When I first arrived in Barcelona I was pretty stressed out about the food situation. A lame reason to be stressed, but I was stressed because the food here is REALLY good. If you’re on vacation, sure go ahead and eat tapas at every meal (full of bread, fried food and potatoes, a winning combo!). But what do you do if you’re living here for eight months? You can’t eat potatoes at every meal for eight months (I mean I could, I’m just trying not to).
After indulging pretty heavily for the first two weeks, I broadened my search of restaurants beyond the best tapas in town and looked instead for healthy restaurants. Initially I was frustrated. It seemed there weren’t any places that stood up to my favorites in the US. Then I looked harder and realized they did in fact exist, it would just take some digging.
If you’re new to a city, country, or continent, try not to jump to conclusions. Give yourself time to adjust to your new situation. I immediately labeled Barcelona as unhealthy and not nearly as “wellness-focused” as NYC or SF, my prior homes. And maybe it’s not quite as zeroed in on wellness, but it’s a new adventure, a new way to see things, and a new scene to explore. So after getting over myself and my snap judgements, I found excellent healthy options for when you’re craving a kale salad instead of potatas bravas.
All of these restaurants can be healthy, or have more indulgent options, it’s totally up to you. Whether you’re traveling and looking for some greens or are living in Barcelona and want to eat out while also feeling good, here’s where you should go.
Barcelona’s Best Healthy Restaurants
Flax & Kale
The name Flax & Kale should clue you in that this place is on the healthier side. Luckily, it’s healthy and inventive and you’ll love it. There are so many options (kale salads, acai bowls, tacos, pastas, toasts and so on); I could probably eat here every day and be a happy camper. Side note: dogs are allowed inside the restaurant!
Brunch & Cake
If you’re looking for a delicious brunch that comes styled for Instagram, get it at Brunch & Cake. The presentations here are incredible, like the Super Sandwich that comes with a syringe of guac or the breakfast board with paleo bread, granola, dragon fruit and more (the board below wasn’t even mine, it was so pretty that I could help but sneak a picture of the table next to us). Note: dogs are also allowed inside here. Ollie has sat at the table with us for a whole meal!
Hammock Juice Station
Grab a juice or smoothie bowl, lay back in a hammock and relax for the afternoon at Hammock Juice Station. This place is also dog friendly, so even your dog can lounge in a hammock with you!
Almalibre Acai Bar
Choose from 3 sizes and tons of add ins for your acai bowl at Almalibre. Perfectly refreshing on a hot summer day.
Mama’s Cafe
Stop by Mama’s Cafe for an organic brunch in Gracia. To finish up the meal they gave us a sample of their almond flour brownie which I think I need to go back for.
Green & Berry
Stop by for a juice, acai bowl, or energy ball at vegan Green & Berry. So far I’ve only had the green juice (which was perfect after a workout), but I’d happily return to try the vegan donuts 🙂
Poke Maoli
As you head to the beach, first make a quick stop at Poke Maoli for a refreshing grab and go lunch. The line might be long and slow, but it’s worth it.
Sana Vida
This is literally the only make your own salad place (like Chop’t or Sweetgreen) that I’ve come across in Barcelona (there may be more out there, but I haven’t seen them). Sana Vida offers salads, bowls and burritos, either with recommended mixes or make your own. The only complaint is they don’t chop the salad or ingredients, so expect big pieces of kale. Maybe I should introduce them to the Chop’t way of life.
(pin this and save it for later!)
As it did in the US, I believe the wellness scene will continue to explode in other countries. Barcelona’s got a good start on healthy options and I imagine it will only grow from here.
I’m going to continue to search for inventive healthy places across the city and will update this post if I find more gems. If you know of any I’ve missed, please comment below!
