7 Proven Tips to Avoid Tourist Traps in Spain When Eating Out

Top Tips to Avoid Tourist Traps in Spain

Here are the top things to know when it comes to eating out in Spain:

1. Don’t eat right next to major tourist sights

One of the easiest ways to end up in a tourist trap in Spain is eating right next to major attractions. 

These areas usually have the highest concentration of chain restaurants and overpriced menus.  You’ll see McDonald’s, Taco Bell, KFC, Ben & Jerry’s, Five Guys, and more.

In Barcelona, I’m talking about places like La Rambla, around La Sagrada Familia, and busy plazas like Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Reial. 

In Madrid, you’ll see the same thing around Plaza Mayor and near Gran Vía.

As a general rule, if there’s a McDonald’s right nearby, it’s not a great area for a sit-down meal. 

Now, I do think these spots can be fine for a drink since the surroundings are often nice, but I’d skip eating there.

Instead, walk at least 2 or 3 streets away from the main sights. You’ll usually notice fewer English menus, fewer people trying to get your attention, and more local restaurants. 

Google Maps can also help here if you filter by “top-rated” and skim recent reviews.

2. Look for bronze centennial plaques

Another tip that most tourists don’t know about is to look for bronze centennial plaques outside establishments. 

These are official designations given to businesses that have been operating for over 100 years.

You’ll see them outside restaurants, bars, hotels, and other long standing businesses. 

Because these plaques are government recognized, you know they’re legit and not just marketing themselves as historic. 

I’ve seen these plaques in Madrid, and Barcelona has a similar program.   

If a place has survived changing trends, economic ups and downs, and generations of locals, it’s usually doing something right. 

Now, these spots aren’t always flashy, but they tend to serve classic Spanish foods and drinks that people keep coming back for.

If you want to plan ahead, you can find a full list of centennial establishments for Madrid here, and for Barcelona here.

3. Book a food tour early in your trip

4. Skip restaurants with photo menus

Restaurants with large, glossy photo menus displayed outside are one of the biggest red flags when it comes to tourist traps.

When you see laminated menus covered in photos and translated into multiple languages, it usually means the restaurant is targeting tourists who don’t speak the language. 

In many cases, the food ends up being average and overpriced.

Instead, look for places offering a “menú del día” (menu of the day). 

This is a fixed price lunch menu that typically includes a first course, a second course, bread, a drink, and sometimes dessert or coffee. 

It’s one of the best values you’ll find in Spain and is most common in local neighborhoods at lunchtime.

5. If someone is trying to pull you inside, keep walking

If someone is actively trying to get you to come inside a restaurant, that’s usually a sign to keep walking.

Good restaurants don’t need staff standing outside waving menus, stopping people, or pushing 2×1 drink specials. 

When you see that happening, it often means the place is struggling to attract customers on its own.

A much better sign is a restaurant where people are already seated and eating without anyone trying to sell it to you. 

Those places tend to speak for themselves.

6. Look for restaurants with family names

Another good tip is to look for restaurants with family names. This isn’t a guarantee, but it’s a solid rule of thumb. 

Restaurants named after families such as González, Martínez, or similar surnames are often locally owned and passed down through generations.

Another good sign is restaurants with the word “Casa” in the name. In Barcelona, the Catalan equivalent is “Can”. 

Both translate to “House of” and usually indicate a long history and strong family connection.

These places may not look trendy, but they’re often the kind of restaurants locals return to again and again.

7. Eat at the same times locals do

Another important tip is to try and eat at the same times locals do, which can make a huge difference. 

Lunch typically happens between 2 and 3 in the afternoon, and dinner usually starts after 8:30 pm.

If you go out earlier and see an empty restaurant, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad. It usually just means you’re early. 

Pay attention to which places start filling up around local mealtimes. That’s usually a very good sign.

And one extra thing to keep in mind is paella. In most parts of Spain, paella is traditionally a lunchtime dish. 

So if a restaurant is serving paella for dinner, it’s usually catering to tourists. Now that’s not always the case, but it’s true more often than not.

Final Thoughts