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Vegetarian restaurants and tapas in Barcelona: a survival guide

Vegetarian tapas in Barcelona

Ann Marie Brannigan 14 Comments

As an on and off vegetarian myself with a meat-loving hubby, I know how much research goes into finding good vegetarian restaurants while on holidays. During my walking tours, I always get asked for recommendations for places to eat so let me, as a local, guide you through the veggie scene in the city.
This city has a large range of vegetarian restaurants. You certainly won’t be short of options when researching. Having sampled quite a few myself, here is a list of my top 5.

INDEX

  • Top 5 vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona:
    • Teresa Carles
    • BioCenter
    • Aguaribay
    • Veg World India
    • Maoz Barcelona
  • Traditional vegetarian tapas in Barcelona:

Top 5 vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona:

Teresa Carles

Nice decor, freshly displayed ingredients and a huge variety of options. It breaks the mould of incense smelling interiors that serve bland canteen world food. These Spanish influenced dishes are delicious and do not rely too heavily on tofu or seitan. The restaurant is clean and atmospheric with professional staff. If you are more than 4 you can try their great tasting menu.

Teresa Carles website

BioCenter

It has a great value lunchtime buffet. At night, the ambience is very pleasant and they do some good evening time deals. Although not usually a seitan fan, the one here is the best I have ever tried. Service can be a bit slow.

BioCenter website

Aguaribay

This sweet little vegetarian is located in my neighbourhood and is run by a collective of friends which ensures that extra-friendly service. A lot of love is put into their home cooking with fresh ingredients. They do a great lunchtime deal of 3 courses, including a drink, at a super cheap price.

Aguaribay website

Veg World India

This Indian restaurant is located in the very trendy neighbourhood of Gràcia and has a huge option of vegan dishes. They actually use a clay oven which gives a great flavour to the vegetables (their tandoori paneer is just fabulous). They also serve masala dosas which make a great main course. Be aware that the taste has been adjusted to the Spanish palette so, if you like your food spicy, insist a lot.

Veg World India website

Maoz Barcelona

I couldn’t help mentioning this simply because their falafels are sooooo good. This is a fast-food style place so you will have to stand at the bar to eat your food. Their salad bar is yummy and you can keep topping up your pita here free of charge.

Maoz Barcelona website

If visiting with meat-loving friends who do not want to eat vegetarian, there are some great Syrian and Lebanese restaurants that offer great meat and vegetarian dishes. Ugarit, although it has expanded to a few locations, has been maintaining the quality since I tried it for the first time many years ago.

If you are interested in sticking with Catalan cuisine, I would search out modern style restaurants that might include more vegetarian options. Orígens is one that would spring to mind. Traditional establishments would offer very little variety and you would have to explain that vegetarians do not eat chicken or fish as well as no red meat!

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Traditional vegetarian tapas in Barcelona:

At some point of your holiday, you might find that perfect outdoor terrace of a traditional tapas bar. And, if you decide with a glass of wine in hand, to share a nibble with friends, let me tell you about your most likely options:

  • Patates braves. Fried cubes of potatoes with a spicy sauce on top
  • Pebrots de Padrón. Small fried peppers sprinkled with rock salt
  • Truita (omelette). Tortilla de patata is the most traditional (potatoes and onions) but sometimes you can get espinacs (spinach) or, my favourite, carbassó (courgette/zuchini). If you want to train your palate beforehand, you can check how to make Spanish omelette at home.
  • Formatges. Selection of local cheeses
  • Croquetes (croquettes). Traditionally stuffed with meat in Catalonia but you can also find them with ceps (mushrooms) or espinacs (spinach)
  • Escalivada. Grilled red peppers and aubergines/eggplants oven roasted until soft and served cold or hot in olive oil. Sometimes they include anchovies so be sure you check
  • Xampinyons al ajillo. Mushrooms cooked in a lot of olive oil and garlic served in a terracotta dish
  • Carxofes fregides. Fried sliced artichokes
  • Paella vegetariana. Yes, there is also a way for vegetarians to enjoy this traditional coastal dish.

Before you head off, check Happy Cow Barcelona which is a great site for vegetarian restaurants, listing reviews of over 90 different venues in the city. Happy veggie visit!

Remember that our Free Tours Barcelona around the Gothic Quarter run every day, rain or shine, twice a day. A great activity to wet up to your appetite for lunch or dinner 🙂

Photograph by Jessica Spengler

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Comments

  1. Manish Kataria says

    November 22, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    Wow The picture you have used is very tempting….Loved your post as well.

    Reply
    • Ann-Marie Brannigan says

      November 24, 2013 at 5:51 pm

      They are peppers from Padrón, small little fried green delicacies. Glad you enjoyed the post.

      Reply
  2. shankar says

    June 18, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Thanks for this…Using it in June 2014 !!!

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Brannigan says

      June 23, 2014 at 2:17 pm

      I hope you’ll enjoy your veggie meals Shankar 🙂

      Reply
  3. Dale says

    July 26, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    A nice list that I found really useful during my recent trip to Barcelona, and I even found some more great places that aren’t on this list.

    One place I really liked was called Bio Bento. They specialise in making a completely balanced meal that includes all of the things you need for a healthy body.

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Brannigan says

      July 26, 2015 at 8:01 pm

      Thanks Dale. You are really spoiled for choice when it comes to vegetarian and vegan options in Barcelona. Bio Bento has been on my list of places to try for a long time. Now, it will definitely be next.

      I was looking at your blog and it looks fantastic. Keep up the good work and, hopefully, we will see you on one of our tours on your next visit 🙂

      Reply
  4. Ian says

    January 6, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    The cheese plates are not vegetarian. There are only a couple of cheeses in the entire country that are vegetarian. Google ‘rennet’. Spain are fiends for using animal rennet.

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Brannigan says

      January 6, 2016 at 1:38 pm

      Thanks for the comment, Ian. Indeed, there is a debate about the use of rennet in cheese. Best thing to do is to ask at each place if they use it or not (it is called “cuajo animal” in Spanish). They should know what this means in vegetarian restaurants or very specialised cheese shops but probably not in regular establishments.

      Reply
  5. Ian Spencer says

    May 31, 2016 at 8:54 pm

    Hi Ann Marie, great post, glad to have found it. Have decided on Barcelona as our 30th wedding anniversary venue. Got four days there, looking for a very nice bijou type hotel ( like Hotel Praktik Bakery ?), and small / authentic restaurants ( tersesa Carles ?, but we do eat some meat if free range / organic) Any suggestions plse ?

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Brannigan says

      June 1, 2016 at 2:16 pm

      Hi Ian. The restaurants I suggested here are all very good. I am not very good at steakhouse I am afraid ;-). About a nice small hotel you can try Vrabac. Lovely people there.

      Reply
  6. Ian Spencer says

    June 1, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    Thank you Ann Marie. Kind regards, Ian

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Brannigan says

      June 2, 2016 at 8:23 am

      No problem, Ian. I hope you enjoy Barcelona!

      Reply
  7. Vartika says

    April 25, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    Heading to Barcelona this weekend for a week. Being a vegetarian, certainly looking for veg tapas options which tastes good without shelling much money and near the center of the city, any recommendations?

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Brannigan says

      April 25, 2018 at 8:53 pm

      The ones I recommend on the post are good but you have plenty of vegetarian options in most of the tapas bars (check the list for some suggestions). Enjoy it! 🙂

      Reply

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