A culinary delight: where to buy in one of Europe's top foodie cities

You can barely move for food markets in Barcelona — it has 25 of them. In addition, there are 22 Michelin-star restaurants to choose from.

This city offers culinary delights that are only enhanced by its winning location beside the sea.

Razor clams, squid ink paella, garlic prawns, all served with exuberant Catalan style… it's a major part of Barcelona's appeal.

"Food and local markets are certainly important for residents," says Pierrick Prillot of boutique developer Norvet.

"Along with location, by the sea and mountains, two hours from ski resorts and close to France with the high-speed rail network and a well-connected airport, it adds up to a winning combination." Barcelona is in danger of succumbing to its success though.

While last year's furore over Catalan independence continues to cast shadows over the city, with further demonstrations just this month, a greater long-term threat might be booming tourist numbers.

An explosion in Airbnb rentals has enraged locals and the current mayor was elected on a specific ticket to crack down on illegal short-term lets.

Homes require licences to be let short term but most do not have one and new applications are routinely refused.

City Hall is handing out punitive fines to owners who flout these rules but this should not deter British buyers looking for rental returns on their holiday home, says Lloyd Hughes of Athena Advisers: "Longer-term rentals of six months or more are producing yields around six per cent.

"With universities, tech and digital industries encouraging international businesses to come and enjoy the city-beach lifestyle, Barcelona has plenty of potential renters."

GREEN POBLE-SEC

Residential neighbourhood Poble-sec next to Montjuïc Hill has an impressive six restaurants owned by the Adrià brothers, the family behind El Bulli, regularly named as the world's best restaurant.

Poble-sec is green, family friendly and un-touristy. It offers local living with a wonderful foodie scene, open-air theatres and small tapas bars.

Developer Norvet is building new homes at Poeta Cabanyes on the site of a former garage in a quiet side road.

The project will have 12 apartments with terraces or patio gardens, priced from £426,000 for a two-bedroom home through Athena Advisers. All flats have a parking space and separate storage room.

THE GOTHIC QUARTER

Norvet specialises in historic renovations using a trusted team of local craftsmen and Escudellers is a prime example.

This is a renovation of a 250-year-old building in Plaça George Orwell, an open square in the heart of Barcelona's Old Town. The final four of 16 apartments cost from £476,000 for a two-bedroom home, all with terraces.

This noisier, more touristy part of Barcelona is best for buyers who want to be directly in the city buzz. Some of Barcelona's best restaurants are on the doorstep and Las Ramblas and the sea are nearby.

BOHO-CHIC GRÀCIA

There's an attractive, boho-chic vibe in residential Gràcia that creates a village feel, the Chelsea of Barcelona, says Norvet's Pierrick Prillot.

It's an expansive area towards Park Güell, close to designer shops and international schools and linked to the beach by tube line with a direct train link to the airport due to open next year.

Norvet is converting a three-storey former rubber factory here into 16 apartments with a distinct industrial style.

The one- and two-bedroom loft homes are priced from £436,000 with annual service charges from £1,050.

TIPS FROM A BARCELONA LOCAL

Interior designer Marc Péridis, founder of the 19 Greek Street gallery in Soho, left London for Barcelona, living close to the beach at first and moving to the Eixample district later.

"It was good to experiment with different parts of the city," he says.

"Eixample felt more like Paris, with cafés and gourmet restaurants, compared to living by the beach which was a European take on Miami's South Beach."

Barcelona's appeal is clear, says Péridis, 37. "It's a beautiful, historical city, right by the beach yet well connected with London and Europe.

"There's a great mix of restaurants, museums, galleries and art shows and the weather adds to this, making the lifestyle just brilliant. Locals are genuinely happy to be here and think it's the best city in the world."

Péridis recently moved to Sitges, 25 minutes south of Barcelona.

The seaside town is surprisingly affordable, filled with galleries and markets and hosts festivals and carnivals, but he says: "I can't speak highly enough about Barcelona and its therapeutic effect after years of hectic London living."

MARC'S BARCELONA TIPS