Looking to find the best breakfast or brunch restaurants in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter? If we haven’t met, I’m Gina, and I’m an aesthetic traveler who loved eating my way through Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter almost as much as I loved living there. I spent a summer living in the El Born neighborhood in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, and got to know this area and the restaurants pretty well. This post is comprised of all the restaurants I tried and loved when I was a “local.” If you have any suggestions for me to try next time I visit, LMK in the comments below!
Bistrot by Lady Babka
Location: El Born
Bistrot by Lady Babka was right down the street from my apartment when I lived in Barcelona, so naturally, I became a frequent flier. I would often come with my laptop and order a cappuccino and gravlax toast or a cookie (or, sometimes both…/shrug). Seriously though, I really had to pry myself away from the bakery section. This was also one of my favorite places to get coffee, and you can even get their coffee to go. The inside is very chic and cozy…the perfect place to come with your best friend and sit, eat, and chat. Their restaurant is open til 5:30pm, but if you want a later option, try one of their sister restaurants: Bistrot Granados and Bistrot Turó Park.
Lato
Location: El Born (also has location in Eixample)
Lato was a bit of a walk from where I stayed in the Gothic Quarter, which is probably a good thing because I would have been there every day. Their menu has elevated breakfast toasts and sandwiches, along with creative pancakes (pancakes with lime and vanilla crumble, for example!). Personally, I was obsessed with their Hummingbird toast – it comes with salmon, avocado, mango, and cream cheese, and I will dream about it til the day I die. Don’t even get me started on the pink couches and neon pink llama (errr..alpaca?) on the wall. It’s all impossible not to love.
Nonna’s Brunch
Location: El Born
Nonna’s Brunch is an adorable brunch restaurant near the Santa Maria del Mar church in a very touristy area of the Gothic Quarter. They have a range of savory, sweet, and healthy options, and the staff is always super friendly. I was a fan of their salmon toast as well as their pancakes with homemade jam and syrup.Their coffee is from Cafes El Magnifico – one of my favorite coffee shops in the city – so I would come here often to get coffee to go.
Bloome by Sasha
Location: Main Gothic Quarter (also has locations in Eixample and near Sagrada Familia)
The only reason I didn’t visit Bloome by Sasha more when I lived in Barcelona is because the wait was always soooo long for a table. But hey, that’s when you know it’s good. Bloome has pastries, toasts, pancakes, and more, all made with gluten-free flour. I tried the Blossom Pancakes, and they were fabulous (and you would never know it’s gluten free!). The food is beautifully presented, and the interior is cozy, white, modern, and equally as beautiful. Every time I walk by, it’s always crowded. If you can’t get a seat, try one of their pastries and specialty coffee to go.
The Benedict
Location: Main Gothic Quarter
The Benedict is located right near the Barcelona Cathedral. They were the first brunch restaurant in the city and are still known as one of the top brunch spots to visit. Their brunch special includes a main course (usually a Benedict or omelette), a drink (coffee, tea, mimosa, or bellini), and a dessert (pancakes or yogurt), all for about €22. WHAT?! Yes, it’s real. If this sounds like entirely too much food for you, you can also order off of their à la carte menu. Oh, and ps – everything here is homemade!
Also, shoutout to whoever designed the interior of this restaurant. It’s giving your-grandma’s-living-room, but in the best way. The chandelier is vintage, the wallpaper is antique, and there are gilded gold mirrors on the wall.
- Fun fact: The Benedict was the first brunch that I ever tried in Spain. I stumbled upon this place by accident…and by that, I mean I met a lovely man who took me for a ride on his electric scooter and dropped me off right outside of here before he went back to work.
Milk Bar & Bistro
Location: Main Gothic Quarter
Milk Bar & Bistro is located essentially right beside The Benedict and is another popular brunch spot. Their website claims they are the “pioneers of recovery brunch” in the city, so you can thank me when you roll in after a night of too much flamenco dancing and cava. They even have a drink called Tito’s Golden Screwdriver that is patented as their “hangover cure.” I haven’t had to try this, so I can’t tell you if it actually works…although there were some nights that I came close. What I CAN tell you is that I loved their Mississippi Belle pancakes, their Truffle Nomad toast, and their Royale Salmon Benedict.
- Pro Tip: Even though Milk is known for their brunch, they also serve tapas and dinner cocktails later at night
Cremat 11
Location: El Born
If you have a sweet tooth, Cremat 11 might be your new favorite brunch spot. They are known for their variety of pancakes that are piled with everything from Nutella and caramel sauce to fruit, lemon cream, and even cookie bits. Everyone who knows me knows that my favorite “cheat meal” breakfast is pancakes, but all that is a bit much, even for me. Cremat must have read my mind, because they also offer a short stack of 3 mini pancakes with fruit and your sauce of choice. If even the short stack is too much for you, don’t despair – there are plenty of other options if you aren’t a sweets person.
- Pro Tip: Cremat doesn’t take reservations, and there will likely be a line to get in, especially if you come during tourist season. Sighhhh. Looks like we’re waking up early.
A Vocados Ferran
Location: Main Gothic Quarter
A Vocados Ferran is located 5 minutes from Plaça Reial (one of the busiest parts of the Gothic Quarter) and has a ton of healthy yet delicious options. Of course, their name is a play on “avocado,” so I had to try their eggs Benedict with avocado, which was amazing. Conversely, I’m surprised at the amount of options I was able to find withOUT avocados – but you’ll never hear me complain about variety. In addition to Plaça Reial, it’s also located close to Plaça Sant Jaume, the political center of Barcelona, as well as El Ponte del Bisbe, the famous gothic bridge. Sounds like you have some sightseeing to do after brunch!
- Pro Tip: Don’t get this restaurant confused with Avocados Barcelona, which is another restaurant located 23 minutes (walking distance) from Plaça Reial
Bonus: 4 Must-Try Coffee Shops in El Born Barcelona
You can always count on me to have a coffee in hand. Below, my favorite coffee shops that I would frequent during the summer I lived in El Born in the Gothic Quarter:
- Hidden Coffee Roasters
- Cafés el Magnífico
- Noor
- Nudes (yes, I promise this one serves coffee. They also have great smoothies and healthy food!)
Okay, But Where Are We Eating?
My Favorite Restaurants Around the World
One of the things I get asked most often by people who are planning a trip is,“do you have any restaurant recommendations?”
So, I created TRAVEL FOODIES – a section to help people discover the best places I’ve been to in some of my favorite cities.
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