Private Alternative Tapas: Traditional Vermouth

Think you know all there is to know about tapas in Barcelona? Well think again, this carefully arranged tour takes you to a handful of modern, as well as classic, temples of vermouth to introduce you to this century-old local tradition.

Learn the history of Barcelona through this traditional vermouth tapas route. "Hacer un vermut" in Spanish is synonymous with meeting up for a bite to eat and a drink prior to lunch or dinner. Unlike tapas, which are "little dishes" that usually constitute a meal, "hacer un vermut" is merely the lead up to the long, late Catalan lunch and is an irreplaceable element of social life in Catalonia. Being an aperitif wine, vermouth stimulates the appetite, so in Barcelona it is traditionally drunk along with small snacks, such as crunchy green olives, anchovies cured in extra virgin olive oil, a tin of mussels in spicy sauce, chips or other small snacks.

You will join a small group with an expert guide and travel off the beaten path to explore the authentic Ciutat Vella, Gothic and Raval neighborhoods. Your destinations have been chosen carefully by local experts where personalized attention is guaranteed.

Beginning at the entrance to the Santa Monica Arts Centre, your approximately 2.5-hour vermouth and tapas tour will consist of a selection of 3 tastings along with a selected wine or vermouth. Along the way your gourmet guide will explain the Catalonian custom of vermouth and describe typical snacks eaten with vermouth as you are introduced to the different neighborhoods you will be walking through.

You will finish your immersion of this culture at Tours, Tapas and Friends, a Gastronomic Centre created under the slow food philosophy and opened to offer experiences to "foodies" and travelers who visit Barcelona. Located just off the famous Ramblas Street, here you will have a complete vermouth experience with a selection of the most representative small bites along with drinks that the locals love.