Here are the best seafood dishes and most famous items to try at Mercat de Sant Antoni.
This market is the "locals' favorite" for seafood because you can sit at the bars (like Casa Blanca) and watch them grab the fish fresh from the stalls just a few meters away.
Best Seafood Dishes
These are the specific plates you should order at the market's top bars:
1. Chipirones amb Mongetes (Baby Squid with White Beans)
* Where: Pinotxo Bar (Stalls 18-21).
* Why: This is their masterpiece. The tiny squid are sautéed quickly to remain tender and served over creamy, small white beans ("Santa Pau" beans). It is the perfect mix of salty sea and earthy land flavors.
2. Grilled Octopus (Pulpo a la Brasa)
* Where: Bar Casa Blanca (Stall 78).
* Why: This bar is legendary for its "market cooking." Their octopus is tender, charred on the grill, and usually served simply with paprika and olive oil.
* Also try: Their "Bombas de Calamar" (Squid Potato Bombs), a unique seafood twist on the classic meat-filled potato croquette.
3. Arroz de Gambas Rojas (Red Prawn Rice)
* Where: La Barca de Sant Antoni (Stall 168).
* Why: If you want Paella or rice without leaving the market, go here. They specialize in rice dishes. The Red Prawn Rice uses the intense flavor of local Mediterranean prawns.
* Alternative: Fideuá, which is like paella but made with short noodles instead of rice—very traditional in Catalonia.
4. Buñuelos de Bacalao (Salt Cod Fritters)
* Where: Masclans (Stall 158 or their separate shop nearby).
* Why: This family has been selling salt cod here since 1882. You don't need to sit down; just walk up to the counter and buy a bag of fluffy, fried cod fritters to eat while you walk.
Most Famous Market Items (Non-Seafood)
If you want to try the absolute icons of the market, add these to your list:
* Chickpeas with Blood Sausage (Cigrons amb Botifarra Negra): The most famous dish at Pinotxo Bar. Even if you aren't sure about blood sausage, the rich flavor combined with the chickpeas is incredible.
* Xuixo (Dessert): A deep-fried, sugar-coated pastry filled with crema catalana. Order it with a café amb llet (coffee with milk) at any of the market bars to finish your meal like a local.
* Cargols (Snails): Often served in a spicy tomato and chorizo sauce. You will see locals eating these with toothpicks at Bar Casa Blanca around 10:00 AM.
My Recommendation:
Go to Pinotxo Bar for the Baby Squid with Beans, then walk over to Masclans to grab a Cod Fritter as a snack.
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