Top 5 Brunches in Barcelona

Last Updated on March 12 , 2024 by acrossthewaterwithchelsita

Finding a restaurant serving brunch in Barcelona used to be akin to finding a good cup of tea in Spain; both being about as likely as getting mauled by a Pacific shark in the Med. The Spanish don’t really have a traditional brunch culture, preferring the ubiquitous café con leche with either some sort of pastry or toasted bread lathered with raw garlic and tomatoes (which I don’t recommend if you value social contact for the rest of that day). Fortunately for brunch aficionados like me who were weaned on the cornucopian Sunday brunch banquets of Berlin, times are changing and there has been a surge in demand for leisurely weekend brunches from foreign tourists and young Spaniards alike. Now there are so many brunch spots in Barcelona that I’m sure you could go to a different one every week of the year without repetition. But with so many to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. So after much investigation and countless avo toasts later, I’ve rounded up the Top 5 Brunches Barcelona has to offer.

Criteria to make the cut include:

• Wide range of high-quality, delicious food with good vegetarian and vegan options
• Reasonable waiting time for a table
• “Normal” prices (€7- €12 for a main meal) 

So without further ado, let’s tuck in!

1. Surf House

Offering a massive range of super healthy (and not so healthy) food options, plus an extensive juice menu, Surf House has all you need to power yourself up for a day at the beach or recharge your batteries after an energetic surf session. Power boosting toasts, tasty surfing bowls, breakfast burritos, fresh juices and smoothies of all colours of the rainbow will help you start the day with a bang.

With a large terrace on the front row of Barceloneta beach, Surf House is the ideal option if you want to start the day with a sea view and enjoy a laid-back vibe. But what really makes Surf House stand out is that it offers a tonne of activities you can do in addition to eating and drinking there. One of their best deals is free use of their stand up paddle boards for 45 minutes if you spend €15 or more on brunch. Generally it costs around €20 just to rent a board for an hour, so this is a great deal.

Other sporty activities include beach tennis and beach yoga with brunch. Regarding waiting time, it is very popular so it’s best to go early to avoid the worst of the queues, or alternatively go on a rainy day when you will most likely be seated straight away.

Where? Barceloneta – Carrer de l’Almirall Aixada, 22, 08003 Barcelona (Nearest metro: Barceloneta)

When? Brunch is available every day from 11am until 1pm and the same food can be ordered from 5:30pm- 8pm as merienda*. The lunch and dinner menu also has options which would be great for brunch such as yummy poke bowls and colourful salads. (*Merienda, known in France as le goûter,  is a light snack eaten in the early evening and normally consists of a piece of fruit, a yoghurt or something chocolatey; so essentially an afternoon sugar fix which Spanish school children cannot miss without tears and tantrums ensuing).

More information: Check out the Surf House’s beautiful website here:  http://surfhousebarcelona.com/

2. Caravelle

Caravelle is a brunch place I heard rave reviews about a long time ago, but I put off going because I always saw massive queues spilling out onto the street. “It can’t be that good!” I thought and continued walking to get my morning eggs elsewhere. However, after being invited there for dinner one night and eating the out of this world vegan Impossible Burger and swilling a fantastic array of craft beer, I figured if the dinner was amazing, the brunch must be too. I was not wrong.

Caravelle offers a range of exquisite options including a lot of eggy things, scrumptious French toast and moreish muesli bowls. Every single thing I’ve tried has been delicious. And, for the record, it is actually worth queuing for. Having said that, to beat the worst of the queues you should go as early as possible or midweek if you can.

Where? Raval – Carrer del Pintor Fortuny, 31, 08001 Barcelona (Nearest metro: Liceu/Sant Antoni)

When? From 9:30 during the week and 10am at the weekend until 4pm – plenty of time to get your brunch fix.

More information: http://www.caravelle.es/

3. Marmalade

Serving up a wide range of eggy options, pancakes, crumpets and the obligatory avo toast, there is something for everyone here, even for my seven-year old nephew who only likes beige food. Marmalade is part of the same restaurant group as the other city brunch mainstays Milk and Firebug. Whilst they’re all fantastic food-wise, Milk is tiny and due to its central old-town location it attracts swarms of hungry and hungover holidaymakers and Firebug can get quite busy too, so I’m shining the spotlight on Marmalade because I’ve never had to queue for a table, making it the perfect option for those days when you are so hungry (or hungover) you just can’t wait a second longer than necessary to fill your growling stomach.

Oh, and I almost forgot, it wouldn’t be a truly Catalan brunch without washing it all down with some cava, preferably in the form of a refreshing Mimosa cocktail!

Marmalade is a great choice come rain or shine because it has an outdoor terrace from where you can watch the wide array of colourful characters who frequent the vibrant circus that is the neighbourhood of Raval, and a moody and stylish interior where you can warm up in the winter and play a game of pool.

Where? Raval – Carrer de la Riera Alta, 4-6, 08001 Barcelona (Nearest metro: Liceu/Sant Antoni)

When? Brunch 10.00 – 4.30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday

 More information: http://www.marmaladebarcelona.com/

4. Bohl

In this minimalist, dare I say hipsterific café, the emphasis is on, yes, you guessed it, food in bowls! Muesli in bowls, fruit in bowls, porridge in bowls, poke bowls… all in addition to tasty toasties, Asian-inspired dishes, fresh juices and some scrumptious desserts. The home-cooked food is made with fresh and natural ingredients and there is a plethora of vegetarian and vegan options. What makes it even better is that there’s rarely a queue. Bonus points for serving your drinks with reusable bamboo straws.

Where? Born/Eixample – Carrer de Trafalgar, 47, 08010 Barcelona (Nearest metro: Arc de Triomf)

When? From 9am during the week and 10am at the weekend. Closed on Mondays.

More information: https://bohl.co/

5. Trópico

Another café whose name reflects its food, Trópico will take you on an adventure to Brazil, the Caribbean,Thailand and back again. This is one for those who like to try something different and the wide selection of food from across the tropics won’t fail to woo and delight you.

Ever tried arepas with plantain?

How about patacones?

Or a dragon fruit smoothie?

And if you’re not feeling so adventurous, don’t worry, there are always the classics like pancakes with cream cheese frosting, red berries and maple syrup or a good old-fashioned eggs benedict.

One of the great advantages of Trópico is that there’s no need to queue. You can reserve a table! To do this I suggest using El Tenedor which allows you to book everything easily and quickly online. Often there are even some significant discounts to be had.

Where? Raval – Carrer Marquès de Barberà 24, 08001 Barcelona (Nearest metro: Liceu – Paral·lel)

When? Every day all day from 10am.

More information: https://www.tropicobcn.com/

So there you have it, Chelsea’s Top 5 Brunch Spots in Barcelona.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading these suggestions and please let me know in the comments section below if you visit any of them or if there are any others you think I should add to the list. 

As always, sending you sunshine and positivity from Barcelona!