Vegan Barcelona: The Ultimate Guide to All You Need To Know

Vegan Barcelona: to the uninitiated, this sounds like an oxymoron (isn’t Spain the land of cured ham?).

But to those in the know (and I know, because I live here), Barcelona, alongside cities like Berlin and Amsterdam, is one of the vegan capitals of Europe, which is why, after living in Barcelona for a few years, I wrote a full vegan guide to Barcelona (available as paperback or eBook).

I want to show you where to find a killer vegan breakfast in Barcelona, authentic and vegan tapas in Barcelona and vegan pizza in Barcelona.

Read on to find out the best vegan restaurants in Barcelona, where to stay and vegan shops you shouldn’t miss.

Where to stay in Barcelona: the best vegan hotel Barcelona

Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a Barcelona vegan hotel, the city doesn’t have any 100% vegan hotels yet, but there are some vegan- and eco-friendly accommodation options!

And if you’re willing to venture out of the city, you’ll find Casa Albets, a vegan hotel.

Spain actually has quite a few vegan hotels, and one of the best ones, Casa Albets, is just a few hours from Barcelona. If you’re looking for a place to stay in the city, on the other hand, I’ve got a few eco- and vegan-friendly options for you.

Best for luxury 5-star hotel: Grand Hotel Central

The Grand Hotel Central is widely regarded as one of the best hotels in Barcelona.

The 5-star hotel combines old-school elegance, with its location housed in a refurbished Twenties era building, and modern amenities: each room has a rain-effect shower, air conditioning and a well-stocked free minibar.

The location is ideal, in the trendy neighbourhood of Born, with views over the Gothic Quarter and rooftop infinity pool that boasts views of Barcelona Cathedral.

The rooftop bar is buzzy and the hotel has a fitness centre that offers massage services too.

Since it’s so centrally located, it’s within easy reach of many of Barcelona’s best vegan restaurants.

Click here for the latest prices and availability.

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Best for Mid-range: Eco Boutique Grau

Eco Boutique Grau is one of the best choices in terms of location, price and eco-friendliness,

The 2-star hotel is extremely centrally located (near Placa Catalunya in the Gothic Quarter, considered the centre point of the city), and eco-friendly too, using renewable energy.

The hotel bar serves ecological wines and the hotel itself is constructed with environmentally-friendly technology. Rooms are painted with PVC-free paint.

Rooms have balconies or face a vertical garden. From the hotel, you can easily walk to most of Barcelona’s attractions and some of its best vegan restaurants.

Click here for the latest prices and availability.

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Mid-range: Casa Bella Gracia

Casa Bella Gracia is an eco-friendly hotel in one of my favourite areas of Barcelona, Gracia.

Gracia’s still close to the main attractions but a little quieter, with a more bohemian and neighbourhood feel to it, and a ton of vegan businesses, ranging from restaurants to a vegan supermarket, a vegan shoe shop and a vegan makeup store.

The neighbourhood also has lots of independent designers, eco clothing shops and yoga studios.

Casa Bella Gracia offers a free airport shuttle, and each room has air conditioning, free wifi and a flat-screen TV, plus organic teas and a kettle.

Click here for the latest prices and availability.

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Vegan breakfast options / 4-star hotel: Petit Palace Museum

This 4-star boutique design hotel advertises that it has vegan breakfast options on the breakfast buffet. Since I haven’t stayed here, I’m not sure what they are or how extensive they are but it’s a good start!

The design hotel is in Eixample, just above the Gothic Quarter (but in a slightly quieter area), 10 minutes’ walk from Placa Catalunya, which is considered the central point of Barcelona.

Rooms have air conditioning and free wifi, the hotel has a roof terrace and it’s dog friendly.

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Budget: Jam Hostel

Jam Hostel is an eco-friendly hostel. Like Casa Bella Gracia, it’s located in Gracia, one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Barcelona.

It’s a bit out of the centre (but still easy to reach by public transport or walking), with a village-y, local feel, and a lot of vegan businesses.

From vegan restaurants and cafes to a vegan shoe shop, supermarket, makeup store, eco clothing shops and yoga studios, Gracia’s got it all!

Jam Hostel has a big terrace, where they hold yoga classes. It also has two shared lounges, one with computers and one with a shared kitchen, dining area, TV and board games.

Every dorm room and individual room is air conditioned and has personal lockers and plugs for each bed, and the shared bathrooms have hair dryers and are adapted for those with reduced mobility.

There’s also a shared laundry area and free fairtrade tea and coffee is available throughout the day.

Click here for the latest prices and availability.

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100% vegan hotel: Casa Albets (outside Barcelona)

If you feel like taking a trip to the countryside from Barcelona, you couldn’t choose a better spot than Casa Albets, an all-vegan hotel.

This beautiful old stone Spanish farmhouse has been transformed into a 4-star vegan, eco and dog-friendly hotel. Visitors love the on-site vegan food.

The views of the surrounding area look absolutely stunning, and a variety of popular activities are available locally, including skiing and cycling. 

Click here to check the latest prices and availability.

Vegan Barcelona: Is Barcelona Vegan Friendly?

Barcelona: Why the Catalan Capital is a Plant-based Paradise

Barcelona is an amazing city…full of sun, jaw-dropping architecture, tapas, the beach, the mountains and a surprising number of vegan and vegan-friendly places (so much so, I wrote a whole vegan Barcelona guidebook)!

In 2016 Barcelona’s city council even declared it a #VegFriendly city and promised to promote vegetarianism and veganism. 

Basically, it’s got everything you could want in a city… After living in Barcelona, eating in all its vegan restaurants and co-founding the biggest vegan social group in Barcelona, the Barcelona Vegan Meetup, I’m pretty well-versed in all things vegan Barcelona. 

So I wanted to help you out with some insider tips on vegan and vegetarian Barcelona, from the best vegan tapas in Barcelona to where to get breakfast (and if you to learn absolutely everything I know about vegan Barcelona, you can grab a copy of my Barcelona Vegan Guide, which is even more extensive than this post)!

Click here to find out more about the Barcelona Vegan Guide.

I used to live in Gracia (and now live near it), which is the best neighbourhood in Barcelona (I’m a little biased though!).  Gracia is home to plenty of Barcelona vegan restaurants and has a vegan kebab place, vegan Mexican restaurant, vegan ice cream shop, vegan bakery, dozens of yoga studios, sustainable clothing shops, and a vegan supermarket…

If you’re wondering where to stay in Barcelona I highly recommend Gracia. But shh, don’t tell anyone else! It’s thankfully a little less touristy than the Gothic Quarter and I’d like to keep it that way!

Vegan Food Barcelona: The Best Vegan Restaurants in Barcelona

With so much to choose from (a lot of people don’t believe just how vegan-friendly this jamon-obsessed city is), it’s tough to single out the best vegan eats but with my extensive experience eating my way around Barcelona here are my choices of best vegan food in Barcelona!

Important Note: I’ve linked to the restaurants’ site where you can check their hours but you should always double check hours because SO many places in Barcelona change their schedules due to holidays, siesta…or just because they feel like it!

There’s nothing more disappointing than standing melting in the heat, staring at a paper sign taped to a restaurant window in Catalan, which you can’t read, but which you think more or less says “we’re shut.”

Opening hours:
I used to list restaurant opening hours but took these out because they change so frequently. Instead, I recommend phoning or messaging the restaurant to confirm current hours, or at least checking the latest on Google as some restaurants update those weekly (see above).

Restaurants: Varies by restaurant, but most restaurants serve lunch from approximately 1:30 – 3:30pm and dinner from 8pm to midnight. If you try to eat outside these hours, the restaurant or its kitchen may be shut (unless it’s a touristy place). Even if the restaurant is open, you may not be able to get food since the kitchen is shut (drinks only).

Shops: Most local, independent shops close for siesta (usually from 2pm to 4:30pm or so) but do not always note siesta times in their opening hours listed on their website. 

Holidays: Most places close for 2-3 weeks in August. Some also closed between Christmas and Three Kings’ Day (6th of January).

 

€ = mains under €7
€€ = mains €7-12
€€€ = mains €12+

Rasoterra (100% vegan)

€€€
Carrer del Palau, 5, 08002 Barcelona
Phone: +34 933 18 69 26
Website | Instagram

What to get: whatever your server recommends (changes seasonally)

Currently one of my favourites in Barcelona, slow food restaurant Rasoterra went fully vegan about a year ago (previously it was vegetarian).

Their specialty is inventive, local vegan dishes and natural wine (read more about natural wines and filtering here). They even used to use some vegetables from their gardens, though I’m not sure if that’s still the case.

Since I love creatively prepared vegetables and am not a big fan of vegan meats, this is right up my street as the focus is on vegetables.

The menu changes seasonally and features different seasonal foods, but the menu might include dishes like spinach croquettes, artichoke confit with creamy mash and lentils, handmade pasta with tomato sauce, Kalamata olives and fried rosemary or seaweed rice with grilled wild asparagus and orange mayonnaise.

It *is* on the pricier side compared to lots of other Barcelona restaurants and the dishes are small (it’s really set up for small sharing plates).

I’ve heard some people complain about the size and prices but for me, the high quality is worth it. Do bear in mind though, and be sure to order plenty if you’re hungry – your server can always advise you on the right number to order for your table.

Click here to make reservations (recommended).

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Roots & Rolls (100% vegan)

€€€
C. del Consell de Cent, 401, bajos, 08009 derecha, Barcelona, Spain
Phone: +34 931 71 79 02
Website | Instagram

What to get: sushi tasting platter, popcorn cauliflower, gyoza

If you’re after a fix of creative vegan Asian fusion, head to Roots & Rolls. This Barcelona vegan restaurant is one of the only entirely vegan spots to feature sushi on the menu.

Their vegan sushi is very unique, because instead of using white sushi rice, they use a mix of four grains — and it’s a purple-pink hue! Their sushi fillings are also very inventive — think prickly pear, truffle oil and spiced pumpkin.

Weirdly, I prefer their starters to their mains (I find the flavours more creative and tasty) so I recommend you order a few starters and a selection of sushi. Try the popcorn cauliflower and the gyoza in sweet dashi sauce.

Click here to make reservations (recommended).

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Chez Kessler (100% vegan)

If you want to experience a typical-style bar that happens to be vegan and grab a few tapas with your drinks, head to Chez Kessler.

They have vegan versions of patatas bravas with alioli, tortilla, cheese boards and platters of vegan meats.

It’s not my favourite food, but it is the best vegan restaurant in Barcelona for vegan tapas and a beer, wine or cocktail.

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Gallo Santo (100% vegan)

€€
Address: Carrer del Torrent de l’Olla, 64, 08012 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: +34 930 27 67 46
Website

What to get: Apple crumble, sweet potato (boniato) flautas, stuffed with potatoes and sweet potatoes and fried. And be sure to add some of the trio of salsas (ask which ones are spicy).

Don’t miss the vegan Mexican food and cocktails at Gallo Santo. I came to this restaurant half a dozen times before realising it was gluten free as well as vegan.

I’m not usually a fan of gluten free food, but you will not miss or even notice the lack of gluten here.

You have to try the potato and sweet potato flautas — an explosion of flavours and textures. Also don’t miss the apple crumble with granola, millet and caramelised nuts.

I nearly skipped it since I figured I’ve had plenty of apple crumbles in my life and you definitely shouldn’t miss this.

Some people have complained portion sizes are small. I think the problem is really that the mains and starters are around the same size, so you definitely shouldn’t order just a main.

Unless you have a very small appetite, you’ll want both a starter and main (except for the bowls, which are fairly large).

Also, if you like margaritas (and aren’t a coriander/cilantro-hater), don’t miss the coriander-infused margarita here!

Click here to make reservations (recommended).

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Blu Bar (and its sister restaurant, Vrutal) (both 100% vegan)

Best for: vegan pizza or burgers by the beach

What to get: the Don’t Call Me Margarita pizza with homemade cashew cheese, rocket pesto and cherry tomatoes* (

€€
Address: Rambla del Poblenou, 11, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: +34 932 21 09 71
Website

Blu Bar is a laidback bar and restaurant in the former industrial area of Poblenou, near the beach. In late 2019, they converted to fully vegan and they have what is currently my favourite vegan pizza in Barcelona!

The Don’t Call Me Margarita has rocket pesto and their homemade cashew cheese.

To me, a lot of commercial vegan cheeses (the ones that are famous for melting) may have started to successfully replicate the gooeyness of cheese, but don’t taste like anything.

I’m a huge fan of cashew cheese (so creamy! so much flavour!) so I love this pizza. If you prefer a commercial melty vegan cheese, they have that too on some of their other pizzas.

*Note: they started adding a second cheese to the Don’t Call Me Margarita pizza which is not homemade, and I don’t like it, so I now have to order it without the mozzarella and with just their homemade cashew cheese

It gets busy and they don’t take reservations, so if it gets full head over to their sister restaurant, Vrutal, across the street (mostly vegan burgers) or get a busy for takeaway and eat it on the beach!

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Green Spot Carrer de la Reina Cristina (100% vegetarian with vegan options – this location only)

Best for: date night or a special celebration

What to get: The green curry–you can tell how fresh it is by the fragrant herbs. (Just be aware they have dialed down the spice level for the local palate.)

€€€
Address: Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 12, 08003 Barcelona
Phone: +34 938 02 55 65
Website

If you’re looking for an upmarket vegan spot for date night, Green Spot has your back. If you want to impress (your parents, a date, yourself) with the ambiance then head here.

It’s very nicely designed inside and feels fancier than a lot of veggie/vegan spots in Barcelona (though I also think Roots & Rolls and Rasoterra make great special occasion spots).

Note that they opened a second location in 2022 which has meat on the menu but the first location, near the marina, on Carrer de la Reina Cristina (nearest metro station: Barceloneta) is fully vegetarian with vegan options.

Click here to make reservations (recommended).

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Vegan tapas Barcelona: Bubita (formerly Bar Celoneta) (100% vegan)

What to get: polenta cubes (stuffed with mushroosm and coated in vegan parmesan), potatoes with romesco sauce and, if you’re a fan of vegan seafood, the konjac ‘squid’ rings are popular

Carrer Flassaders 15
Phone: +34 933 10 41 00
Website

This all-vegan sangria bar also has an entirely vegan tapas menu! They also have vegan paella* and of course, several types of sangria. It’s the best vegan Barcelona tapas menu, so don’t miss it.

*Side note: paella is actually from Valencia (which is surrounded by rice fields), so it’s not typical of Barcelona, although lots of restaurants serve it for tourists.

Fideua, made with small noodles instead of rice, is more typical of Catalan cooking. Sangria is also not that popular in Spain, with most locals drinking tinto de verano (red wine mixed with gaseosa, a sort of lemonade-Sprite hybrid) instead.

That’s not to say you can’t enjoy paella in Barcelona (many locals do too!), but be aware it’s not a Catalan dish.

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Vegesana (Vegetarian with vegan options)

What to get: Yuxiang aubergine (berenjena salteada)

€€
Address: Carrer d’Aribau 14
Phone: +34 933 01 34 42
Website

I don’t know why more people don’t talk about Vegesana, but they should. This vegetarian Chinese restaurant serves the best Yuxiang eggplant (berenjena salteada). Crispy, salty but not overly so, with a perfectly balanced sweet and sour sauce on top.

Also, the chef is obsessed with carving carrot animals and he makes the cutest little carrot creations!

They deliver, too — order directly by calling them or on delivery apps like Glovo. (Happens to be my favourite delivery to get!)

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Veg World India (Vegetarian with vegan options)

What to get: the menu del dia lunchtime deal (great value for money)

€€
Address: Carrer Bruniquer 26
Phone: +34 932 10 70 56
Website

If you’re looking for a good-value lunch in Gracia Veg World India (who call themselves 90% vegan — what that means is almost everything on the menu is vegan except for a few marked items) is not only great value for money but they’re one of the few places I’ve been anywhere that you can get stuffed vegan cheese naan! (Be sure to ask for the vegan version because this place does serve dairy, too.)

The lunch deal includes a soup and salad buffet plus a thali.

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Sesamo Barcelona (Vegetarian with vegan options)

What to get: the roasted cauliflower with tahini, green sauce and pine nuts

€€€
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni de Abat 52
Phone: +34 934 41 64 11
Website

For pure impressiveness when it’s brought to your table, the whole head of roasted cauliflower (complete with a steak knife sticking out of it!) at Sesamo wins for the most impressive vegan dish in Barcelona.

Try their vegan tapas, too, or their tasting plate if you want to sample a lot of dishes.

Reservations are highly recommended as it gets busy in this place!

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Vacka (100% vegan)

Address: Carrer dels Almogàvers, 138, 08018 Barcelona, Spain (inside Apocapoc coworking space)
Phone: +34 652 44 64 14
Website

Since I wrote my original review, Vacka has focused their efforts on their cheese workshop and selling cheese to shops around Barcelona, and they moved to a new space inside a coworking space in the Poblenou neighbourhood.

I haven’t been yet. It’s still open to the public but the menu is very limited (just a set lunch menu without choices) and I’ve heard the space is quite small.

They post the weekly menu on their Instagram, so you can see which day you’d like to go. The menu might include mushroom bourguignon, a sushi bowl or calzone. They also run workshops there, including vegan cheesemaking classes!

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Quinoa Bar (100% vegan)

What to get: the classic burger

€
Address: Carrer d’Aragó, 209, 08011 Barcelona
Travessera de Gràcia, 203, 08012 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: +34 931 12 93 26
Website | Facebook

This down-to-earth, cosy bar serves vegan burgers, sandwiches and wraps at reasonable prices, and they’re now fully vegan (previously they were vegetarian).

Don’t miss the lunchtime special (menú del día). If you’re a fan of old-school veggie burgers made with beans over thew newer burgers that replicate meat, then head to Quinoa Bar.

They make my favourite burgers in Barcelona (I’m a fan of bean-y burgers!).

Quinoa is a small, dog-friendly bar on Travessera de Gracia (which is cosy, but only has a few tables). Reservations are still highly recommended to avoid disappointment if you can’t find a seat!

I’d definitely go for one of the burgers. (P.S. Their only downfall is the burgers don’t come with chips/fries and they don’t have them on the menu. Consider yourself warned!)

Reservations recommended.

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Xavier Pellicer (non-veg with vegan options)

€€€
Address: Carrer de Provença, 310, 08037 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: +34 935 25 90 02
Website

Looking for an upscale vegan meal? Xavier Pellicer’s previous restaurant, Celeri, was awarded a Michelin star and I loved my birthday meal there (photo above from Celeri).

Celeri has since closed, but he opened a new restaurant under his name, and it’s also vegan friendly.

The menu is based around vegetables, and for each vegetable there is a vegan option and a non-vegan option. If you’re a fan of seasonal, local vegetables prepared creatively, head here for a meal.

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Other vegan spots worth a visit

Amma Gelato (100% vegan)

Vegan ice cream! I go to this place countless times per month in the summer. It’s an all-vegan Italian style gelato place and it’s SO GOOD. My favourite ice cream in Barcelona.

Try the pistachio ice cream! I also love the peanut salted caramel flavour.

CactusCat Bar (100% vegan)

The only place I know of in Barcelona that serve a vegan full English breakfast, CactusCat bar is a vegan restaurant right by MACBA, the contemporary art museum.

They also have tapas, vegan lasagne and cake (try the doughnuts served with coconut cream!). Named after a mythological creature named the CactusCat, you’ll find their logo and interior adorned with cute cat drawings.

The Vegan Corner Barcelona (100% vegan)

This cute little cafe, right in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, is the perfect place to stop for coffee and cake (see their pastry selection below).

They also have a few savoury dishes like sandwiches. (Note: If you search for The Vegan Corner, you’ll find a Youtube cooking channel. Be sure to search for ‘The Vegan Corner Barcelona’)

It’s a nice place to go for a croissant and coffee for breakfast (it’s on a pretty little pedestrianised side street and there are tables outside) and they also have a menu del dia (lunch deal). I haven’t tried the lunch deal but it’s very well priced for Barcelona these days – €10 for 3 courses.

Cat Bar (100% vegan)

Not related to CactusCat bar, Cat Bar is one of the oldest all vegan places in Barcelona, if not THE oldest vegan place in Barcelona, and home to some of Barcelona’s best vegan patatas bravas (they double fry them!).

This laidback vegan bar is the perfect spot for a beer and a burger in Born.

There’s also a piano in the bar and if you’re lucky you might get to hear someone playing it (or you can play it yourself!). Plus, the prices are really reasonable.

Monchito’s (100% vegan)

Monchito’s is a vegan Mexican taqueria in the centre of Barcelona. I went when it opened and the menu was a bit vegan meat heavy for my taste, but others loved the vegan meat tacos so if that’s your thing, go here.

The owner is a long-time vegan, too (I think he said more than 20 years!).

I like the baja cauliflower taco.

Veggie Garden (100% vegan)

If you’re on a budget, Veggie Garden is a very affordable, laidback vegan restaurant with multiple locations. The food is too bland for my tastes, but it’s popular because of the prices.

Good Shit kebabs (100% vegan)

I didn’t expect to like their kebabs, since I’m not into vegan meat, but I ended up loving them. They are, however, very expensive for kebabs in my opinion. That hasn’t stopped me enjoying them down many, many times!

Note: takeaway only, no seating. Take them to one of the nearby plazas (e.g. Placa del Sol) and eat on the ground.

La Branqueta (100% vegan)

The cutest little hole-in-the-wall Japanese place, La Branqueta is lunch only, only has three tables and is basically always booked! You need to book in advance by Whatsapp (number on their Instagram).

You can also get takeaway (which you need to order in advance by Whatsapp as it runs out).

The place is always so busy from word of mouth only and there’s a reason why! The food is delicious and you get the momentary situation you’ve stepped through a wormhole and been transported to Tokyo.

The owner is lovely and makes authentic, home-cooked Japanese food. Each week there are 3 or 4 different dishes to choose from and she varies them every week.

Afterwards, you can grab a doughnut at Bungnuts if you want dessert!

Vegan Junk Food Bar (100% vegan)

As the name implies, it’s all junk food. Very vegan meat heavy and expect lots of fried elements.

Good if you want some greasy food, but it is on the more expensive side for what it is. I did love the mac & cheese croquettes (fried mac & cheese balls).

La Golosa Vegan Vurger (100% vegan)

I haven’t tried it yet but I’ve heard good things about La Golosa.

La Trocadero (100% vegan)

I wouldn’t go out of my way to go here, but it is tasty and quick – ideal if you want a quick bite after seeing Sagrada Familia (it’s very close by).

Bungnuts doughnuts (100% vegan)

A 100% vegan doughnut shop with some very elaborate (and large and delicious) doughnuts. Monthly specials.

Michelin starred with vegan options: Disfrutar (non-veg with vegan options)

I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard if you want a Michelin-star vegan meal in Barcelona, Disfrutar is the place to go. This two Michelin-starred restaurant is frequently ranked in the top restaurants in the world, and can make vegan options.

Unsurprisingly, it fills up quickly and you must book far in advance and request the vegan options when you book.

My favourite vegan-friendly restaurants in Barcelona (non-vegan restaurants with vegan options)

These spots are ideal if you’re travelling with meat eaters who don’t want to eat in veggie restaurants.

Beryti (non-veg with vegan options)

This home-style Lebanese restaurant in Gracia is run by the loveliest people and they have plenty of vegan options! They change their menu daily but usually half or more of the dishes are vegan.

The interior is chic and the food is home-cooked. They said they wanted to make it feel like you were stepping into someone’s home in Lebanon, with the same hospitality and the same home-style food.

I love it because they often have dishes that you won’t find on the menus of other Lebanese restaurants (since they’re more the kinds of foods you’d find at home) and everything is fresh and tasty.

Dog-friendly. Perfect place to take non-vegans who don’t want to go to a vegan restaurant.

Flax & Kale (non-veg with vegan options)

This well-known vegan friendly Barcelona spot has a few locations. Their “flexitarian” restaurants have had an extensive vegan menu for years, long before other restaurants started adding vegan options.

They mark all the plant-based options on the menu and the majority of the menu is vegan.

Their focus is on healthy foods so expect this rather than greasy burgers. I love the kale salad with mango and lime dressing.

Honest Greens (non-veg with vegan options)

I went to Honest Greens in Madrid when I was there in 2018 and ended up eating there a few times I enjoyed it so much, and now they’ve expanded to Barcelona.

Food here is healthy and quick, so if you need to grab a fast meal before a show, head here.

More than half the menu is vegan and their locations are very central.

Best Vegan Breakfast Barcelona

Wondering what the best vegan brunch Barcelona has to offer is? Barcelona went through a period of a bit of a dearth of good vegan breakfast options but thankfully that time has ended, and you have plenty of options when it comes to brunch!

Eqvilibrium vegan cafe Barcelona

This all-vegan cafe specialises in breakfast and brunch options like chickpea omelettes, avocado toast, pancakes and porridge.

The service can be a bit slow. Try the chickpea omelette or the croissant.

It’s the best spot in Barcelona for vegan brunch currently!

Eat My Trip

My previous favourite vegan brunch in Barcelona is Eat My Trip. This non-vegetarian restaurant has excellent vegan options.

I was worried the first time I went that it was an ‘Instagram cafe’ – pretty interiors and pretty plates, but food lacking in flavour. I was wrong. The food both looks and tastes good.

Disappointingly, I was told (early 2022) that they’d taken the vegan pancakes off the menu, which is sad as they were my favourite (they rotated the flavours and once had vegan apple pancakes with amaretto cream!).

Now it looks like they just have an acai bowl or a couple of savoury vegan breakfast options — disappointing!

CactusCat for vegan full English

There’s only one vegan full English breakfast in Barcelona, and that’s at CactusCat bar. So if you’re craving a full English, head here.

Flax & Kale: healthy breakfasts

This flexitarian restaurant serves up healthy vegan breakfasts like an acai bowl, pink pitaya bowl, chia flax bagel with vegan cream cheese and tempeh or more. 

Cremat 11

If you don’t mind a menu with only one vegan brunch option, Cremat 11 does a delicious vegan breakfast plate. But it’s their only vegan breakfast option!

It’s a good option if you’re with a non-vegan who isn’t up for trying a vegan spot. And the breakfast is delicious: baby potatoes, roasted tomatoes, spinach and sourdough served on the most delicious cheesy coconut cream base.

Eat vegan breakfast anywhere with tomato bread

Barcelona vegan food can be simple (and widely available).

Bread rubbed with garlic, tomato and olive oil (a sort of Catalan version of bruschetta) is a popular breakfast food in Catalunya and available in 99% of tapas bars.

So pop into a local bar and order an espresso and pan con tomate (pa amb tomaquet in Catalan).

Croissants at Santa Clara, Crois Sants and Santoni

My favourite vegan breakfast in Barcelona is a croissant! There are a few bakeries that make vegan croissants (unfortunately, my favourite, Knella/D’Monica, has now closed) and the best ones, in my opinion, are the chocolate-filled ones!

You can get vegan croissants (ask which are vegan) at Santa Clara Bakery (just €1.70 per croissant) in Gracia or Crois Sants in Sants and Sagrada Familia.

Santa Clara in particular is a favourite as it’s a very traditional bakery (with an old-school interior) that’s been running since the 1930s.

Vegan Lunch in Barcelona

Bargain Barcelona lunches with menú del día

Don’t miss out on the menú del día — lunch specials offered at many restaurants around town.

You can save quite a bit on lunch with the menú del día (which usually includes three courses – a starter, main and dessert – for anywhere from €10-15).

At The Vegan Corner, you can get three courses for €10. Other menu del dias include: La Branqueta (100% vegan), Veggie Garden (100% vegan), Tulsi (100% vegan), Gallo Santo (100% vegan), Aguaribay (vegetarian with vegan options), Kriti (vegetarian with vegan options) and Veg World India (vegetarian with vegan options).

Vegan tapas in Barcelona: how to eat vegan ANYWHERE

If you’re travelling with non-vegans to Barcelona, don’t fear! You can find a vegan meal in any tapas bar since some tapas are naturally vegan!

Here’s what the choose from the tapas menu to make sure your meal is plant-based…

You can still enjoy tapas as a vegan! In fact, one of the easiest ways to get vegan food in a non-vegan place is to go for tapas.

Look for some typically vegan tapas which are usually on the menu (and just double check if they are vegan):

• Pa amb tomaquet/pan con tomato (tomato bread) – a typical Catalan breakfast dish (but great at any time of day!) of toasted bread rubbed with tomato and olive oil.  It’s simple but delicious!
• Escalivada (roasted vegetables) – a mix of grilled aubergines, onions, red peppers and tomatoes, usually served with bread
• Pimientos de padrón (roasted padron peppers) – roasted in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt, these are simple but incredibly delicious
• Gazpacho – a chilled tomato soup which is perfect for a hot summer day!
• Patatas bravas minus alioli – fried potato chunks in a spicy tomato/paprika sauce. Check if the sauce is vegan and just make sure they leave off the alioli (which is like a garlic mayonnaise; the authentic, old-school version is vegan but many modern versions contain eggs).
• Olivas (olives) – make sure they aren’t stuffed with anchovies! It’s best to ask for ‘olivas con hueso’ (olives with pits).

Sometimes you’ll also see other grilled vegetables on the menu – for example, grilled artichokes (alcachofas) or grilled mushrooms (champiñones a la plancha).  

Also, a lot of tapas places around Barcelona seem to sell a less-traditional but vegan dish: hummus with crackers or bread.

Want tapas at an all veggie/vegan place?

• Bubita is an all-vegan sangria bar that offers tapas
• Chez Kessler: a bar with vegan tapas menu
• Sesamo is a vegetarian restaurant that both offers traditional tapas with a twist, such as padron peppers with chilli and lime (be sure to make a reservation here)
• La Raposa del Poble Sec is a vegan, feminist bar that has some tapas

Vegan bakeries, ice cream & treats

Vegan bakeries in Barcelona

There are a few vegan and vegan-friendly bakeries in Barcelona, so you won’t miss dessert.

Amma (100% vegan)

Amma make my favourite vegan ice cream in Barcelona (try the pistachio!).

Bungnuts (100% vegan)

This all-vegan doughnut shop has delicious and inventive flavours.

La Besneta vegan bakery Barcelona (100% vegan)

La Besneta is an all-vegan bakery in the Gracia neighbourhood that has muffins, cookies and cake (including cake in a jar!). Try the jar cake.

La Areca (100% vegan)

A fully vegan doughnut shop, which I haven’t tried since they use eritritol instead of sugar and I always have a bad reaction to it. They look good though!

Gocce di Latte (two locations, one non-vegan, one location 100% vegan)

This shop has some inventive flavours, and also have vegan crepes and brioche (though they were out both days I went recently).

Be careful because Google maps points you to the non-vegan location, but they have signs that point you to the vegan shop, which is only a 3-minute walk away.

Bakeries with vegan options:

Chok is a bakery in the Gothic Quarter and Gracia with vegan options, including vegan Nutella-stuffed doughnuts.

Boldu (a bakery chain) has vegan doughnuts.

Demasie is a bakery in Born with vegan cinnamon rolls (though I don’t think they’re that great) and vegan cookies (which are great)

Candela Canela is a cinnamon roll place in Gracia with a vegan option

Santa Clara is a traditional Spanish bakery in Gracia (open since 1951) that always has a wide range of vegan options (including croissants and savoury options), including vegan versions of typical Catalan baked goods.

Definitely go here if you want to experience a typical, old-school Barcelona bakery! I love the croissants with a coffee (they have non-dairy milk available).

Petritxol Xocoa might be the only spot for vegan churros Barcelona has (at least with vegan chocolate dip, too–lots of traditionally-made churros (the doughnuts themselves) are vegan but the chocolate sauce usually isn’t). I haven’t been yet but if you want to try vegan churros, this is apparently the place to go!

Vegan ice cream Barcelona

You’ll find small heladerias/gelato stalls tucked all over Barcelona, especially in the plazas.

There’s nothing better than sitting in the shade of a plaza, eating a fruity gelato on a hot summer day!

Luckily, since they are made in the Italian style, most ice cream places here have vegan options (normally in the fruit section) – just ask if they have any that are dairy free (sin leche).  And they are delicious!

For a fully vegan gelato experience, head Amma (fully vegan), my favourite vegan ice cream place, or Gocce di Latte, a vegan gelateria.

Careful because Gocce di Latte have two shops and the one Google shows you is the non-vegan shop. Follow the signs to their vegan shop just round the corner.

Vegan Shopping (groceries, shoes, makeup and more)

Where to Buy Vegan Food in Barcelona: Supermarkets & Markets

Vegans & Bio vegan supermarket Barcelona (formerly Ecocentre)

Vegans & Bio is a vegan supermarket, and it’s much larger than most vegan supermarkets I’ve seen in London, Paris or Berlin.  It’s about on par with Veganz in Hamburg for size.  

It’s not a huge supermarket like a big national chain, but this competes with the little grocery stores you’ll find dotted around Barcelona.  

Vegans & Bio is a vegan heaven – looking for vegan tuna? They’ve got 3 varieties!  Mayo? At least 7 (including different brands and all sorts of flavours!).  Whipped cream? 5 kinds!  It’s got everything in vegan form. It’s amazing.

If you’re itching to try vegan chorizo (a popular spicy Spanish sausage) while you’re in Barcelona, it has a whole fridge full of them.

Note – they used to be dog friendly but the last time I tried to go in they weren’t.

Vegacelona vegan store Barcelona

Vegacelona is a small but well-stocked vegan store near Sagrada Familia plus two additional branches in Barcelona. Since it’s small, they specialise mainly in vegan “junk food” products you can’t get in a typical supermarket — like specialty vegan meats and cheeses, whipped cream and Oatly barista.

They have several kinds of vegan burgers, including the Beyond Burger, available in bulk so if you just want to purchase one or two to try, head here.

It’s also dog-friendly and the owners (who have now moved away but still own the shop) were invaluable to me in giving me tips on having a dog in Barcelona.

Ven Vegano vegan shop Barcelona

Ven Vegano is another vegan store near Sagrada Familia, where the owners speak English and are extremely friendly and helpful – they’re the best! They sell a range of both specialty vegan products and dried goods like noodles and beans. They are also dog friendly.

I shop here frequently – they sells all kinds of things.

This is the kind of place you go as part of your weekly shop (unlike Vegacelona which is really a place to go grab a snack like some vegan sweets/chocolates), to pick up your vegan cheese, butter, and burgers, and grab some maple syrup and oats while you’re at it.

God Save the Green vegan store (formerly Vegadiso)

God Save the Green’s a vegan granel/bulk store in the city centre (Raval). Here you can find vegan items that I’ve not seen in bulk elsewhere such as vegan M&Ms and vegan white chocolate chips!

Cal Veganic vegan shop

Cal Veganic’s a vegan shop in the Poblenou area that sells vegan food and refills of vegan household products like washing up liquid.

THELIVINGFOOD vegan store

If you’re into raw food or healthy eating, or you just want to check out Barcelona’s artisan vegan cheese scene, you have to check out The Living Food.

An all vegan and mostly raw shop in hipster haven Sant Antoni, The Living Food sells every superfood, supplement, sauce, syrup and dried good you could want. Plus they make their own artisan vegan cheeses!

Beans & Market Stalls

If you’ve got a kitchen, you’ll definitely want to check out the local markets!  

Although there are some disgusting sights in there (unfortunately the meat stalls and vegetable/fruit stalls are usually not separated – although thankfully the fish stalls are often segregated into one smelly, awful area!), there are some fantastic fruit and veg stalls.  

It’s like a farmer’s market that runs every day (except Sundays, usually), and they’re very local.

Apart from La Boqueria, the famous market off Las Ramblas, most of the markets in Barcelona are not frequented by tourists. The city’s put a lot (millions of Euros!) into regenerating the markets and they are fantastic.  

I was advised by an elderly lady in my old building to always shop in the market because the fruits and vegetables are higher quality but also cheaper.  In addition to fruits and vegetables, you’ll usually find stalls that sell spices, nuts, dried beans, olive oils, bread and even Japanese and Middle Eastern stalls selling tahini, wasabi and the like!

But my absolute favourite part of the markets are the cooked bean stalls!  You’ll find cooked bean shops (legumes cuits) dotted around the city, as well as the stalls in the markets.

There, you’ll usually find giant bowls of cooked chickpeas (giant and small), white beans, lentils and more, and you can buy as many grams of whatever variety of cooked beans you want.

They cook them fresh each morning. Sometimes they also sell cooked pasta, rice and quinoa.  I made the best hummus I’ve ever eaten in my life using some of these beans and authentic tahini from a Lebanese supermarket.  

They’re brilliant if you want to pack in the flavour of beans cooked from scratch but don’t have the time or energy to make them from dried (which is especially true if you’re a tourist and trying to devote your time to exploring Barcelona rather than cooking dried beans!).  

I’m lazy, so I’ve rarely cooked beans from dried in the past – but now that I’ve discovered these stalls, I can’t go back to tins of beans (or glass jars of beans, as they are sold here), so consume carefully.

Supermarket Finds

There are a surprising number of accidentally vegan foods in supermarkets.  It helps if you can read Spanish; if not, be sure to have a handy translation app on your smartphone (Google Translate is free to download)!  

For example, I’ve found accidentally vegan versions of:  hot chocolate mix for churro dipping, frozen churros, chocolate sauce for ice cream and caramel sauce.

A few items you might want to try:

Patatas bravas sauce (this is a famous fried potato dish, served at tapas restaurants and usually with brava sauce and aioli – which usually isn’t vegan). It’s also good on boiled or roasted potatoes but even just on some bread!

Here’s a recipe for vegan patatas bravas. You can also order it on Amazon if you want to taste it before your trip. Buy it here.

Romesco sauce is a traditional Catalan sauce made of almonds and roasted red peppers. It’s delicious on roasted vegetables or bread and is traditionally eaten with calcots (spring onions) at a spring onion barbecue.

Here’s a romesco sauce recipe if you want to make your own! Or you could order it on Amazon to try before your trip. Order it here.

Gazpacho: I remember years ago people telling me how everyone in Spain beats the heat by eating this chilled tomato soup. I didn’t see how this could compete with air conditioning, but after living in Barcelona, I get it.

Ok, it doesn’t quite beat air conditioning, but it really is refreshing! Most gazpacho is vegan — it’s just tomatoes, bell pepper cucumber, bread, olive oil and vinegar blended.

Horchata, a drink originally from Valencia in Spain and made from chufa, or tiger nuts (many brands add milk but this one’s suitable for vegans). If you’ve never tried it, you should — it’s delicious!

For more accidentally vegan products in the main supermarket chains, check out the helpful lists (in Spanish) on Vegano por Accidente.

Granel/bulk stores

One thing I love about Barcelona is how manu bulk (granel/gra) shops they have! You’ll find them all over the city, and there’s a real mix.

Some are old-school, traditional stores that have been around for many decades — since bulk shopping has long been a part of life here.

Others are shiny new stores inaugurated in the last few years as the zero waste movement picked up steam.

You’ll also find prices vary a lot. They’re in most neighbourhoods so take a look around where you’re staring.

Here are a few I particularly like:

Gra de Gracia

If you’re staying in Gracia, you’re in luck.  Check out Gra de Gracia, a bulk store with an excellent vegan labelling system. It is pricier than some other bulk stores, so I tend to go here for special vegan items they stock, like vegan Nutella in bulk (made with local hazelnuts), vegan bulk cookies and their tahini, which is the best.

It’s a shop that sells dried foods in bulk, without any packaging, to reduce waste.  They sell all sorts of rices, flours, teas, sugar, nuts, seeds, spices, pastas (of all varieties – kamut, quinoa, lentil etc), and more.  

The shop is beautifully arranged and the containers of food look like a work of art!  Just grab some paper bags and fill with as much of you want and when you get to the till they’ll weigh and label them.  

Perfect for getting a little bit of that one spice you need for just a single dish.  I always hate buying a big jar and wasting.

Especially useful when you’re on holiday and might only use a little bit over the course of your trip.

Useful tip: vegan is vegà in Catalan. They have a lot of vegan cookies and mueslis and the ones that are vegan are labelled vegà. They also stock some vegan cheeses.

Gra de Gracia
Address: Carrer de Puigmarti 11
Phone: +34 932 10 28 46
Website: https://gradegracia.cat/

Pasta i Gra

You probably won’t end up here unless you’re staying in Gracia, but this place (near metro Joanic) is awesome because the prices are good, the owner is very lovely and helpful and they have quite the selection of beans!

They have local beans, rare and unusual artisan beans and multiple varieties of the usual beans like chickpeas.

They also have an enormous selection of bulk pastas (hence the name), flours, spices, nuts and more.

They don’t label things as vegan but if you ask the owner he will check ingredients for you. Most things they sell don’t require labelling though as they tend to just be ingredients.

El Safareig for household products

El Safareig is a long-standing bulk store in Gracia that sells all kinds of household cleaning products in refills/bulk, like soaps, detergents and even essential oil refills! I’d love to see better vegan labelling, however.

Vom Fass for oils and vinegars

Vom Fass is a bulk store in Gracia specialising in liquids! They sell bulk oils, vinegars and alcohols.

They even have a section of bulk oils for skincare. The owner is great to talk to and will regale you with facts and stores while refilling your oil.

Vegan shoes, makeup & more

Vegere Vegan Beauty in Gracia is Barcelona’s first vegan beauty parlour, using only vegan products with their massages, nails, facials, make-up and hair removal.

Gata Organic Cosmetics is a vegan-friendly organic makeup store in Raval. The owner, who’s vegetarian herself, is very knowledgeable about which products are vegan and will give you lots of advice–she’s a gem!

Another place to find vegan cosmetics, bags and t-shirts are at the monthly vegan fairs in Barcelona, which take place monthly on a Saturday or Sunday in the Born neighbourhood.

Check on Facebook for the next Feria Vegana: https://www.facebook.com/FeriaVegana/. You’ll find around two dozen stalls selling mainly food but also bags, t-shirts and cosmetics. I love Oliwia of Holiskine’s handmade vegan, zero waste skincare products (available at the Feria Vegana).

Vegan Phrases You Need to Know

Here are some Spanish phrases you need to know before your trip:

• I’m vegan (male/female/non-binary). Yo soy vegano/vegana/vegane.
• I don’t eat meat. No como carne.
• Does that contain cheese? ¿Lleva queso?
• Does that contain gluten? ¿Lleva gluten?
• Does that contain soy? ¿Lleva soja?
• Is it raw? ¿Es crudo?
• Soymilk Leche de soja
• Oatmilk Leche de avena
• Gluten-free Sin gluten
• Without ham Sin jamón
• Without lard Sin manteca
• Vegan Vegà in Catalan

*Why Spanish? What language do I need to know in Barcelona? Barcelona is the capital of Catalunya, and as such locals speak Catalan. It is not, as some mistakenly believe, a dialect of Spanish; it is a language which developed out of Latin and I personally see more similarities with French than Spanish.

While some of the older generation may not be completely fluent in Spanish, most people under the age of 50 are fluent in Spanish, and learn it in school. There are political sensitivities around language use and Spanish vs Catalan.

However, there are many immigrants from other parts of Spain and Latin America (not to mention the rest of Europe and the world) living in Barcelona, who speak Spanish.

So, for this reason, I’ve given you the translations in Spanish, rather than Catalan, as you’re more likely to be understood by both locals and immigrants alike.

The End + Your Freebie!

Hope you’ve found this helpful! I’ve tried to condense as much information on vegan Barcelona as I could in one post, but of course my guidebook is much more extensive. 

Click here to buy my Barcelona vegan guidebook.

Note: This post was originally published in July 2015 but I update it every 6 months or so with the latest and best vegan restaurants in Barcelona, and information for Barcelona visitors.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive guide (see my book for that!) but an overview and as much info as I could squeeze into a blog post.

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Looking for more vegan city guides? I also have vegan guides to Paris, Athens, Amsterdam and Brighton, and vegan cafes in London. 

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I’ve also got guides to vegan hotels in Berlin, vegan London hotels and the top vegan hotels in the whole of the UK, plus I have a guide to the best vegan resorts if you’re looking for a trip to a resort.

You can see my guide to retreats for vegans and vegan tours.

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