The ultimate golden hour setup: A balcony, a view, and a table full of local Spanish goods.

By Corey Gasman

DIY Spain: How to Build the Ultimate Picnic & Tapas Board

The Balcony Smorgasbord: How to Feast Like a King (on a Budget)

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know my travel style. My wife and I aren’t the type to blitz a country in 48 hours. We like to slow down. We book Airbnbs for multiple days, preferably ones with a small balcony and a view, and we try to pretend we actually live there.

One of our absolute favorite rituals is hitting the local Mercado. I am always on the hunt for the stuff you just can’t find in an American supermarket—local cheeses that smell a little funky, fruits I don’t recognize, and cured meats that have been hanging in a cellar for three years. We load up our tote bags to create a local “smorgasbord,” grab a bottle of wine (which is often cheaper than water here), and head back to the apartment.

There is nothing quite like that moment during the golden hour. You’ve spent the whole day walking, hitting museums, and battling crowds. But now, you are sitting on your own private terrace, watching the city chaos or the ocean below, with a glass of Rioja and the best ham you’ve ever tasted.

It is the height of our traveling experience. It feels incredibly luxurious, but it is actually one of the best budget travel hacks in existence. In Spain, you don’t need a Michelin star to have the best meal of your life; you just need a knife and a trip to the market.

Here is my “nerd-level” guide on exactly what to buy to build that perfect Spanish board.

Colorful tins of “Conservas.” Don’t throw away the oil—dip your bread in it!

Conservas: Why the Can is King

If you bring one thing back from this guide, let it be this: Do not fear the tin.

Spain has a massive coastline, and for centuries, they have perfected the art of canning seafood at the peak of freshness. The best “Conservas” are hand-packed in high-quality olive oil or sauces.

Mejillones en Escabeche (Mussels)

These are the gateway drug. Large, plump mussels pickled in a sauce of vinegar, paprika, and oil.

How to eat: Spear one with a toothpick, eat it, then dip a potato chip into the orange sauce left in the tin. Life-changing.

Ventresca de Atún (Tuna Belly)

This is not “Chicken of the Sea.” This is the fatty belly of the Bonito del Norte tuna. It comes in silky, delicate flakes.

How to eat: Lay it gently on a piece of crusty bread with a roasted red pepper (Piquillo).

Berberechos (Cockles)

Tiny saltwater clams. They taste like you just swallowed a wave from the Atlantic Ocean. Briny, fresh, and cold.

How to eat: Straight from the tin with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of hot sauce (Espinaler sauce if you can find it).

Sardinillas (Baby Sardines)

Small, tender sardines packed in olive oil.

How to eat: On a cracker with a slice of tomato.

The fat should melt when you touch it. That’s how you know it’s good Jamón.

Embutidos: Decoding the Deli Counter

“Salami” is a dirty word here. Spain has dozens of cured sausages, and they all taste different.

The King: Jamón Ibérico de Bellota

This is the famous ham from black-footed pigs fed on acorns.

The Label to Look For: Black Label (Pata Negra). It is expensive, so buy just 100 grams. It should be sliced so thin it is translucent. It tastes nutty, sweet, and funky.

Salchichón vs. Chorizo

• Chorizo: Red. Cured with Pimentón (smoked paprika) and garlic. It is smoky and slightly spicy.
• Salchichón: Pink/White. Cured with black pepper and nutmeg. It is more similar to Italian salami but creamier.

Fuet (The Snack Stick)

A Catalan specialty. It is a thin, dry-cured sausage covered in a white mold (which is edible and adds flavor). You usually just bite chunks off it while walking. It is the ultimate backpack snack.

A wedge of aged Manchego with its distinctive herringbone rind.

Quesos: Sheep, Goat, and Cow

Spanish cheese is generally harder and sharper than French cheese.

• Manchego (The Classic): Sheep’s milk cheese from La Mancha. Look for “Curado” (aged 3-6 months) or “Viejo” (aged 1 year+) for a picnic. The young stuff (“Semicurado”) gets sweaty in the heat; the old stuff holds up.
• Idiazabal: Smoked sheep cheese from the Basque Country. It tastes like a campfire. incredible with red wine.
• Mahón: A cow’s milk cheese from Menorca with an orange rind (rubbed with paprika). It is buttery and salty.

A bottle of Cava and plastic cups. Classy? Maybe not. Delicious? Absolutely.

The Liquid Assets: Picnic Wines

You don’t need a corkscrew. Many younger Spanish wines now come with screw tops, or you can bring Cava (which just needs a strong hand).

Cava (Sparkling)

It’s Spain’s Champagne. It’s cheap, cold, and pairs with everything on this list (especially the salty ham and chips). Look for “Brut Nature” (very dry/no sugar).

Vermut (Vermouth)

You can buy bottles of “Vermut Rojo” (Red Vermouth) at any supermarket. It is sweet, herbal, and meant to be drunk over ice with a slice of orange and an olive. It is the traditional Spanish appetizer drink.

Albariño (Crisp White)

If you are by the ocean, get this. It is acidic, limey, and cuts through the oil of the canned fish perfectly.

Rioja Crianza (The Versatile Red)

Since we love red wine, we can’t ignore the most famous region in Spain. For a picnic, skip the expensive Gran Reservas and grab a Rioja Crianza. These are aged for just enough time to get that classic vanilla/oak flavor, but they are still fresh and fruity enough to drink without a heavy steak dinner. It is the perfect match for the Jamón and Manchego.

The view from the Bunkers del Carmel in Barcelona. The best free seat in the city.

Where to Eat: Epic Free Locations

You have the food. Now you need the view.

Barcelona: The Bunkers del Carmel

Forget Park Güell. Take the bus up to the “Bunkers.” It is an old anti-aircraft battery from the Civil War with a 360-degree view of the city and the ocean. It is crowded at sunset, so go for a late lunch (3 PM).

Madrid: Retiro Park (Palacio de Cristal)

Head to the steps in front of the lake, near the Alfonso XII monument. Rent a rowboat after you eat. It is the quintessential Madrid Sunday.

San Sebastian: The Sea Wall

Grab your bag and sit on the stone wall overlooking La Concha beach. Watch the waves crash while you eat your Idiazabal cheese.

Seville: Plaza de España

Find a bench in the Maria Luisa Park, right next to the Plaza. It is shady (essential in the Seville heat) and stunningly beautiful.

FAQs: The DIY Picnic