What are some must-eat places or must-have foods in Madrid, Catalonia and Barcelona?

My tips are only about Barcelona, not a speciallist in Madrid, sorry! Anyway, I hope this is still helpful. Barcelona is a banquet for the senses, with its beguiling mix of ancient and modern architecture, tempting cafés and markets, and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches. A Gothic and Modernist marvel, Barcelona is quirky, cosmopolitan and effortlessly cool. A stroll along La Rambla and through waterfront Barceloneta, as well as a tour of Gaudí's majestic Sagrada Família and his other unique creations, are all part of a visit to Spain's second-largest city. Barcelona's vibe stays lively well into the night, when you can linger over regional wine and cuisine at buzzing tapas bars. But be sure to pause for a minute, and discover Barcelona's real charm in small details - the hidden courtyards of Barri Gòtic, the light catching Sagrada Família's wax-like turrets - all coming together to make the Catalan capital one of Spain's most livable and lovable cities. So, once in Barcelona, you should definitelly try Vermouth and Tapas. The top 5 oceanfront bars in town are: http://www.carlesabellan.com/la-guingueta-de-la-barceloneta One of Barcelona’s premier restaurateurs Carles Abellan presents an elegant take on the classic chiringuito, but with dishes simple enough to match the laid-back beachside location.http://makamaka.es/ http://makamaka.es/ concept is simple – good burgers, good drinks and the perfect beachside location. And though hearty beef burgers are the star of the show, the ample selection includes vegetarian options as well.http://www.panteagroup.es/en/chiringuito-gastronomico-vai-moana-beach-bar Most of the food is grilled here rather than fried, while some items have a touch of exoticism to them – try the Tokyo Burger, a shrimp sandwich in a bun stained black with squid ink.http://www.oneoceanclub.es/wp/ Here’s where we leave the chiringuito behind completely. OneOcean Club is luxury all the way. After enjoying a cocktail at the bar overlooking the harbor, you may find yourself rushing to sign up for a membership to get the full use of the club’s services.http://www.bar-celoneta.es/ Occasionally you have to go off the main tourist drag to get really good sangria. Though just steps from the water, http://www.bar-celoneta.es/http://www.bar-celoneta.es/ Sangria bar has prices more in line with the non-touristy sector of Barcelona. The large portions of vegan and vegetarian dishes are sure to please even the most hardcore carnivores, while pitchers of creative sangrias keep the crowds lively.If you're looking for hand-picked places from local experts, we have more recommendations in our http://oasiscollections.com/barcelona/?utm_source=quora&utm_medium=answer&utm_content=barcelona&utm_campaign=quoraoasis

In Madrid, http://www.bocaito.comis well worth as visit. As for Barcelona http://www.tallerdetapas.com/ is a personal fav.

That's a tough one. It also depends on the price range that we are talking about. Madrid has many famous restaurants. For example: Casa Lucio or Larrys. If you want to have a nice Picnic you can buy a nice Calamari Bocata at El Brillante (next to Atocha Train Station) and eat it in the Retiro Park which is within walk distance.

In Madrid, Any "Meson" at Cava Baja street, or at Las Cuevas de Luis Candelas restaurant in Calle Cuchilleros.

Dos Palillos - traditional spanish tapas get inspired by delicate savors of Asia Pinotxo.The bamboo clams and grilled prawns tapas are cooked to perfection

There is so much to eat in Madrid and Barcelona, from tapas to pintxos, to jamon.  Catalonia in particular is amazing, with some of the most gourmet foods, if you know where to look. I've written a lot about the foods of all three of these areas in my Spain Food Travel Guide: http://www.withhusbandintow.com/spain-food-travel-guide/

In winter, you have to try 'calçots'. It is my favorite catalan dish, beats 'pa amb tomàquet' any day!

In Catalonia, there is the well known "El Bulli" restaurant. http://www.elbulli.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Bulli As said on the Wikipedia article, it is very hard to get a table there, buut the food is said to be amazingly creative and really tasteful. Summer 2011 will be the last season for this restaurant too, since it's been losing money for almost a decade. But well, if you can afford it and have connections, it's a must-eat place in Spain.

I didnt have much time in Barcelona, and wanted to make sure that I got the best food there. I chanced upon this online market place for tour guides called http://mekomy.com/, and they had some really great foodie tours that didnt disappoint! The tour guide was knowledgeable, and brought me to the best tapas restaurants. I even went for a market tour and cooking class! The tours are really reasonably priced as well, so I'm sure you'll enjoy what they have to offer! Must have foods include churros and seafood paella's in the amazing restaurants along the beach!