Luxury Celebrations

The Ultimate Gourmet-Tour ; Sublime Spain

Itinerary | Features | Prices | Travel Options

Highlights of your unforgettable visit include:

Accommodations in a five star grand luxury hotel in the fashionable Eixample district of Barcelona and in a 5-star luxury hotel and spa in the countryside
Tours of Gaudi's architecture, the Gothic quarter of Barcelona, a 13th century castle, two medieval villages, seaside villages, and Girona's old Jewish Quarter
A day visit to a local winery including a tour of cellars and vineyards, complete with wine tasting
Fine luxury dining throughout the tour at 1, 2, and 3 starred Michelin restaurants in both traditionally rustic and fashionably modern venues
An unforgettable shopping experience in Spain´s world-famous market, La Boqueria
Tastings of exquisite gourmet Spanish foods including ham, cheese, olives, wines, dried fruits, nuts and chocolate

Day 1top

This luxurious vacation starts with airport pickup and a chauffeured transfer in a private car to a 5-star grand luxury hotel in the fashionable Eixample district of Barcelona. A fruit and chocolate basket will be waiting in your room to welcome you to Spain. The hotel, a restored 19th century landmark building, designed by Spanish architect Luis Domenech i Montaner, provides a world class combination of modern luxurious accommodations and superb panoramic views of downtown Barcelona. You will meet your guide at the hotel and share a welcome cocktail where you will receive an itinerary of your personalized tour, a map and plenty of suggestions of restaurants and free time activities. We recommend dinner tonight in one of the hotel’s restaurants, which have received rave reviews. The night provides the opportunity to get acquainted with your hotel and to venture out into the city if you wish!

Day 2top

Spain’s most important, and world-famous, marketplace. It offers the absolute freshest and most diverse selection of produce. At the market, you will visit the famous bar where in-the-know celebrities of Barcelona frequent. Here you will try the best aperitifs, perhaps a reserve cava (Spanish champagne) and sample some of the finest products of the marketplace!

Next, you will traverse the city on a gourmet walking tour through the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, home to an abundance of tucked away gourmet cafes and shops. You will see a few architectural feats as well, including the amazing gothic Santa Maria Church. You will take the path of Picasso on the famous Avignon Street and taste fresh Spanish cheeses paired with quality wines at charming local specialized shops in the fashionable port district.

Your lunch of exquisite tapas will include Spain's best Iberic “bellota” ham, Joselito, fine red prawns from Palamos, and fresh lobster from Mallorca, all enjoyed at the best delicatessen in the city. You will be in very good hands, as the sommelier at this venue will complement each tapa with the finest Spanish wine for an afternoon in true Spanish style! For dessert, we will stop into the oldest venue in Barcelona for dried nuts, fruits, coffee, toasted almonds or a dessert of your choice.

Surely after this day of activity you will welcome the Spanish siesta time and relish a free evening on your own. As always, our guide is at your disposal and will direct you to the best Spanish shops and restaurants in the city, or will accompany you, if you prefer.

Day 3top

Your first destination this morning will be one of the best gourmet sites in the city, Colmado Quilez, where you will browse some of their 10,000 references of wines and liquors, 200 types of olives and 100 types of vinaigrettes. And there will certainly be time to sample a few olives or bread, with olive oil!

Next you will head up the Passeig de Gracia for a walking tour of the fanciful works of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi to visit his famous Casa Batllo. Nearby, there is a posh and fashionable gourmet chocolate boutique where you will sample the city’s finest. Many of these chocolate recipes were created by Albert Adria, El Bulli the dessert chef of “el Bulli” and the brother of Ferran Adria, acclaimed the best chef in the world. After a quick rest, the architectural walking tour will be concluded with a remarkable rooftop view from La Pedrera one of Gaudi´s renowned architectural works in the most chic zone of the city.

This afternoon you will have free to continue exploring the Passeig de Gracia area, perhaps taking advantage of the city's shopping, or returning to the old Gothic Quarter. We have plenty of suggestions for lunch in this bustling and cosmopolitan area.

Dinner tonight will be at a restaurant one New York Times reviewer calls "… one of the greatest restaurants in Spain." El Raco de Can Fabes is a short drive from Barcelona to a small Catalan village, in a country villa from the 18th century. You will dine in luxury and style at this 3 star Michelin restaurant, in a setting that still maintains the rustic feel of the countryside. Try sumptuous dishes like hot and cold mackerel with cream of caviar or spicy foie gras with Sauterne and a puree of sweet red and green peppers.

Day 4top

This morning after breakfast at your hotel, you will visit an excellent vineyard in Peralada with a long tradition of wine making, beginning in the 14th century by monks. Here you will learn from a wine expert how to recognize the balanced coupage of Xarelo, Macabeu and Parellada grapes in the finest cavas. This cellar is home to the cava that was selected in a blind tasting between the finest champagnes and cavas to be served at the wedding of Spanish royalty. After a few tastings of your own, you will cross the lane to Peralada's 13th century Romanesque castle for lunch.

Next, you will be chauffeured to your new home, a 5-star hotel and spa, located in a Catalan villa picturesquely surrounded by country landscape, indoor and outdoor pools, fine dining and complete spa amenities. You will have the afternoon to settle into your hotel, and to take advantage of the luxurious comforts available like complimentary spa treatments throughout your stay.

After a relaxing afternoon, it will be time for your gourmet cooking lesson in the restaurant's kitchen. You will learn from the chef how to prepare typical Spanish favorites ranging from seafood paella, suquet or Catalan creme using Spanish cooking techniques and mastering the "sofregit", a base of onions and tomatoes and the ¨xup xup¨ (pronounced chup chup) in your cooking. You will have the opportunity to participate in the chef's preparations or, if you prefer, you can sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy his cooking from aperitif to dessert! The choice is yours!

Day 5top

This morning you will visit the medieval village of Besalú, renowned for its beauty and the 11th century Roman bridge that once was necessary to adjoin this small village to land. The local public gardens await you where villagers grow herbs for their well-known and traditional homemade wine, ratafia. The different families of Besalú have variations of this sweet wine, and use their own secret combination of aromatic herbs to flavor this digestive liquor. You will certainly discover your own favorite ratafia! Also, there will be time to visit the ruins of the Jewish quarter of Besalú, dating back to the 9th century and the well-preserved Jewish baths traditionally used for purification, dating back to the 12th century.

After a morning of exploration and a brief, picturesque drive, you will arrive to a restaurant and hotel with a distinctive mix of new age architectural designs, traditional types of cuisine and innovative cooking ideas. The proprietor converted her family's 13th century Spanish home into one of the world's best-looking dining establishments.

This afternoon is free to relax at the hotel, perhaps at the spa with a massage, an Arab bath, or the pool. For dinner tonight we suggest trying the exceptional dining at the hotel's restaurant.

Day 6top

This morning after a luxurious breakfast at your wine spa, you will visit the city of Girona. In the old town, you will discover a magnificent cathedral with the widest Gothic nave in all of Europe. You can meander through the famed Jewish Quarter, where each winding narrow street brings quaint and specialized shops to discover. And for a mid-morning pick-me-up, we will visit an exquisite chocolate shop in the heart of Girona for a taste of something rich.

Lunch this afternoon will be at a 2-star Michelin restaurant owned by three local Catalan brothers. Local recipes are the inspiration for the exquisite dishes served here, from delectable parfaits to the most appreciated wild mushroom soufflé. The enthusiasm and creativity of Chef Joan in his cooking is only matched by sommelier Josep’s expertise at pairing the perfect wines with your dinner. Both are complemented by the third brother, Jordi, and his delightful desserts. From aperitif to dessert, you will remember this dining experience for years to come!

This afternoon you have free to spend your time just as you wish. We suggest a visit to the most chic of the coastal towns in Costa Brava, Calella and Llafranc. Starting first at a light house near a quaint Mediterranean seaside inn with a sunny outdoor terrace, you could enjoy an aperitif, the view and breeze of the sea. There are plenty of scenic walks to explore the area and picturesque ocean front spots to see as well. Your guide will share many other suggestions and is available, along with the chauffeur if you would like, for this last evening in Spain.

Day 7 top

Your tour concludes with a lovely breakfast at the wine spa hotel, followed by a chauffeured transfer to Barcelona for your departure.

We hope you join us for this unforgettable experience!

Your The Ultimate Gourmet-Tour includes:top

English speaking expert culinary guide
Chauffeur at your entire disposal
All transfers
Accommodation for 3 nights in a 5-star luxury hotel (double occupancy)
Accommodation for 3 nights in a 5-star luxury villa(double occupancy)
5 full breakfasts
All the culinary, cultural visits and tastings indicated in the itinerary
2 lunches including wine in local restaurants
1 gastronomic menu married with wines in a famed 3-star Michelin restaurant
1 gastronomic menu married with wines in a famed 2-star Michelin restaurant
1 gastronomic menu married with wines in a famed 1-star Michelin restaurant
Online Personal Travel Webpage including daily itinerary, general local information, details of places of interest, suggestions for restaurant reservations, and your free time, etc.
Customized Travel Journal, including the information from your Personal Travel Webpage, which you can take with you to use as a reference throughout your tour
Travel Insurance

Your The Ultimate Gourmet-Tour does not include:

Flights
Meals and Drinks not Specified
Personal Expenses such as Telephone, Minibar, etc
Tips and Gratuities (Restaurants, etc)
Cancellation Insurance

The Ultimate Gourmet-Tour dates:

Available upon request all year round.

The Ultimate Gourmet-Tour Prices:

Please note our tours are available for PRIVATE GROUPS ONLY and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.

The tour price varies depending on the Travel Option you choose. Please click on the option which suits you best in order to request a quotation.

In order to find out more about Gourmand Breaks' Travel Options, please Click Here