Entertainment In Tarragona

Eating out

Tarragona cuisine is naturally big on seafood and youll have no trouble finding great local dishes here at Tarragonas numerous small bars, restaurants and cafs. Also popular here are tapas menus and bocadillos, or sandwiches. In the city, try the Placa de la Font, along the Carrer Major and toward the Cathedral, for some great tapas and full-menu restaurants. Also, the Serrallo neighbourhood near the marina has some outstanding fish and seafood restaurants, and can get very busy during Sunday lunch. For market food, try the vendor hall off the Rambla Nova in the centre of town.

Local cuisine

Aside from seafood, Tarragona cuisine is noted for its romesco sauce, a local blend made from native foods such as olive oil, hazelnuts, almonds, sweet peppers, onions, garlic and tomatoes. The sauce is served mainly with fish, but it also often accompanies salads and broiled meats. Other seafood dishes include: arrs negre, rice boiled in cuttlefish ink; rossejat, a rice or noodle dish made with fish broth; and calamars amb xocolata, or chocolate squid. To go with your meal, try the local white wines, marked on the bottle with DO Camp de Tarragona.

Theatre and music

Much of the nightlife in Tarragona is spent in the small bars and cafs found throughout the city and along the beaches, where you can relax and have a beer or sip a glass of wine while in a conversation-friendly atmosphere. For music lovers, some bars feature live jazz. Night owls and dancers should head over to the port area, where the DJs at the discos and clubs spin late into the night and foam parties are popular. For more classical and theatrical shows, try the Camp de Mart, which hosts summer festivals of music, dance and drama as well as the impressive Teatre Fortuny in nearby Reus.

Shopping

Shopping in Tarragona can be fun, with many items here being cheaper than in Barcelona. The Rambla Nova and the pedestrian thoroughfares in the city, the Carrer Major and Carrer Mendez Nunez are lined with stores selling everything from clothing to art and design works. The historic Part Alta district is noted for its antique shops and art galleries.