Dine like a local in Stockholm

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Dine like a local in Stockholm

Dining in Stockholm can be an expensive affair, but the locals do know of eateries that offer the best value for money. Some of these eateries will also not burn a hole in your pocket! 

Here are some eateries the locals in Stockholm love!

1. Bakverket

If bread is a staple forms a staple in your diet, you will love dining at Bakverket. Locals love beginning their day at this cosy cafe, where the aroma of freshly baked bread upon entry. Whether you are looking to have some bread, salads, pastries or yogurt, you can be assured that the food served here is fresh and of excellent quality. Apart from food, the beverages served at Bakverket, be it the coffee, tea or lemonade, are also loved by its patrons so the dining experience at this cafe is certainly not to be missed!

2. Vigarda

Burger-lovers will not want to miss this! Vigarda offers quality burgers at inexpensive prices and the crowd of locals you see is proof of the high standards of food they serve. If you would like accompaniments to your burger, simply get a full meal and you will also get a serving of fries, salad and sauce! Ideal for those craving for looking to grab a quick bite or a healthier yet delicious alternative to fast food. 

3. Citykonditoriet

With stunning interiors, excellent food and a relaxed ambience, you will be surprised to know that prices at Citykonditoriet are actually very reasonable. Serving top quality and traditional Swedish fare at an affordable price, it is little wonder that locals love coming to this cafe for lunch or to spend a leisurely afternoon over coffee and cake.  

4. Drop Coffee

Those who need a daily dose of caffeine must visit Drop Coffee at least once during a visit to Stockholm! Coffee-loving locals head to this cafe for their caffeine fix, which can be accompanied with a roll, pastry or slice of cake. With a wide selection of excellent coffee drinks to choose from, coffee-lovers will certainly not be disappointed. Even if you prefer your tea, you need not be put off visiting Drop Coffee as it also does excellent tea! 

5. Vete Katten

Locals with a sweet tooth frequent Vete Katten, where they can get their fix of traditional Swedish pastries. Tradition is emphasised at this cafe, where its pastries are made only with traditional recipes while its classic interior gives Vete Katten a welcoming and relaxed ambience. Boasting a grand selection of sweet treats, one trip to this cafe will not be enough for dessert-loving folks!

If you do not quite fancy dining out or perhaps hoping for a home-cooked meal away from home, try out a home-dining experience with Vidhatri, our BonAppetour host in Stockholm! A passionate cook, Vidhatri will delight you with a traditional and freshly prepared Indian vegetarian meal, serving up 3 courses at less than the cost of an equivalent meal at many eateries around the city! Whether you are a budget-traveller, vegetarian or crowd-hater, a meal at Vidhatri's is an experience you will not want to miss!

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Barcelona for Senior Travelers

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Barcelona for Senior Travelers

For slightly older travelers, tapas bar hopping just doesn't cut it anymore. Night long partying and high energy activities do not seem to entice you like they used to, and navigating through throngs of other tourists is the number one thing that you want to avoid during your vacation. Traveling in such a bustling city like Barcelona may seem hectic, but a peaceful and enjoyable holiday can be experienced in this beautiful city. For a more relaxed yet fulfilling time in Barcelona, here is what we would recommend for the more senior and seasoned travelers out there.
 

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1. Take a “hop on and off” bus tour

Activities like this have always gotten a bad reputation for being the “lazy” and “inauthentic” way of exploring a city. But what most travellers forget is that there is the option for people to get off the bus to explore the attractions themselves. Take it to be like a shuttle bus, bringing you straight from landmark to landmark. With such a system, it becomes so easy for older travelers to customise their own itinerary, only visiting what they are interested in and not having to navigate through public transport, or walk miles upon miles to the next destination. This mode of exploring the city certainly provides a lot more convenience than taking the public transport or walking, but without having to compromise on any attractions! There is a wide variety of such services available in Barcelona, making it perfect for senior travellers to explore the city with ease.

[BARCELONA-FLAVOURS https://www.bonappetour.com/s/Barcelona–Barcelona–Spain?lat=41.38506389999999&lng=2.1734034999999494]

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2. Take a class
 

Be it a flamenco class or cooking class, learn more about Barcelona’s culture and cuisine through engaging and interactive lessons! There is no better way to learn about the city than interacting with its locals. Rather than just visiting monuments and landmarks, why not deepen your understanding of the culture in Barcelona with interactive lessons? Try a paella making class with our Bonappetour host David, or a tapas making workshop with our host Nani! There are endless opportunities for one to learn more about Barcelona, without having to compete with the crowds that swarm famous attractions in the city. Gain insights into the city from a local’s perspective and be amazed at just how much of Barcelona there is that goes beyond its tourist attractions.

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3. Dine in the dark

Instead of having a regular meal at a restaurant, invigorate your senses with a one of a kind experience – dining in the dark. During this experience, you will be treated to a meal of gastronomical heights. Have your sense of sight completely eliminated with the help of blindfolds and taste some authentic Spanish food, while simultaneously exposing your senses to this unique dining experience. This is sure to make a mark on your trip to Barcelona. Why not try this spectacular experience with our host Pablo, who offers this amazing dinner in an intimate setting just for you and your family, right in the heart of Barcelona!a

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4. Vineyard tour

Not going to the nightly parties that are abundant on the streets of Barcelona, does not mean that you should not enjoy the alcohol that this city has to offer. Take a leisurely trip to one of the many local vineyard near the city and have a taste at some of the best wines, like Cava, you will ever find. Enjoy a tour of the grounds and learn about how certain wines are made locally. The best part of such vineyard tours? The wine tasting session to that comes after the tour. This is certainly one of the best ways to unwind and truly enjoy Barcelona's culture with your loved ones. Enjoy the peaceful and more rural setting for a day, before heading back into the city. 

 

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Top 5 Facts about Dining Etiquette in Barcelona

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Top 5 Facts about Dining Etiquette in Barcelona

It is almost impossible to get through traveling anecdotes without a tale involving food, whether it be tried and tested dining experiences or perhaps daring attempts in quirky cuisine. While it is a no-brainer to figure out the signature or hallmark dishes of Barcelona, it takes a great deal of consciousness to avoid making light of dining etiquette that could either make or break your dining experiences in Barcelona. 

Here are 5 top tricks for you to try local cuisine AND eat like a local too.

Master the language of knife and fork

Fear not. You are not alone. Getting caught in an awkward situation where you have to make a decision between raising your hand for assistance and serving yourself is a universal experience we all face at some point in time. Such encounters are especially prominent overseas, so picking up the universal language of knife and fork would be handy in getting your requests across. The last obstacle before you can safely exit the restaurant and conclude a successful dining experience would be to ask for the bill. As daunting as it may sound, you must take a leap of faith. Elevate your hand in the mid-air, and let por favor slip off your tongue while signing an imaginary cheque in the air. The waiters should be able to get the hint.

[BARCELONA-BEST-PAELLA https://www.bonappetour.com/david-rg/best-paella-cooking-class-in-barcelona-delicious-hands-on-cooking-experience]

Freedom to Tip

Unlike other European cities, tipping in Barcelona is definitely not mandatory. That being said, tipping is not prohibited and it could be a splendid way for you to show your appreciation of an excellent service. To tip moderately, it is perhaps wise to round off your bill to a whole number, for instance, pay 20 euros if the bill reflects 19.20. For travelers that are on tight budget, you would be relieved to learn that in certain instances such as coffee order and menu del dia, tipping would be considered unnecessary. You are then free to save those few coins for a wish at the nearest wish fountain.

Wait and Watch

While it is not uncommon for travelers to receive invitations to local’s homes, committing a faux pas and driving your hosts up the wall is the last thing you want to do. A usual dining setting involves having the most honored member of the family to be seated at the head of the table, following by the most important guest situating on the right of the host. To err on the safe side, we suggest that you hold your horses and wait till most of the members to be seated down before filling in that vacant seat. Having a small gift like chocolate or wine would definitely put you in a good light as an exemplary guest.

Linger to mingle

If you are being brought up in an environment that prioritizes efficiency over anything else, and living by the principle that every second counts, you might find this teeny-weeny act a challenge. That is to stay put after you are done with your meal. Sobremesa, which literally means ‘over the table’, is the time spent after a meal to hang out with family or friends through the engagement of small talk. To do otherwise would be considered as rude and ill-mannered so you may want to start hitting the books, and read up on 101 ways to hold a meaningful conversation. Alternatively, refer to tip #5 to learn how you can master the art of conversing within a meal’s time.

Learn from the local themselves

The list above is certainly not exhaustive, and what’s a better way to acquire those dining etiquettes than picking it up from the local themselves! Dine away with local hosts in Barcelona simply by picking an experience from seafood barbecue with Nani to a sensory dining experience-dine in the dark with a local host, Pablo. Dining with the locals offers opportunities for you to get an insider’s guide of how to enjoy Barcelona. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous and hands-on, why not try learning the steps in crafting and customizing your very own Tapas with Yves.

The existence of dining etiquettes would no doubt make a huge difference in your dining experience. Hopefully, these tips will be helpful when taking the extra mile in creating a pleasant dining experience. Bon Appétit! 

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The Ultimate Guide to Eating at La Boqueria

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The Ultimate Guide to Eating at La Boqueria

Be sure to read all the way till the end for an exclusive pocket guide to La Boqueria!

1. Bar Pinotxo

Sworn by tourists and even some locals as the best Tapas bar in all of Barcelona, Bar Pinotxo is definitely not one to be missed. This 14-seater bar in the largest and most famous food market in all of Barcelona has certainly made its mark on the world, serving up authentic catalan tapas. From their classic chickpeas and pine nuts to their famous xuxos, Bar Pinotxo will surely have something you’ll love, both sweet and savoury. With the ever so charming Juanito Bayen, owner and face of Bar Pinoxto, serving you up classic tapas dishes, you will surely be in for a treat at this coveted bar.

[BARCELONA-FLAVOURS https://www.bonappetour.com/s/Barcelona–Barcelona–Spain?lat=41.38506389999999&lng=2.1734034999999494]

 

2. Eslice

Now having pizza in the La Boqueria may seem a bit strange. After all, with the wide array seafood dishes and tapas that line the aisles of the market, why pizza? Well at Eslice, owner and chef Bruno Rieusset makes his pizza fresh daily, with ingredients found in La Boqueria itself. This is especially great if you just want a quick bite to munch on while you continue exploring the market, completely fuss free. Just €3 a slice, simple yet delicious, the pizza at Eslice is definitely worth giving a try.

3. El Quim de la Boqueria

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With only 18 stools in total, finding a seat at El Quim de la Boqueria might be a slight wait, but we assure you that the food will make it completely worth it. Have a taste of the most authentic Catalan dishes you can find in Barcelona, like their famous Huevos con chipirones, which are fried baby squids over two fried eggs – a dish so simple, yet astonishingly delicious. Or try their highly sought-after grilled razor clams with white wine. They even serve beef for those who are not into seafood. At El Quim de la Boqueria, there will certainly be a little something for everyone.

4. Kiosko Universal

With raving reviews from travelers from all around the world, and with the approval of locals, Kiosko Universal is another one of the must-trys in the market. The dishes served are simple, like mixed grilled vegetables as an appetiser and grilled fish as a main course, but are definitely nothing short of exquisite. Promising the heartiest servings of seafood you can feast on, Kiosko Universal is definitely the spot to hit up for the freshest seafood, and a truly fulfilling meal. '

Want to know where to find these hidden treasures? Take a look at our FREE La Boqueria Pocket Guide:

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