Food in Maresme

Maresme Cuisine

Maresme is one of Spain’s great vegetable gardens as can be seen by more than the scores of ‘gastronomic’ days throughout the year. The region is also renowned for its seafood, wines, traditional cuisine and homemade specialties.

Local products are gaining growing reputations, such as strawberries from the Vallalta area, Sant Pol de Mar and Arenys, Roca cherries from Arenys de Munt, tomatoes and sweet peas from Mataró, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres and Caldes d’Estrac, white beans from Caldes d’Estrac, Malgrat de Mar and Palafolls, wild forest mushrooms from the Baix Maresme and grapes from the D.O. Alella. Squid, shrimp, prawns and clams are best in Arenys de Mar, as well as a range of fresh fish caught off the Maresme Coast. There’s also the coca from Llavaneres, boixets de xocolata from Arenys de Munt and vitralls from Canet de Mar.

Wines of Maresme

The Alella Designation of Origin (DO) is the smallest in Catalonia and one of the smallest in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. The area of vineyards is more than 200 hectares, there are about 50 winegrowers and 8 bottling wineries and the average annual production is 4,000hl. The wines are created from the grapes grown in vineyards in Alella and Tiana. The white wines are of particular high quality and derive from the Pansa Blanca, Garnacha and Sauvignan Blanc grape varieties. There are also good rosé wines made with Grenache and Merlot grapes, as well as fruity and smooth reds made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Merlot.

Restaurants in Maresme

There are numerous renowned restaurants in the Maresme region from rustic and familial to fine cuisine.  Tresmacarrons restaurant in El Masnou run by Miquel Aldana has a Michelin star. As Barcelona becomes increasingly known for its international cuisine, Maresme is following suit. You can find Japanese, Italian, Cuban, Greek, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Peruvian and Argentinian dotted across the region although traditional and modern Mediterranean cuisines dominates, especially its fish and seafood dishes. Since Covid, many restaurants offer a take-away or delivery service. Just Eat also operates in Maresme.

Supermarkets and food markets in Maresme

You can find all the big brand supermarkets in the Maresme region including Carrefour, Al Campo, Caprabo, Lidl, Aldi, Sorli and Mercadona. Most of them offer online shopping which you can either pick up from the store or get it delivered to your home. Many people still choose to get their fresh produce (0km shopping) from local markets which most towns and villages have and which sell only locally sourced fruit, vegetables and often meat and fish. Be prepared to wait to get served however!