Barcelona Eats: Where to grab breakfast and brunch
I have lived in Barcelona for ten years, so visitors sometimes ask me, ‘What do you miss most about the United States?’ I never have to think long about this. Three words sum it up: family, salad dressing and American breakfast.
A typical breakfast in Barcelona is a very simple combination of coffee with milk. You can add in a pastry such as a croissant if you like. If you are a savory kind of person, then you can order a sandwich, usually consisting of ham in between two slices of baguette which have been rubbed down in tomato, olive oil and sprinkled with salt. Kids — or those who avoid caffeine — will go for hot chocolate or an orange juice. That’s pretty much all there is to it.
If you like a more hearty breakfast like me, it can be very hard to find French toast or (sigh) waffles. There’s certainly no biscuits and gravy with fried eggs and hash browns. Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day in Spain (that would be lunch), so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
But traditional breakfast seekers, all is not lost — at least not in Barcelona. If you require a couple of eggs over easy and a ration of pancakes with syrup to help you through the morning, then you can get it in Barcelona. You just have to know where to go.
Bagels Galore
Trying to find a bagel with lox, capers and cream cheese in Barcelona? It’s not going to happen! Unless you head to Be My Bagel (Calle Planeta, 37) where you can choose from a vast array of bagel flavors and spreads. It looks like I am not the only one who misses bagels in Barcelona, because
Aussie Style Breakfast
Open for a few years now, Federal Cafe will answer the prayers of those craving sourdough toast and scrambles with spinach and mushrooms. Federal has an open-air front dining area and patio seating. In the center of the city, this concept makes a lot of sense in sunny Barcelona. They now have two locations in Barcelona, one in Madrid and one coming to Valencia soon.
Best for Brunch
Marmalade is run by the same guys who brought the city Barcelona Milk Bar, one of my faves for cheap happy hours! Marmalade offers some killer cocktail deals, but best of all, they have a hearty brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays (served from 10am to 4pm).
What’s for brunch? Expect smoothies, Eggs Benedict (also with salmon and florentine) tortilla ranchera with chorizo (also comes in a vegetarian version), stacks of fluffy pancakes, and many other delicious items. Some of these dishes are served with home-fries, which brings tears to my eyes.
Marmalade also has a dinner menu that includes burgers and a few veggie options.
Brunch Fun Facts
There are actually a few Barcelona Meetup groups devoted to brunch. People miss waffles and mimosas so badly that they have actually created clubs so that brunch can be enjoyed communally, usually with an added activity like Spanish conversation or yoga. If you love breakfast, these Meetup group may be what you’re after. Check out this website for more info.
Finally, I should also mention Barcelona’s ‘Cuchara’( literally: spoon), a heartier form of breakfast. Cuchara can be found in select bars. For larger appetites and those with hangovers, it might consist of a filling stew or some other meaty dish. The key is that instead of having coffee with your Cuchara, you will be served wine. Nothing says ‘good morning’ or ‘you’re still drunk’ like a bottle of Rioja.
About the author
I love Barcelona, good recommendations ! Please don`t forget the Bernie’s Diner (http://www.berniesdiner.com) when thinking of having a real American Breakfast in Barcelona …
Saludos !