Beyond Tapas: A Journey to Spain's Iberian Ham Paradise

Why Spanish Iberian Ham Is The World's Most Expensive Cured Meat (YouTube link)

Triana Market (Seville, Spain)

Breakfast Buffet

If you truly desire to experience Spanish Iberian ham, visiting the hotel's breakfast buffet presents one option. I've visited the buffet on two occasions, both of which offered jamón: 

• Breakfast Buffet at Halo Boutique Hotel Sevilla (Seville, Spain)
• Breakfast Buffet at Only You Hotel Atocha (Madrid, Spain)
• The jamón served here has very good quality. 

Breakfast Buffet at Halo Boutique Hotel Sevilla (Seville, Spain)

Breakfast Buffet at Only You Hotel Atocha (Madrid, Spain)

Tapas Restaurant

The second option involves visiting a tapas restaurant. The one I visited in Barcelona served terrific tapas featuring jamón. Read my travel article below:

• Eat, Swim, Explore: Your Perfect Day in Barcelona's La Barceloneta

El Pintxo de La Barceloneta (Barcelona, Spain)

Eat, Swim, Explore: Your Perfect Day in Barcelona's La Barceloneta

La Barceloneta, formerly a fishermen's village, now draws locals and tourists year-round with its charming historic center, distinctive architecture, numerous seafood restaurants and bars, and lively beaches.^[1]

The W Hotel

Lively Beaches

 Known for its emblematic beaches, La Barceloneta ⭐ offers four distinct experiences. Sant Sebastià, closest to the stylish W Barcelona hotel, beckons with its intimate setting. Barceloneta beach unveils a wide expanse of sand ideal for various sporting activities. Whimsical sculpture "L'Estel Ferit" on Sant Miquel beach captivates all passers-by. Finally, Somorrostro, once home to a 15,000-person shantytown until the mid-20th century, offers a unique historical layer.

El Pintxo de La Barceloneta (unfortunately it was permanently closed now)

Tapas Restaurant

Every visitor to Spain craves tapas, and La Barceloneta won't disappoint. On a cloudy December 18th, 2019, I ventured into El Pintxo de La Barceloneta, located in the heart of the historical district. Out of all the tapas restaurants I've experienced in Barcelona and Seville, it stands out as the undisputed champion.

Sometimes, notably in northern Spain, tapas are also called pinchos (pintxos in Basque) due to the frequent use of a pincho or toothpick.^[2] This serves two purposes: preventing toppings from falling off the bread and tracking the customer's tapas consumption.

Tapas prices vary depending on their shapes or the size of their toothpicks, typically ranging from two to three euros each. For groups enjoying tapas, upgrading to larger portions can be economical. These half-dish ("media ración") or full-dish ("ración") options offer better value than multiple individual tapas.

 

References

1. The Top 10 Things To Do And See In La Barceloneta
2. Tapas (Wikipedia)
3. Barcelona Travel―Tapa Bars, Restaurants and Food Markets