Being the foodies that we are, Jason and I love to plan when it comes to travel and food, and our trip to Spain was certainly no exception.
Eating Gluten Free in Barcelona + Madrid
Luckily, there are tons options when it comes to eating gluten free in Barcelona and Madrid. But, with restaurants flanking the streets and sidewalks of every road and alley, choosing a restaurant spur of the moment when you have dietary restrictions can be a bit overwhelming. Doing a little research ahead of time can make a world of a difference!
A Few Helpful Tips:
I learned pretty early on in our trip that “gluten free” is not a common phrase in Spain. When ordering, saying “without gluten” or, better yet, “sin gluten” is much more understood.
If there is someone standing outside of the restaurant calling for your attention or waving a menu at you, don’t waste your time—it’s a tourist trap! Keep walking!
A glass of wine or cava [Spanish sparkling wine] is usually 2 to 4 euro… so I guess that’s more of a fact. And here’s your tip: wine over water. 😉
La Pineda
This is the first place we hit on our trip through Spain. A quaint and casual setting perfect for a quick and delicious lunch. The tables are packed in nice and cozy, with a meat and cheese counter and a tiny bar taking up a portion of the space. They serve sandwiches and a selection of tapas and meats and cheeses. The menu is marked so you know which items are gluten free or which items you have the option of making gluten free by swapping out the bread. Their gluten free French bread is delish!
GF French bread with ham + cheese
Pasteleria Jansana Gluten Free
This gluten free bakery is an absolute must. What you’ll find here: croissants, pastries, cheesecakes, cakes, and freshly baked breads. We made more than one trip to this bakery while in Spain, and I am not at all ashamed of it! And we walked EVERYWHERE, so we earned these calories, ok?! Jason, who is definitely a lover of gluten, was adamant about going back—he was just as in love as I was! You can buy a 2-foot long gluten free French baguette [which, by the way, tastes so perfect you would NEVER know it was gluten free] for less than 4 euro.
I bought a baguette to keep in my backpack as we walked around and hit up some of the local markets. It definitely came in handy when we stopped for a break or two in some of the city parks to enjoy the views and people watch.
La Boqueria
If you’re doing research on Barcelona, you’ve probably already come across several descriptions of La Boqueria, so I’ll make mine short and sweet. We planned to visit this market and we’re glad we did, but just one visit gave us our fill. This market is jam-packed with tourists and pick-pocketers, so be sure to stay aware of our surroundings and our belongings. There’s no shortage of gorgeous displays of fresh produce, nuts, meats, and cheeses here, or in any of the other Spanish markets. It’s a great market to grab a ham and cheese cone… for that Instagram shot, duh!
We preferred the local, less touristy markets…they were a much more pleasant experience, and often less expensive too! It was easier to leisurely walk around, admire the beautiful produce and baked goods, and “window shop” until we were ready to make our purchase. A few of the local markets we visited: Mercat de Santa Caterina and Mercat de l’Abaceria Central (in la Gracia neighborhood).
Viana
We went to this restaurant our last night in Spain. Such a great experience. Super friendly staff, delicious food, and a really nice atmosphere. As you walk into the restaurant, you are able to see right into the kitchen. They are very accommodating for gluten allergies and they provided me with my own warm basket of gluten free bread, which they happily restocked whenever needed, for just one euro!
La Colmena
La Colmena is a cute little dessert shop. Not a ton of gluten free options, but a handful of gorgeous [and massive] meringue desserts that are so delicious! We shared a coffee flavored meringue. Its shell was light and crispy and the inside was sticky and gooey, with some type of coffee reduction dripping through the inside. So good!
A continuation of our Spain foodie adventures in Madrid will be up on the blog soon!