From 8 to 12 October, Barcelona’s Port Vell will become the global epicentre of sailing with the celebration of the Barcelona International Boat Show, which this year promises to be the most gourmet and ambitious in its history. This revamped edition is committed to innovation, sustainability and exclusivity and, under the new BOATIQUE concept, will offer premium spaces such as the new 2,500 m2 VIP Village, where visitors can enjoy haute cuisine by the prestigious chef Rafa Zafra.
In addition to the new features that the event will offer professionals and visitors, 2025 will be remembered for its clear commitment to opening up to the city and the public in this new and ambitious edition of the Barcelona Boat Show, which has more than 60 years of history.
Premium experiences and gastronomic village
The new 2,500 m² Village, focusing on gastronomic activations in this first edition, will be located at Moll de Drassanes, at the beginning of Moll de Barcelona, and will become a social meeting point for visitors, buyers, exhibitors and professionals. The new space will offer modern, up-to-date facilities that combine design, functionality and elegance, establishing a new national and international business meeting point by the sea, bringing together large companies such as CaixaBank, Occident, the natural skin and hair care products firm Tara, Land Rover Quadis and the luxury real estate firm Espigul, among others to be confirmed very soon. All will have a personalised design space to present their brands, as well as a hospitality area for their customers that includes a tasting of snacks designed by Rafa Zafra. The Village will offer a selection of exclusive products, such as the Pere Ventura winery, which will be present with its Can Bas wines and cavas, and Coca Cola with its Royal Bliss tonic, which is a must for livening up the Village with its cocktails. Strategic partners such as Nautik Magazine from the SpainMedia publishing house and Barcelona Global have also confirmed their support for the new concept of the Boat Show, which promises to be a highlight of the autumn in Barcelona.
Renowned chef Rafa Zafra has exclusively designed the culinary offering for the Village at the 2025 Barcelona Boat Show, proposing a gastronomic experience of haute marine cuisine that aligns with the nautical and premium spirit of the event. ‘Our cuisine has always been closely linked to the sea, so to design this menu I didn’t have to do anything I don’t normally do: it’s pure seafood cuisine that strives for excellence,’ says the chef.
His proposal includes a tasting menu (€150) with six savoury dishes — such as Catalan-style confit sea bass, squid with rovellones mushrooms, and a combination of anchovies, boquerones and mackerel with avocado gazpachuelo and piparra peppers — followed by two desserts, including the classic ‘Pijama’, a creamy egg flan with candied peach and banoffee ice cream, a dish that was conceived on Barceloneta beach in the mid-20th century at the request of foreign sailors who asked for the dessert ‘Peche Malba’, which phonetically evolved into ‘Pijama’, once again highlighting the powerful connection between Zafra’s cuisine and Barcelona.
The menu can be accompanied by a perfect pairing of wines from Can Bas d’Origen (DO Penedès) and cava from Pere Ventura. A menu whose central theme is the connection with the sea, reflected in each dish through the product, techniques and presentations, reinforcing the link between gastronomy and the spirit of the Salon.
For a more informal format, there is the Open Bar Menu, with a wide range of tapas from £4.90, including ‘sea and mountain bites’ such as ventresca salad, sardine coca, tuna tartare muffin, mini meatballs with ceps, and artichokes with romesco sauce. In addition, there will be special suggestions off the menu, with options ranging from selected meats to vegetarian dishes.
All of this has been designed by Rafa Zafra exclusively for the Barcelona Boat Show. The dishes are inspired by creations from his restaurants Estimar and Amar, but are not found on their regular menus. They are representative of his style and have been conceived exclusively for this unique setting. They will be prepared under the baton of the prestigious catering company Le Chef, the true operational heart of the event. At the helm is Laura Pi, who has extensive experience in the sector and is responsible for the city’s most chic events.
Le Chef Catering will be responsible for the entire production of the Village’s culinary offerings, guaranteeing the highest quality in every dish. Its team, made up of high-level professionals with extensive experience in exclusive events, will be in charge of the dining room and bar service, providing excellence and precision in this unparalleled gastronomic experience, with attention to every last detail.
Innovation and sustainability
Another area that will be promoted at this year’s show is the Blue Tech Summit, which will bring together experts in the blue economy, digitalisation and sustainability, while the Blue Tech Safaris will guide attendees through the city’s most innovative projects in this field. The Ship&Tips programme will also return, with practical talks on boat safety and maintenance.
With this proposal, the Barcelona International Boat Show aims to position itself as an essential event, not only for professionals, buyers and sea lovers, but also for a discerning public seeking exclusivity in a unique setting on the shores of the Mediterranean.
