• Free Tours
  • Fixed Price Tours
  • Private Tours
    • All Private Tours
    • Gaudí & Sagrada Familia
    • Gothic Quarter
    • Shore Excursions Barcelona
    • Day Trips Outside Barcelona
    • Specialised Tours
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR STORY
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
  • ES

Walking Tours Barcelona - Runner Bean Tours

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Gluten Free Barcelona: The complete guide

Gluten Free Barcelona Guide

Michael Scott-Kline Leave a Comment

When it comes to food in Barcelona, we prefer to leave it to the experts. Looking for people who can master the food scene in any city is not an easy task unless you know where to look. Let me introduce you to Michael Scott-Kline, food guru and the co-owner of The Barcelona Taste, the first (and still the best) company in Barcelona specialising in food tours. He will take care of all our articles with culinary recommendations so you can have a hell of a foodie time in Barcelona. He starts with practical advice for visitors looking for gluten-free in Barcelona.

INDEX

  • Gluten Free in Barcelona? No worries
  • Traditional Dishes Free of Gluten
  • Desserts and drinks without gluten
  • What dishes to avoid if you are gluten intolerant
  • Gluten-Free Restaurants in Barcelona
    • En Ville
    • M2 Gluten Free
    • Masala73 Curry Bar
    • Singlut [PERMANENTLY CLOSED]
    • Out of China
    • Teresa Carles

Gluten Free in Barcelona? No worries

Visitors to Barcelona searching for gluten-free restaurants and meals might worry that in a place famous for its pa amb tomàquet (literally “bread with tomato”, but it’s really so much more than that…) would face an uphill battle. While it’s true that many traditional Spanish and Catalan dishes do contain gluten, fortunately, there are many excellent choices that do not. So which tapas should you look out for?

Pa amb tomaquet - Bread with tomato
Traditional Pa amb tomàquet. Definitely NOT gluten-free… well, most times

Well before you head out for lunch or dinner, you might want to plan-in some snacks earlier in the day. In Barcelona, people tend to have lunch from 2.00 pm and dinner after 8.00 pm-8.30 pm. It’s also worth noting that kitchens aren’t open all day. Lunch hours vary but are typically 1.30 pm-4.00 pm (sometimes later) and dinner hours are usually from 8.00 pm. Fortunately, in many places, tapas tend to be served even when the kitchen is closed for more formal dining. However, if you prefer to eat earlier than is considered standard here, you may find rather fewer options available, apart from the most basic tapas.

So, it could be wise to enjoy a large, long lunch in order to stretch to a later dinner, or stock up on some snacks that can keep you going until the kitchens are in full swing. Nowadays, nearly all major supermarket chains also stock and sell gluten-free versions of popular foods. Mercadona supermarkets usually have an extensive range of gluten-free foods and were one of the first in Spain to introduce this, as the daughter of the owner is a celiac herself.

When you do eventually arrive at the restaurant or tapas bar, it is always worth explaining to your waiter if you cannot consume gluten. “Sin gluten” (in Spanish) or “sense gluten” (in Catalan) will be understood. If you want to additionally specify that you can not eat anything that is made or thickened with flour you can add “es muy importante que los platos no lleven harina” or more simply “sin harina”.

  • food-tours-barcelona-taste

Traditional Dishes Free of Gluten

Here is a list of snacks and dishes that we have found to generally be gluten-free in restaurants in Barcelona (but again, to be safe, you should always ask before you eat!):

  • Aceitunas (olives)
  • Alioli (garlic mayonnaise)
  • Anchoas (anchovies, usually in oil or vinegar, but of course avoid breaded and fried ones)
  • Calçots with romesco (a particular type of small leek, grown in Catalunya, which you dip into a gorgeous tomato, pepper, garlic and almond/hazelnut sauce)
  • Chicharrón de Cádiz (make sure it is Chicharrón de Cadiz, pork belly cooked in pork fat, not just chicharrón which would be pork skin breaded and fried)
  • Escalivada (grilled seasonal vegetables)
  • Esqueixada (A Catalan salad with salted codfish, olives and romesco sauce)
  • Gambas al ajillo (shrimp/prawns cooked in garlic oil or butter)
  • Patatas bravas (small cubed baked potatoes, served with garlicky mayonnaise and a spicy tomato sauce. Just make sure they are not fried in used oil with trace gluten)
  • Pulpo, gambas, calamars A LA PLANCHA (GRILLED rather than fried octopus, shrimp/prawns and calamari)
  • Pescado, pollo, or carne A LA PLANCHA (GRILLED rather than fried fish, chicken or meat)
  • Pescado, pollo, or carne AL HORNO (BAKED rather than fried fish, chicken or meat)
  • Guisantes con jamón (peas with ham)
  • Huevos rotos (scrambled eggs, often served with papas fritas, so ask about how they are done to avoid oils with any trace gluten)
  • Rice dishes and paellas (but ask about the stock/boullion used in case it has trace gluten in it)
  • Tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette, a must-have while in Spain! Often with onion, or done with a variety of other ingredients such as zucchini/courgette or peppers)
Patatas Bravas - Food without gluten in Barcelona
Patatas Bravas, a delicious traditional tapa in Barcelona

You can also ask if they have any gluten-free bread to try pa amb tomaquet (bread with tomato) as this is increasingly available, particularly in the larger most visited neighbourhoods.

It’s also worth noting that fried dishes might not contain gluten in their stated ingredients, but it is possible that they might have become contaminated by trace gluten depending on the oil being used while frying, so always double-check with the restaurant (that would be the case with patatas bravas, for example).

For cured meat lovers it’s fair to say that it’s tricky with embutidos (cured meats). Jamón should always be safe, but other embutidos, if they are not handmade, may have some bread crumb as a binding agent or to absorb fat and juices.

  • Runner Bean Tours Barcelona - BOOK NOW

Desserts and drinks without gluten

For dessert, if you see crema catalana on the menu (similar to a creme brûlée, but, in our view, more sophisticated with its gentle infusion of lemon or orange and cinnamon), ask if it has been thickened by wheat flour or cornflour. Often it is the latter and otherwise, the dish doesn’t tend to contain any other gluten-based ingredients. Other sweet treat options include:

  • Turrón (almond nougat with sugar traditionally eaten at Christmas time)
  • Arroz con leche (rice pudding)
  • Mel i mató (a type of ricotta cheese, with honey)
Turrón, Christmas dessert
Turrón, an almond nougat delicacy eaten at Christmas

For drinks, some restaurants serve gluten-free beer, though this is still fairly hard to find. Most cavas and wines do not contain gluten, and the region produces some of the world’s best so it is well worth asking and enjoying!

What dishes to avoid if you are gluten intolerant

Over ten years of running personalised food tours, we have also learned to avoid certain dishes which almost always will contain a heavy amount of gluten. These include:

  • Albondigas (meatballs)
  • Buñuelos de bacalao (fried fishcakes)
  • Coca (soft or hard flatbread, very common in Catalunya)
  • Croquetas (croquettes)
  • Fricandó (a typical Catalan beef stew with mushrooms, which has flour in the sauce)
  • Galtas (pork cheeks)
  • Gazpacho (usually done using hard bread to make it thicker)
  • Salmorejo (usually done in the same way as gazpacho)
  • Rabo de toro (Oxtail, which also usually contains some flour in the sauce)
  • Sweetbreads
Food tours in Barcelona for gluten intolerance
Having fun at one of the award-winning food tours by The Barcelona Taste.

Gluten-Free Restaurants in Barcelona

En Ville

Located in the northern edge of the Raval neighbourhood and just moments from La Rambla, this elegant restaurant combining Catalan and French cuisine is one of our favourites. Everything is gluten-free, and there is a fabulous large selection of wines to go along with your meal. The decor is divine. It might not be the cheapest option but you are certain to enjoy the entire experience. It is also accredited by the Association for Catalunya Celiacs.

  • Address: Doctor Dou, 14
  • Website: En Ville
En Ville Gluten Free restaurant in Barcelona
“Grilled scallops with black garlic Parmentier and pink Himalayan salt” at En Ville. Photo by En Ville

M2 Gluten Free

Food from all over the world (hamburgers, pizza, delicious cheesecake…) and all gluten free. Great selection and a nice relaxed atmosphere. It is located on Avinguda Diagonal, between Eixample and Les Corts neighbourhoods. Accredited by the Association for Catalunya Celiacs.

  • Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 505
  • Website: M2 Gluten Free
M2 Barcelona Gluten Free restaurant
M2 gluten-free restaurant in Barcelona. Photo by M2 Restaurant

Masala73 Curry Bar

An Indian restaurant in Barcelona with excellent gluten-free options. The staff is super friendly and very aware of food intolerances: they’ll help you out. Fast service, affordable options and a menu that is regularly refreshed throughout the year.

  • Address: Muntaner, 152
  • Website: Masala 73 Curry Bar
Masala73 Barcelona - Indian restaurant with gluten free options
Cooking gluten-free options at Masala73. Photo by Masala73

Singlut [PERMANENTLY CLOSED]

A  high-quality bakery in the neighbourhood of Gràcia where you will find bread, pastry, gelatto and fresh pasta. All gluten-free and almost all of it 100% vegan. Accredited by the Association for Catalunya Celiacs.

Quiche at Singlut Restaurant Barcelona
Delicious gluten-free quiche at Singlut Restaurant. Photo by Singlut Barcelona

Out of China

A Chinese restaurant in the Eixample neighbourhood with some truly delicious gluten-free options, like the ravioli filled with duck and foie. Accredited by the Association for Catalunya Celiacs.

  • Address: Aribau, 112
  • Website: Out of China
Fried rice at Out of China Restaurant Barcelona
Enjoying a dish of fried rice at Out of China. Photo by Out of China

Teresa Carles

A short walk from Plaça Catalunya, this popular vegetarian restaurant swells up every day (at lunchtime in particular) but has very efficient and professional service. Many vegan and gluten-free options, a polished but buzzy atmosphere and excellent food. They also sell a cookbook so you can recreate the yum at home!

  • Address: Jovellanos, 2
  • Website: Teresa Carles
Teresa Carles - Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food
Teresa Carles with her cookbook at her Barcelona restaurant. Photo by Teresa Carles

Nutritional coach Anna Edo also has a great list of places for celiacs on her article about gluten-free restaurants in Barcelona. The post is in Spanish but it includes a link to each restaurant website for more information. Also, if you are travelling to Madrid, check out our friends’ advice for gluten-free Madrid.

For small, personalised food tours in Barcelona, you can of course also get in touch with us at The Barcelona Taste.

Happy travels and VERY HAPPY EATING!

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: Food & drink

MOST RECENT REVIEWS OF RUNNER BEAN TOURS BARCELONA

RUNNER BEAN TOURS - Barcelona Private Tours & Free Walking Tours
RUNNER BEAN TOURS - Barcelona Private Tours & Free Walking Tours
5.0
Based on 518 reviews
powered by Google
Maria Fonseca
Maria Fonseca
21:04 31 Dec 20
Was a pleasant experience to have Lisa as tour guide. Full of details her explanation and very focus on what she was saying. A touch of british humour was very much appreciated ;) Thank you
Brigitte Gneissl
Brigitte Gneissl
12:47 09 Dec 20
I booked the group tour for the Gothic quarter but obviously due to the current circumstances I was the only one on the tour. Hence, my fantastic tour guide Lisa gave me a private tour and it was super interesting. I... really learned a lot and it's a great way of discovering Barcelona. Highly recommended for anyone who comes to BCN! It's so important to also learn about the history and culture. A fantastic tour. Greetings to Lisa.read more
Satyajeet Sarang
Satyajeet Sarang
15:56 17 Oct 20
We did the Gothic Quarter tour with Miguel. We were lucky that the other party on the tour had cancelled so we had a private tour!! Miguel was extremely knowledgable and gave us lot of detail and information on each... place and also bits and pieces of the in-between that tied the places together into a whole story! Miguel spent a good amount of time with us and also gave us good local tips for food, shops and such. We would highly recommend Runner Bean Tours!!read more
Lisa Gill
Lisa Gill
11:17 14 Oct 20
We had a fantastic tour led by Lisa and due to COVID it was just the three of us. We've been to Barcelona many times and so it was wonderful to learn more about the history of the city and the buildings we love so much.... Lisa was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!read more
rhonda caplan
rhonda caplan
03:03 13 Oct 20
We were so impressed with our tour. It was fun, and extremely informative. They go by donation and they are worth every penny .My friend and I have been on tours in a lot of cities and this tour ranked amongst our... favorite. We were encouraged to ask questions, and if I ever have an opportunity I would take as many tours from them as they offer. Thank you 😊 💙read more
Aoife Leddy
Aoife Leddy
13:56 12 Oct 20
We had a very short time in Barcelona so to make the most of the time we had, we decided to do a walking tour. I'm so glad we chose Runner Bean Tours. We did the Antoni Gaudí tour with Lisa and thoroughly enjoyed it.... Even our children were engaged throughout thanks to Lisa's gift for storytelling and bringing you on a journey with her tour. Given the current climate in Spain with few foreign tourists visiting, we were in a unique position to enjoy an almost private tour in a very quiet city...an experience we will probably never have the opportunity to have ever again. We enjoyed the Gaudí tour so much that we booked the Gothic tour the very next day and were lucky enough to have Lisa as a guide once more. Again, a wonderful tour delivered in an engaging and really entertaining way. Lisa's knowledge of the history of Barcelona shines through and her passion for this wonderful city is absolutely contagious. Highly recommended for the whole family ♥️👌read more
Sophie Nadal
Sophie Nadal
13:46 08 Sep 20
I really appreciated the visit with Ali, who payed attention to us, asking if we add any questions regularly. She loved introducing the city to us and we can feel it, it was a real pleasure. I recommend it !
Elizabeth Skelton
Elizabeth Skelton
14:14 03 Sep 20
We had an awesome time on the Barcelona gothic quarter tour with Miguel! Miguel was an amazing guide. He was full of interesting information, and his passion and love for the city and his job made the tour extra... enjoyable. He also gave us lots of recommendations for places to eat and drink in the city, and even helped us mark them on google maps. He also took some great pictures for us. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend runner bean tours. Thank you Miguel for giving us such an insightful experience!read more
Katie Mckitting
Katie Mckitting
17:06 01 Sep 20
We have done a lot of walking tours all over the world and this was by far our favourite. Miguel was very knowledgeable and funny and made this an enjoyable experience. It is clear that Miguel loves what he does and... made sure that we had fun too. There were only 2 others on the tour with us and he made sure we were safe and distanced and everyone wore their masks to make sure we all felt safe and comfortable. I 100% recommend doing this tour - especially if with Miguel if possible! Gracias for a lovely few hours in Barca!! :)read more
Next Reviews

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT POSTS

  • Best Asian Food in Barcelona: The top restaurants
  • What To Do In Barcelona: The Ultimate Guide
  • Best Paella in Barcelona: our favourite restaurants
  • How to cook a Spanish Omelette: step by step recipe
  • What to do in Barcelona in April 2020

WATCH OUR VIDEO

CATEGORIES

  • Art & museums
  • Barcelona for kids
  • Food & drink
  • Gaudí & Modernisme
  • History
  • Our tour company
  • Practical advice
  • Upcoming events & festivals
Mediterranean 🌊 Mediterranean 🌊
Hope Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar bring everyone Hope Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar bring everyone lots of presents tonight and make life a bit happier for the most needed. Happy Kings' Day everyone! 👑👑👑🎁
Photo: Romanesque altar frontal from Santa Maria de Avià Church (13th century) at Catalonia's National Art Museum (Barcelona).
Best wishes to all for a fantastic 2021! 🤗 and Best wishes to all for a fantastic 2021! 🤗 and a very big goodbye to 2020 🤕
"El viejo y el nuevo año (the old and new year), Pablo Picasso, 1953.
We visited Saint Lucy's Christmas market today ⛄ We visited Saint Lucy's Christmas market today ⛄🎄. Happy to know that covid is not stopping this beautiful Barcelona tradition.With all the necessary health and safety regulations and plenty of "Tiós de Nadal" (Christmas logs) to keep the kids happy 😄#tiodenadal #christmasinbarcelona #christmastradition #xmas #christmas
#barcelonawithkids #kidsbarcelona #kidsfun #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #bestcitybreaks #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips
Today is Saint Lucy's Day, patron saint of the bli Today is Saint Lucy's Day, patron saint of the blind 👀Saint Lucy is well loved in Barcelona with the main Christmas Market named after her. But do you know where her main relics (including her head) are located today? Clue: the relics are on display behind the main altar but it is not in Barcelona 🤔Photo: "Martyrdom of Saint Lucy at the stake", XV century painting by Bernat Martorell (National Art Museum of Catalonia)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#saintlucy #santallucia #saints #mnac #barcelonaart #barcelonamuseums #lifeofsaints #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #bestcitybreaks #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips
Beautiful corners of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter 💚
Can you find the knight on his horse? 🐴⚔️⚜️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#gothicquarter #barrigotic #barcelonamemories #medieval #medievalcity #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #bestcitybreaks #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips #barcelonawalks #barcelonacathedral
Halloween tonight! 🎃🧛🏽‍♂️🧟☠️ Halloween tonight! 🎃🧛🏽‍♂️🧟☠️
Tomb of professor of anatomy Dr. Francesc Farreras i Framis at Barcelona's Montjuïc Cemetery
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#halloween #halloween2020 #montjuïc #montjuiccemetery #tomb #cemeteries #cemeteriesandgraveyards #cemeteriesofinstagram #allsaintsday #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience
Looking forward to stuffing ourselves with panelle Looking forward to stuffing ourselves with panellets tomorrow night 😋
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#panellets #sweetbarcelona #catalandessert #marzipan #castanyada #foodie #barcelonawithkids #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #bestcitybreaks #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips
Look what we just found out! We are the #1 tour on Look what we just found out! We are the #1 tour on TripAdvisor out of 1,140 tours in Barcelona. That's something to be proud of 😄🥳🥰
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#supportsmallbusiness #runnerbeantours #supportlocal #familybusiness #localbusiness  #tripadvisor #certificateofexcellence
#barcelonaexperiences #privatetoursbcn #barcelonatours #freetourbarcelona #freetour #barcelonawithkids #kidsbarcelona #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #bestcitybreaks #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips
Agbar Tower, one of the landmarks of modern Barcel Agbar Tower, one of the landmarks of modern Barcelona.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#agbartowerbarcelona #modernarchitecture #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #bestcitybreaks #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips
Barcelona is just full of beautiful corners 😍😍😍
Does anybody know the name of this street?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#citylife #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #bestcitybreaks #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips
Very different La Mercè Festival this year but it Very different La Mercè Festival this year but it is nice to see that the local shops made an effort with the shop windows.At Pastisseria La Colmena, more than 150 years sweetening Barcelona 🧁🍭🍬Happy La Mercè everyone! 😄😄😄
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#lamercè2020 #lamerce #lamerce2020 #lacolmena #sweetbarcelona #sweets #patisserie  #barcelonawithkids #kidsbarcelona #kidsfun #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #bestcitybreaks #barcelonacity #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips #supportsmallbusiness
Load More... Follow us on Instagram
Facebook Pagelike Widget


Copyright © Runner Bean Tours Barcelona 2010-2021
Office address: Carrer del Carme, 44, 08001 Barcelona
Phone number (Mon to Fri, 9am to 1pm): 636 108 776
NIF (tax registration number): B66797051

Terms & conditions
Privacy & cookie policy


VISITING OTHER
CITIES IN EUROPE?


Why not check out if your next destination is one of our European partners. There are two main associations offering Free Waking Tours around Europe and we are a proud member of both. The cities involved in these two projects are hand-picked for their quality and commitment while preserving that special feeling that only a local company can give.

WE SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

We are advocates of responsible tourism. On our tours, we are always sure we respect the local neighbourhoods and we only collaborate with small Barcelona businesses which help support the local economy. These are our friends and personal recommendations so you can’t go wrong with them.

FIND LOTS OF GREAT TIPS ON OUR BLOG

What to do in Barcelona: The Complete Guide
How to skip the lines in Barcelona
Free Things to do in Barcelona
Things to do in Barcelona with Kids
Traditional food in Barcelona

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok