Granada Tapas Tour

Food tours are my favorite way to explore a city, and in Granada, tapas tours are essential for your Spain palate.  In Granada, when you order a round of drinks for your table, it's customary to also get a complimentary tapa. There are hundreds of bars just in Granada, so when we first arrived, it was quite difficult trying to choose which was the best to visit. 

We decided to book a private tour with Granada Tapas Tours. We met Gayle, our amazing tour guide, in the heart of the city. She was so welcoming and very excited to meet us! Three hours flew by as we ate, drank, laughed and stopped at four tapas bars, we were completely stuffed! Here are all the places we visited on our tour.

Stop 1 // Más Que Vinos

This bar was full of people enjoying an early lunch! At his taberna, Gayle explained the different types of beer that would be found in most bars. After hearing about the history of them and how they were made, she let us choose a bottle for us to drink! We popped open a  Socrarrada and La Roja, a refreshing first drink! While we sipped our beer, she also showed us three Spanish wines and told us what regions they came from. Next, we got to try a spinach, cream and sultana montadito. A creamy spread of golden raisins and spinach on top of a slice of toasted bread, it was delicious! Our second dish was pork meatballs in almond and olive oil sauce. They provided more bread to dip into the sauce as well.

Stop 2 // SECRET (the owner told us to not mention) 

This bar is a well-kept secret that the owner asked us to not name the bar on my blog. If you do end up stopping at this place on your tapas tour, you'll love it! Here we got to try Sunday made chicken arroz, a comforting rice dish, and snails in gravy sauce. I was hesitant to eat the snail, but Gayle assured me that all I would taste was the gravy. We poured a glass of vermouth and a Rueda white wine to wash it down. The snail wasn't bad at all, I'm glad ended up trying it, cheers to being adventurous! 

Stop 3 // Taberna Granados

Our next stop was this charming little tapas bar with a rich history and full of authenticity. At this bar, we sampled three different beverages. First was the Fino sherry, a dry pale white sherry wine. Then we compared it to the Pedro Ximenez sherry (my fave, a darker sherry that taste like sweet raisins. Next, we tried a Mejorana Wine which sat right in the middle of the two previous drinks. It was a perfect pairing for our tripe dish. 

Stop 4 // DPlatos

Our last stop was a more modern tapas bar, inside was a clean black bar top, white walls, and green foliage. To finish up our tour we drank Muñana red wine and a 1925 Alhambra beer while Gayle ordered her favorite tapas for us to try. Our first taste was a guacamole and sardine toast, just like home but with a Spanish twist! Next was a small cup of salmorejo which is cold, tomato soup. This thick soup was super tasty. Then, we tasted a pinchito moruno, a Moroccan spiced meat on a stick. For a tiny bite, we had potatoes, octopus, and quails egg stacked on a slice of bread. Our final dish of the lunch was a creamy mushroom risotto served in a small pot.

All the tapas and beverages were absolutely delicious, but the best part of the tour was Gayle. It truly felt like we were out for lunch with an old friend. She's an amazing storyteller, super knowledgeable about what Granada has to offer, and of course, she has GREAT taste. She customizes each tour according to our likes and preferences, so each tour is unique and always a treat. Without the tour, we probably would not have visited these places listed above, but I'm glad we got to stop by and discover a unique part of Spanish cuisine. Thank you Granada Tapas Tours!

Gran Hotel Sóller, Mallorca

I looked out the airplane window as we were making our descent into Palma and I saw turquoise shores and mountains. We landed and found the bus that would take us to Sóller, a small town on Mallorca. Once we got to our stop we navigated to the Gran Hotel Sóller and realized there was directional signage posted everywhere just for the hotel. It was a short walk and we arrived at the front entrance. Nice cars lined the driveway, palm trees grew along the hotel building and to the left was a 1930's Bugatti T55 Super Sport Roadster parked by the doors. No wonder this place has five stars, everything about the arrival felt luxurious. Sóller is a quiet, traditional Spanish town, a gem not overrun by tourists.

THE ROOM

We checked in and were given a key to our hotel room on the 4th floor. Our room had a king bed, an all-marble bathroom, and a balcony that overlooked a river and the Tramuntana mountains. I took a moment to just soak in my surroundings, the sounds of the river, birds chirping, and the train just a few blocks away. We left the balcony doors open while we settled in the room.

THE POOL & SPA

Once we were all unpacked, we put on our swimsuits and went up to the rooftop pool. We thought it would be best to slow down before exploring the port the next day. There were only a few people relaxing by the pool and there were many lounge chairs open. From the rooftop you had a view of Iglesia de Sant Batomeu, everything just felt so serene. After a dip in the pool, we moved over to the large, white daybeds with a mountain view. Next, we went down to the spa which had an indoor pool, steam room, and sauna. 

BREAKFAST

Our reservation came with daily breakfast, so we took advantage of that before going to the beach. It was the perfect way to start the day, the breakfast buffet had everything for a complete and hearty meal. The server greeted us, offered some coffee, and gave an additional menu that listed custom omelets and other hot foods. The buffet had delicious bread and pastries, various cured meats, colorful fruits and a build your own yogurt bowl. It wouldn't be a vacation without mimosas, they had orange juice and champagne available to make your own breakfast drink!

THING TO DO IN SÓLLER

Aside from relaxing at the Gran Hotel Sóller, we had some time to explore the city and venture out to the port as well. There is a main square just a few minutes away where Iglesia de Sant Batomeu and restaurants with outdoor seating reside. We ate our dinners here and drank our sangrias every night. We also took a tram to Port de Sóller which cost about 7 euros each way. We walked along the beach, ate lunch by the ocean and enjoyed all the naranja specialties like an orange mojito and a Copa de Sóller (orange gelato). There are many hiking trails on the island as well.

We had a lovely stay at the Gran Hotel Sóller and it was just what we needed after visiting Barcelona. The change in pace and scenery allowed us to reset and immerse ourselves in Spain and I couldn't have asked for a better visit. 

Just Royal BCN Cooking Class + Market Tour

We woke up Tuesday morning in Barcelona, hungry and ready to attend Just Royal BCN’s Market Tour and Cooking Class! We took a short bus ride to Plaça Reial and arrived a few minutes early. We watched the restaurants receive their shipments and set up their patios. Nestled in one of the corners of the plaza was the entrance to Just Royal BCN, once we rang the doorbell the door unlocked and we walked up a few flights of stairs. We were greeted by Chef Alfredo and Janelle at the door, and it felt like we walked into an old friend’s home.

The interior was absolutely gorgeous. Spacious, bright, modern and airy are just a few ways to describe this cooking school. The room was filled with natural light and the open balcony doors overlooked the plaza. The modern decor had a clean color palette of white, green and blue. The kitchen was set up for us in the back of the room with an apron, cutting board, knife and a wine glass.

The Market Tour
 

Before our class, Janelle walked us down La Rambla and provided a tour through La Boqueria. The bustling market was full of people buying food and goods. Colorful juices, fruits and vegetables lined the isles. There were so many types of food to try and taste! Of course, you can’t forget about the Jamon stalls.  We learned about the different types, price points, and quality. We got to sample the oldest nougat in Catalonia, a sweet treat while we stroll through the market. Here at the market you can find all your ingredients for your perfect pan of paella. Next, we walked through the seafood section where people were buying fresh seafood by the pound! 

Tapas Tasting

When we got back to the kitchen, it was time to taste different tapas. Before each taste, they told us about where it originated and what ingredients were used to make it. We had the classic cured meat platter, warm croquettes, anchovies and cheese, shrimp, patatas bravas, mussels and my ultimate favorite, octopus with olive oil and paprika sauce. Each tapa was from a different region in Spain. Our taste buds were happy as we took a culinary tour around the country without leaving the room!

Cooking Class

Now, it was finally time to cook our 3-course lunch. Everyone in the class had different tasks in order to complete the final dish. While one person cut vegetables, someone else beat the eggs. Chef Alfredo showed us how to do all the tasks, before letting us take a stab at it. First, we made Catalan Creme, a custard made with milk and citrus peels topped with caramelized sugar and berries. Next, we made Seafood Paella, a classic Spanish rice dish with prawns and squid. We also used the white wine we were drinking! Lastly, we learned how to cook the perfect Tortilla, a Spanish omelet with potatoes.

Lunch

Lunch is served! We all brought our final dished to the table and filled up another glass of wine. We all shared stories of our vacations in Spain and reminisced about our past travels. We had an amazing feast with good company and we ended the class with a cup of coffee with a chocolate. We left the class with recipes to try at home and memories we’ll never forget!

Reserve your spot now: Just Royal BCN: Cooking Class and tour of La Boqueria Market