates back to 1840, leads a Top 10 completed by the Japanese and London markets in second and third position, followed by La Merced in Mexico City, Nishiki Market in Kyoto, English Market in Cork, Jemaa El Fna in Marrakech, Marché des Enfants Rouges in Paris, Lau Pa Sat in Singapore, and Campo de' Fiori in Rome. Among them, the Barcelona market stands out, which aims to differentiate itself through an authentic gastronomic experience combined with products from all over the world, which gather on the city's most emblematic street.