The closest town to Can Negrell is Vidreres, a charming Catalan village that lies just a few kilometers away. From the large east-facing windows of the apartment, Vidreres is the first town that appears in the sweeping panoramic view — nestled peacefully among the rolling hills of the Selva region.
Though modest in size, Vidreres offers everything you’d expect from a well-rounded local hub: supermarkets, bakeries, banks, pharmacies, and a weekly open-air market every Sunday morning, where locals gather to shop for fresh produce, clothes, and household goods.
The town is also known for its authentic Catalan character, far removed from the tourist crowds. You’ll find family-run cafés serving hearty pa amb tomàquet and small restaurants where locals enjoy long lunches. Vidreres even hosts traditional festivals, such as the Festa Major in August, and the uniquely Catalan Correbous, a controversial but culturally significant bull-running event.
Whether you’re picking up groceries, enjoying a casual stroll through the streets, or just taking in the view from Can Negrell, Vidreres offers a slice of real, everyday Catalonia.
Where to Find Great Local Wine (and More) in Vidreres
For a surprisingly good bottle of local wine, head to Supermercat Battallé, a small but well-stocked family-run shop located on Carrer Pau Casals 13 in Vidreres. This hidden gem is popular with locals for good reason — not only do they offer a nice selection of Catalan wines at fair prices, but their produce section is also top-notch.
You’ll find fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables sourced from nearby farms, as well as rich Catalan yogurt that’s nothing like what you get in supermarkets. They also carry fresh milk, often from regional dairies, making it a great stop for quality everyday groceries with a local twist.
Whether you’re planning a relaxed dinner at Can Negrell or just want to taste something authentically regional, Battallé is worth a visit.
Good meat: The butcher Ginesta, has the best meat, Ginesta is on Carrer Catalunya, 28. Ginesta has its own farm with animals where the meat comes from. Another good butcher is Carnisseria Batllosera on Carrer Catalunya 12. There are 6 butchers in the little Vidreres; The village is famous for its good meat!
Fish: there are 2 fish shops and both owners of fishermen’s families. Very good is the fish shop next to the old town hall , only open from 19:00 in the afternoon (then catch the day is arrived!). You can also get good and cheap fish at the Mercadona supermarket! open from 9:00 until 21:00 and even later in the summer season.
Bread in Spain is different from that in the Netherlands, because there are no “sandwiches” eaten here. It’s nice to have a big loaf of bread (Pa de Pagès) to make Pa amb tomaquet at home (you roast the bread and then you scrape first a garlic and then a soft tomato in the bread, a lot of our guests are addicted to the end of their holiday!).
For baguette I recommend “La Barra Gallega” this is Spanish-baked Spanish bread. For the lovers of heavy bread there is bread at the Mercadona, especially Pan con Nueces (heavy bread with nuts) Pan con semillas (more our brown bread) and chiapatas. There are about ten bakeries in Vidreres, most of them are also open on Sunday morning.
Baby food: Battallé supermarket is well sorted out!
Market: On Thursday morning from 09:00 to 13:00 in the village of Vidreres, there is a nice market that is from Tordera on Sundays and that along Blanes Boulevard on Monday morning.
Opening hours shops: In the morning from 10:00 to 13:00 and then from 17:00 to 20:00. Most shops are also open on Sundays from 10:00 to 13:00.
Banks: Among others in the street to the left of the church. There are ATMs at the banks where you can tap with your foreign bank card. Most banks charge now € 2 for a withdrawl.
Coffee: A nice place to have a coffee or a beer is the terrace at Casino de Union, it’s really in the center of town and has a great pool table. It’s an old just renovated community center/bar. It’s owned by the people of Vidreres. Casino means that old people play cards for a few cents Friday nights in the summer it’s always very packed.
Last but not least is the Rostisseria La Cantonada . They have the best roasted chicken in the region, especially on weekend there is always from 1 o’clock on a big line of people waiting for buying a delicious chicken. It’s open from 12:00 – 16:00, but sometimes they are already sold out at 14:00. You can reserve a chicken at 972 85 14 21
