Whereas the city’s architecture, the city’s history, and the city’s culture take center stage as one tours the city of Barcelona, perhaps the best way to get an idea about Barcelona is by experiencing its breakfast culture.
It’s not just a breakfast dish. It’s a fiesta of local produce, communal ecstasy, and the laid-back temperament of the city.
Why Treat Yourself To The Local Breakfast In Barcelona?
Whenever you are traveling to a new place, it is obvious that you should try out the local cuisine to get a taste of the culture.
So, in similar manner when you are in Spain, try out the best breakfast in Barcelona to have an idea about how the day is going to be.
1. Avoid The Tourist Traps
Far too often, tourists are seduced into high-priced, inferior restaurants serving boring “continental” breakfasts elsewhere.
By eating at real Catalan breakfast cafes, you avoid the tourist trap and taste real Barcelona.
Traditional cafes provide traditional cuisine at reasonable prices, usually in old streets where locals, rather than tourists, gather.
2. Feel The Vibe
Barcelona breakfast is rather a matter of atmosphere — of getting into the rhythm of the city. Folks linger for hours in cafes sipping café con leche and reading the newspapers or chatting with friends.
The easy, informal atmosphere gives a feel for the everyday rhythm of Barcelona, one that is warm with people contact, conversation, and simple pleasures.
3. Taste The Flavors
Breakfast plate in Barcelona is a combination of flavors: think about flaky pastry with custard, crispy churros with rich, dense chocolate on top, dense pan con tomate (bread and tomato), or homemade sandwiches.
To be able to eat breakfast dishes, you will familiarize yourselves with the ingredients and cooking techniques which reign over Catalans’ cuisine.
Where Is The Best Breakfast In Barcelona?
The following are some spots that you must try for a breakfast to remember:
1. La Pallaresa Xocolateria Xurreria
Churro heaven! La Pallaresa, in the Gothic Quarter, is renowned for churros con chocolate — fried, golden churros served with an impossibly thick, stringy chocolate to dip. They also have melindros (sponge fingers) and ensaimadas (light, spiral pastry).
- What to order: Churros con chocolate, melindros, mato cheese with honey and walnuts, crema catalana, Spanish flan with whipped cream.
- Dietary Options: Vegetarian and gluten-free options.
- Address: Carrer de Petritxol, 11, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| Tip: Get there early so you don’t miss the throngs and get to have your churros hot and freshly made. |
2. Granja Dulcinea
A block away from here, Granja Dulcinea is a nostalgic, old-timey café where you can stop by for a traditional Catalan breakfast.
It has been open since 1930 and is famous for its suizo (whipped cream-topped hot chocolate) and traditional pastries. It’s a sweet spot where you can feel as though time stands still.
- What to order: Ensaimada, Xuixo de crema, crema catalana, and melindro con chocolate
- Dietary Options: Some gluten-free options
- Address: Carrer de Petritxol, 2, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
3. Patisseria La Colmena
La Colmena has been Barcelona’s oldest bakery since 1849. Just off Plaça Sant Jaume, it’s a haven for anyone who loves traditional Spanish pastry. Have their turrón (nougat) or purchase a box of hand-made sweets and candies to go.
- What to order: Xuixo de crema, Carquinyolis, Nougat of Xixona and Alacant, Pine nuts panellets.
- Dietary Options: Some gluten-free and lactose-free options.
- Address: Plaça de l’Àngel,12, Cuitat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| Recommended: Locals simply love the butter croissants. |
4. Planelles Donat
If turrón is your thing, Planelles Donat is the place to be. They are famous for the seasonals such as horchata (tiger nut drink) in summer but offer year-round essentials such as panellets (small almond cakes) ideal for a light morning breakfast.
- What to order: Coconut ice cream, horchata, and sorbet flavours.
- Dietary Options: Vegan and Lactose-free options.
- Address: Av del Portal de l’Àngel, 27, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain.
5. The Vegan Corner
Vegetarian travelers, rejoice! The Vegan Corner offers a fully vegan menu, from smoothie bowls to croissants and breakfast dishes. This tiny café is proof that Spanish heritage and vegan go quite well together.
- What to order: Everything is vegan so taste it all!
- Dietary Options: It’s all vegan and some cakes are also gluten-free
- Address: Carrer d’Ataülf, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| A must-try: Their Mediterranean-style avocado toast. |
6. Meson del Café 1909
A tiny gem a block from La Rambla, Meson del Café is a tiny, old-fashioned café that’s been serving robust coffee since 1909, making them the most popular coffeeshop in Barcelona.
They home-roast their coffee, and it goes down well especially with plain tostadas or crispy napolitana de chocolate (chocolate pastry).
- What to order: Churros con chocolate, crema catalana and the caffe bombon
- Dietary Options: Lactose and gluten-free options as tapas
- Address: Carrer de la Llibreteria, 16, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
7. Turris
Run by award-winning baker Xavier Barriga, Turris is dedicated to its own freshly baked bread. Its sandwiches, constructed around tidily made-up breads of spelt or multigrain, constitute a healthy and tasty breakfast.
- What to order: madgalena with sugar, ensaimada, carquinyolis, eyelets, coca de lardos, Coca d’escalivasa, Panellets de pinyons
- Dietary Options: Some gluten-free and lactose-free options.
- Address: Many locations in the city center
8. Gula Sana Gluten-Free Lab
To gluten-free customers, Gula Sana is a godsend. They serve an excellent array of pastries, cakes, and sandwiches without compromise on taste or texture. They provide gargantuan breakfasts which are gluten-free for celiac or gluten-intolerant clients.
- What to order: palmera, chocolate cookies, gluten-free and yeast-free brownies, cañas with chocolate and cinnamon rolls.
- Dietary Options: gluten-free, lactose-free, yeast-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free.
- Address: Carrer de la Diputació, 187, Local 2, L’Eixample, 08011 Barcelona, Spain
| Highlight: Gluten-free carrot cake and coffee set! |
9. Villa Bakery
Right in the heart of Eixample, Villa Bakery combines French gastronomic heritage and Spanish ingredients. It offers an excellent variety of cakes, pastries, and high-end coffees in a warm and stylish setting.
- What to order: croissant with ham and cheese, butter croissant, cheesecake, and orange juice.
- Dietary Options: lactose-free options.
- Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 662, L 3, Eixample, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| Specialty: It has one of the city’s best almond croissants. |
10. Casa Vives
For a fully honest Catalan breakfast, head to Casa Vives. With several shops throughout town, it’s one of the go-to local gathering spots due to its good-quality offerings: savory sandwiches (bocadillos), baked breads, and some of the city’s best espresso.
- What to order: any of their chocolate; the cream and lemon tartlets, and the jam biscuits.
- Dietary Options: Nothing in particular
- Address: Rambla de Catalunya, 58, Eixample, 08007, Barcelon, Spain
| Tip: Get a coca de forner — a sugary flatbread covered with sugar. |
What Time Do You Eat Breakfast in Barcelona?
Breakfast in Barcelona is slightly later than elsewhere. The most of the locals will have an early light breakfast between 7:30–9:00 a.m. — maybe a coffee and a small pastry.
But the more substantial “second breakfast” (esmorzar) is between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., usually sandwiches, toast, and tomato. Or more substantial café food. It’s an informal affair, usually followed by a second coffee or juice.
Note: All but the busiest bakeries and cafes in Barcelona open relatively early, although mid-morning there is a morning rush of frantic breakfast action.
Related: A Culinary Symphony Of Love: 20 Best Romantic Dinner Ideas To Share With Your Partner
What People Typically Eat For Breakfast In Barcelona?
Breakfast in Barcelona isn’t quite so laden with heaviness, i.e., a good English breakfast.
Here’s what you typically have to look forward to:
– Coffee: Café con leche (coffee and milk) or cortado (shorthand coffee topped off with a dollop of milk).
– Pastries: Croissants, napolitanas, or ensaimadas are an example.
– Pan con Tomate: Toast with mashed overripe tomatoes, olive oil, and salt — a traditional Catalan dish.
– Bocadillos: Simple sandwiches filled with jamón ibérico, cheese, or omelet.
– Churros con Chocolate: A popular breakfast or brunch dish during the winter.
– Fresh Juices: Paired with pastries, orange juice (zumo de naranja) being an example.
Bon Appetit!
Barcelona breakfast is a sensory experience that offers up so much more than just basic sustenance — it offers up connection, culture, and community.
Whether dipping churros into rich chocolate at La Pallaresa, indulging in artisanal bread at Turris, or biting into a gluten-free muffin at Gula Sana, each bite is a story.
Steering clear of tourist traps and grabbing a coffee at local cafés enables you to experience the city like a Barcelonés: intentionally, pleasantly, and slowly.
The next time you’re in this wonderful city, skip the boring hotel breakfast. Step outside into the streets, take a stool at a small café, and let the good sense of Barcelona start your day off.
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