The glutton’s guide to gluten-free Barcelona
Wheat. It gets about a bit.
Whether you’re among the increasing number of people being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease (an incurable genetic disease whose only remedy is to avoid gluten for life), or simply prefer to avoid this pesky protein for health reasons, finding food that’s safe for you to eat is no mean feat. Throw in a trip abroad, where language issues compound the problem, and things can get hairy.
I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in my early 30s, following decades of severe stomach pain. After three years in Barcelona, I’ve figured out a few ways to make living with the condition a bit easier. The plethora of fresh produce on offer in the city’s markets certainly sweetens the deal.
Wheat – it even sneaks its way into Sant Jordi roses
Spain is no different to most western countries, in that it has a heavy reliance on wheat as a huge part of the traditional diet. Just like in the UK, waiters here will think nothing of bringing you a basket of bread before you’ve even ordered, and tend to look flabbergasted when it’s rejected.
On the plus side, I do think that the Spanish are much more clued up than their UK counterparts in the catering industry when it comes to the terminology. The phrase you’ll need is “soy celíaco” (or “celíaca” if you’re a woman), which you’d do well to follow up with a “no puedo comer gluten/harina de trigo” (“I can’t eat gluten/wheat flour”). Most waiters in Barcelona will nod sagely at this point, and take you seriously.
The good news is, as a Coeliac in Spain you have three amigos on your side: rice, eggs and potatoes. Standout stalwarts on a Spanish menu that are naturally gluten-free include paella (rice with seafood/meat), Spanish omelette (tortilla española or tortilla de patatas – eggs, potatoes and onions), and patatas bravas (a cross between chips and potato wedges, served with a spicy sauce).
But what about the tapas, the cakes, the god-damned pizza, I hear you cry? Yes, I know, I know. Read on.
Best gluten-free brunch: Copasetic
Copasetic is so effortlessly accommodating to those of us on a gluten-free diet, it makes you wonder why other restaurants don’t also up their game.
Copasetic – a clinical interior, a forensic focus on fantastic food
Owners Therry and Omar are welcoming and attentive, the menu is varied, amazingly Coeliac-friendly and economical, while portions are generous and presented with creative flair. Oh, and you can even take your dog. Not to mention their ‘give something back’ initiative, whereby you donate a nominal euro which provides a coffee or sandwich to a person in need. Cool, eh?
The gluten-free red bean burger at Copasetic
For the best gluten-free brunch in Barcelona, (and I’ve sampled a few Barcelona brunches in my time), Copasetic is unrivalled. The menu offers GF dishes ranging from crepes (sweet or savoury) and pancakes to hamburgers (meat or veggie). For something ultra-healthy, try their organic quinoa with Greek yoghurt, banana, blueberries, nuts and honey.
I took my Coeliac parents (I know, statistically incredible) to Copasetic for a full-on brunch recently, and my poor Dad almost wept with joy at the sight of his gluten-free crepe – it had only been 26 years since he’d last tasted one. Beer-loving Coeliacs don’t miss out, either – try the light, gluten-free organic Belgian beer to wash down your meal of champions.
Address: Carrer Diputació, n. 55 (left L’Eixample district)
Best gluten-free sandwiches: Conesa
Grabbing food on the go as a Coeliac is where it all starts to go horribly wrong. Fast food is an inherent homage to gluten: think sandwiches, wraps, bagels, crepes, hot dogs, pizza, pasta or cous cous salads. See the dilemma?
If it’s one of those days you really can’t face a full sit-down meal just for the sake of getting something to eat, head to one of the two Conesa sandwich bars in Barcelona. There’s one at the heart of the old town, in the Gothic quarter and another in the district of Sants, not far from Plaça d’Espanya.
The ‘Catalan’ filling – Catalan country sausages, onions and fried peppers
The bread itself is certified as gluten-free by the Coeliac Association of Catalonia and is regularly tested by outside inspectors to make sure there’s no cross-contamination.
The choice of fillings is satisfyingly generous, too – for something typically Catalan, opt for the llom i pernil (pork loin and ham), or, when the calçots are in season, the botifarra de calçots (sweet onion sausage with Romesco sauce). Vegetarian versions include escalivat (roast peppers, aubergines and onion with blue cheese) or the suitably Spanish manchego cheese with tomatoes and fried peppers.
Address: in the Gothic quarter, at Llibreteria 1, just off Plaça Sant Jaume, and a second venue in Sants on Creu Coberta, no. 80
Best gluten-free bakery: Baci D’Angelo Patisserie
Up and running for less than a year, Baci D’Angelo is the gluten-free bakery Barcelona was crying out for. I only wish they could clone themselves.
This pretty patisserie is located very close to the Clot metro stop, and produces homemade gluten-free everything – from bread (part or wholly baked, as you prefer), to crepes, muffins to full-blown birthday cakes. Most days you can simply drop by and they’ll have something gluten-free ready for you to take away, but to make sure you’re not disappointed, give them a call or order direct on their website – they also deliver.
For locals, Baci also offers regular roll-your-sleeves-up workshops, where Coeliac clients are walked through the basic techniques of gluten-free baking.
To give you an idea of quality, here’s a recent gluten-free birthday cake I ordered, just for the hell of it. God it was good.
Baci D’Angelo gluten-free sponge cake – genius
Address: Carrer Valencia 656 (Clot district).
Best gluten-free pasta: Mammamia in Poblenou
As a fellow Coeliac, does your heart sink when friends or colleagues suggest an Italian restaurant? What used to be my favourite international cuisine lost its lustre after my diagnosis, with pasta, pizza, bruschetta and other gluten-laden staples suddenly all off the menu. I mean, I like a mushroom risotto, but there’s only so much fungus you can swallow.
In Barcelona, gluten-free pasta is far from the norm. So imagine my delight on discovering a gorgeous Italian trattoria close to my office that does precisely that – offering the exact same choices of pasta sauce as for other, non-GF diners.
Gluten-free seafood spaghetti
All the classic pasta sauces are there (pomodoro, bolognese, carbonara, four cheeses, pesto and arrabiata) while the ‘allo scoglio’, a feast of clams, prawns and mussels, is a particular triumph. Here’s hoping more Italian eateries in Barcelona soon follow suit.
Address: Carrer Pallars 230, close to the Poblenou metro
Best gluten-free pizza: Il Piccolo Focone
Finding gluten-free pizza is somewhat of a Holy Grail for Coeliacs. Oh, the streets of foreign cities I have trudged, in the vain attempt to track down a slice of bloody edible pizza that won’t poison me.
If Italian restaurants in Barcelona don’t tend to hold a supply of gluten-free pasta for Coeliac clients, the way their Scottish Italian compatriots do, gluten-free pizza is even more elusive.
(Beware of the Telepizza adverts for gluten-free pizza, by the way. In reality, while everyone else gets to customise their topping and watch the base being rolled out before them, what Coeliac clients get is a frozen, ready-made pizza whose toppings can’t be customised and which resembles something only slightly less pliant than a brick. Oh, and which costs you a whopping 18-odd euros.)
Il Piccolo Focone is a welcome exception to the rule. Dishing up gluten-free pasta, pizza and desserts (even tiramisu), the owner has first-hand experience of the Coeliac condition, with close family members affected by it.
Inside, the place is cosy, down-to-earth, and the staff exceptionally sweet. Pizza!!!
Address: Carrer del Dos de Maig, 268 (Sant Martí district)
Best gluten-free tapas
Tapas can be tricky, if you’re restricted to a gluten-free diet. Spanish and Catalan food is glorious – the freshest seasonal ingredients, globally fêted chefs and abundance of products from mar to muntanya. But try being a Coeliac on the tapas trail and see how far you get.
Take the usual suspects, for example. Bombas (an ostentatious potato croquette), calamares (squid, usually battered in wheat flour), croquetas (deep-fried and wheat-battered mashed potato), empanadillas (wheat-based savoury pastry), pan con tomate (tomato-smeared baguette), pinchos or montaditos (slabs of bread adorned with a variety of tasty toppings). All of this is a no-go area for the gluten-free diner.
‘Escalivada’, or ‘esqueixada’ in Catalan – gorgeously gluten-free
The good news is, not all tapas have to be deep-fried and rebozados (battered in wheat flour). Coeliac-safe options include my friend and yours, Spanish tortilla, wholesome grilled prawns (gambas a la plancha) or the Catalan cod and roast veg favourite, escalivada (esqueixada in Catalan). Other naturally wheat-free tapas to try are pulpo a la gallega (Galican-style octupus), boquerones en vinagre (anchovies marinated in vinegar), and the Spanish speciality, jamón serrano (Serrano ham).
I’ve yet to come across a tapas restaurant that serves up montaditos or pinchos on gluten-free bread (we can dream, right?), but in the meantime, some lip-smackingly good places to try are Lolita Tapería (Carrer Tamarit, 104, Sant Antoni district) and the little-known Poble Sec hangout of Bar Ramón (Carrer Blai, 30, Poble Sec district), whose papas arrugas (wrinkled potatoes from the Canary Islands) are beyond anything you’ve ever tasted on Earth.
Best gluten-free slap-up supper: La Lluna
Located down a dark alleyway in the old town’s Gothic quarter, just a couple of cobbles from the Ramblas, La Lluna is a classy joint worthy of a meal on a special occasion. The sense of old-world opulence makes it feel a bit like dining on the Titanic, minus the violins, but if you can get past that, the Coeliac diner is likely to leave a satisfied wee soul.
La Lluna is one of very few restaurants I’ve found in Barcelona that bother to mark which items on their menu are actually gluten-free, and the choice is varied (there’s also a decent vegetarian menu). Then there’s the sheer joy of being served warm gluten-free bread (albeit with a 1€ suppplement) with your meal. Considering it’s smack bang in the middle of Barcelona, the prices aren’t half bad either.
La Lluna – rococo, but a Coeliac life-saver
Address: Carrer Santa Anna, 20 (Gothic quarter)
Best gluten-free supermarkets: El Corte Inglés or Día
Mention to anyone in Barcelona that you’re Coeliac and nine times out of 10, you’ll hear “Oh, did you know Mercadona do a great gluten-free range?”
I’m not quite sure how Mercadona, a large Spanish supermarket chain, has managed to pull this off, but kudos to the Marketing team.
In reality, this is what the Coeliac client can expect (bottom row only, mind):
Mercadona’s gluten-free range (the very bottom shelf): could do better
To be fair, there is the odd desultory GF frozen pizza scattered about the place, but essentially, that’s it.
Give it a miss and if you’re feeling flush, head to the Corte Inglés on Plaça de Catalunya, which stocks a brilliant variety of gluten-free products. A more economical option is the supermarket chain Día, which stocks a fairly good ‘free-from’ range as well, with all the store cupboard essentials.
Finally, I like Catalan organic food stores Veritas when it comes to gluten-free cakes, biscuits and sweet pastries. Again, it’s not the cheapest, but the pre-packaged baked items are fresh and lack the tell-tale crumbly consistency that seems to plague products sin gluten.
OK, I think I’ve used the word ‘gluten’ enough times for one lifetime. Feel free to leave a comment below if you need any specific advice on life without wheat in Barcelona, or of course if you know of any good places for Coeliacs. Cheers!
Guiri is one of those words, like feminist or peely-wally, that I want to reclaim. Locals use it to refer to tourists - you know the ones - who stick out a million miles. No matter how long I live in Barcelona, that's always going to be me. (P.S. While Barça locally refers to the football team, Brits use Barca as shorthand for the whole city.) 
Great options and really tasty. I’m going to keep them in mind for my upcoming trip.
Suki F recently posted..5 places to visit in Almeria, Spain
Hey Suki, thanks for the comment!
Hi! Great tips, I’ve been to both copasetic and conesa on my trip. I want to recomend you a great place: el cafe blueproject, vegan-raw-and gluten free! Carrer de la princesa 57
I like your blog! Very intereating but your blog dont have button for share in facebook!! For exemple I want to share this post whit a friend but i cant.
Anyway congratulations!!! Me gusta mucho; ole, ole y ole!
Thanks!
I am on vacation here in beautifull Barcelona with my boys, whom one is allergic to gluten. It has been a small struggle to find nice places to eat. Tomorrow we will look for your favorite pizza restaurant! 🙂
I know, Edvard, it’s not an easy place to be on a gluten-free diet (especially not at breakfast time, when it’s all croissants and sandwiches). The pizza place is great, though, and Copasetic is wonderful (they also do a children’s menu/portions). Good luck, and enjoy the city!
Hi Julie, Thanks for all the information! Also I want to recommend you the website https://www.allergychef.es/en where you can make online free reservations in gluten-free, lactose-free and allergy-friendly restaurants in Barcelona. It’s absolutly useful and it has a complete transcription in english 🙂
What a great resource, Miriam, thanks so much for sharing it. I look forward to trying some of these places out!
Those Conessa baguettes taste like “normal” bread. I was impressed. And lets be honest having gluten free bread doesn’t necessarily mean it will taste good!
Martine @ Chompchomp recently posted..A Day in KL – My gluten free Kuala Lumpur experience
I know, Martine, they’re impressive, aren’t they? Not an easy thing to do, create gluten-free bread that could pass for the real deal, especially in a fast-food environment. It just shows it can be done – Domino’s and Telepizza please take note!
This post is infinitely helpful! Ill be traveling to Barcelona in just three weeks for an entire semester abroad and Copasetic looks like less than a ten minute walk from where Ill be staying. Its going to be rough studying abroad with celiac disease but I already know this one post is going to be so useful. Thanks for the awesome recommendations!!
Katie, Copasetic is fabulous, you’ll love it. It’s such a relief to eat somewhere that clearly marks on the menu what’s GF and bends over backwards to give Coeliacs tasty, healthy food at a reasonable price. If you’re here for a semester, find out where your local market (as opposed to supermarket) is and stock up on fresh fruit and veg from there – it’s pretty cheap, and the quality is amazing. Enjoy Barcelona!
think we will be living at Il Piccolo Focone …we are new to this stuff and our daughter has just been diagnosed…do they do really thin pizzas..
Your site is so funny as well…excellent.
I sympathise, Nigel. It’s tough when you have a family member just diagnosed. Yes, the pizzas there are pretty thin crust, which is how I prefer them. You know you can buy the frozen GF pizza bases from certain places too, like the Corte Inglés? I’m still on the lookout for the perfect gluten-free pizza recipe that I can easily make at home. Italian friends keep telling me to try a polenta base, but that’s not pizza!
Thank you for this extensive info.
My pleasure, hope it helps!
Hi Julie! Thanks for the post, it was certainly helpful for me, as I´m flying to Barcelona in 10 days. Do you have any other coeliac friendly places you can recommend?
Thank!
Fernando
Fernando, if you’re looking for a bar that stocks gluten-free beer, I recommend Homo Sibaris on Sants’ Plaça d’Osca. It’s a small place that does lots of craft beers and usually has bottles of GF beer too. This plaça is a lovely little square in the Sants district, frequented largely by locals without a tourist in site. Hope you enjoy the city:)
AREPAS in Rabipelao in Gracia, are a great choice, vegan, veggie, pork, beef or chicken are fresh, toasted and healthy! they are in Torrent D’en Vidalet 22 near metro Joanic
YES. this is great- thanks so much for putting this list together! copasetic is actually just a few blocks from my house and i was just there today- i had dinner there a few weeks ago and it was great! i am a tour guide and pass by conesa every day, and always wondered how i might be able to try one of their awesome sandwiches.. now i know! check out my blog if you have a minute- i just moved to barcelona in august 🙂
Thanks Gillian! The Conesa sandwiches are brilliant, and it’s so rare for a fast-food joint to do GF options. Good luck with settling in, and all the best for the blog:)
Just a small warning, be careful with the tortilla española unless marked gluten free. If made with chips, maybe they have been cooked with battered food, also sometimes tortillas have gluten-containing additives to make them spongier and to save eggs, best to ask before ordering, some cafes/restaurants make their tortillas from a packet or buy in ready made!
Would love to try the Conesa sandwiches they look delish, but not available as far as I know in Mallorca.
Good point, Gillian. Depends on the deep fat fryer they’re using – and let’s face it, so many tapas are battered in breadcrumbs it’s a distinct possibility. The trials of being Coeliac!
Thank you for this post. You’re a rockstar. I was trying to remember the name of this place friends of a friend took me to a few years ago in Barcelona. Your picture of La Luna confirmed it was the place of which I was thinking.
Cheers Brendan! Just check though if you’re making a booking – there is a different restaurant in Barcelona called La Luna, but the one I’m talking about here has a Catalan name (La Lluna).
Thanks for the tip. Google’s first thought is that I want the single-l tapas bar. Off to lunch at the double-l restaurant in a few minutes.
Hi
I realy like the name on your blod, that I have been a guiri in this country for 19 years now – I´m norwegian
in my family, my youngest have been eating gluten free since february and since now october, me and my oldest also joined the glutenfree team.
At home I dont feel its hard any more, I found a bread that makes my kids happy, a very expencive pasta that are almoust as good and normal – and naturly gluten free its what we normaly eat every day!
For my youngest that does not like to eat – its not been a big problem eating out eather – but now, for me and my son – its harder!!!
So looking for places to go, that are more spesalist on gluten free food – I found your blog THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!
I will take time to read the rest of your blog to!!!
Hello Josefin, and thanks very much for commenting. I know, it’s a challenge to be gluten free, especially in the first year or so, but I do think it gets easier, honestly:) If you like cake (and who doesn’t?) I recently discovered Tonka in the Sant Antoni district, which usually has a couple of gluten-free cakes to choose from with your coffee. Another nice surprise was the traditional Spanish restaurant Mine in Sants, which has gluten-free bread to help soak up the arroz a banda. From one guiri to another, good luck!
Hi, I’m from Barcelona. I’m not coeliac but I try to eat gluten free products because they’re healthier and everytime I need to buy some items (pizza, corn flakes, ice cream, mozzarella, tomato sauce…) I always go to Mercadona.
I think that you maybe didn’t find the gluten-free products but there’s a bunch of products in there like the ones I mentioned before and sweets, chocolates, cookies, bread, etc. Mercadona was made because the daughter of the owner is coeliac and it was hard to find gluten free products for a good price. So you can bet it has a good range of gluten free products 😉
And now they’re introducing vegan products also!
Hope next time you have more luck! =)
YOU DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THOUGH WITH GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS NOT BEING HEALTHY. IF THEY ARE CORN BASED AND NOT ORGANIC WILL MEAN THEY ARE GM CORN WHICH IS REALLY BAD FOR YOU. MOST THE MERCADONA PRODUCTS ARE GM CORN BASED.
Sorry, the thing about the daughter of Mercadona’s owner I think is not true XD but anyway they have a good range of gluten free products 😉
Last thing (I guess) sorry for spaming but things are coming to my mind >_< I'm just trying to help. Maybe you know about this but it's a good website where you can find gluten free places and other allergies http://www.allergychef.es
Hope it helps!!
-Cloudstreet Bakery has gluten free Fridays.
-Anima BCN has some gluten free choices and vegetarian and vegan also.
-Viena has a little menu for coeliacs
Thanks for all the advice, Cris:)
Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for your efforts in writing this blog. We will be visiting Barca in May and both my wife and sister in law are celiacs. Your blog has proved invaluable as a starting point in planning our visit to Barcelona.
Scanning the comment I see that no one has found this little gem. It was last published in 2011 so further research is required. I wonder if you have any comments on it.
http://www.celiacscatalunya.org/pdfs/guia_ajuntament_bcn.pdf
Cheers
Thanks for adding this great resource, Joe – I hadn’t seen it before. I was reading a newspaper article the other day that said that less than 3% of restaurants in Catalonia are able to cater for gluten-free clients, so it seems there’s still some way to go. A discovery I’ve made recently is Italian restaurant Mammamia in Poblenou – the first Italian eatery I’ve ever found in Barcelona that offers gluten-free pasta. According to my Italian colleagues, they also do a mean authentic pizza, if you go with non-GF friends. I hope you have fun when you get here in May! Julie
Great post! Just a couple tips, tough:
– Mine is a great restaurant but I think they aren’t following the gluten protocol properly. I have been served normal bread and and ice cream topped with oreo there, for example, just because the chef forgot that I had ordered gluten-free dishes. I don’t think that place is safe.
– About the paella, well, i SHOULD be naturally GF but often it is not. You have to watch out for 3 things in it: food colouring (cheap restaurants don’t use real saffron) wich has gluten, also “pimenton” (some kind of spanish paprika spice) which has to be GF certified and “picada”, a mash of bread, almonds, cinnamon, etc which is often added to the preparation (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picada_%28t%C3%A9cnica_culinaria%29).
So paellas have to bee eaten on restaurants that are certified too, sorry 🙁
Hello Nadia, and thanks for commenting. I’m not sure what the criteria are for GF-certified restaurants in Catalonia, but I do know that Mine provides gluten-free bread. You would need to check as to each individual dish to make sure it’s safe for Coeliacs, though. I’ve never heard that paprika (pimentón) could contain gluten before, or indeed food colouring. I’ve had a quick look online and it seems there’s no reason why it would (https://www.celiacosmadrid.org/enfermedad_celiaca_pr_16_d.php) – is it something you’ve had problems with in the past?
Well, quality paprika should never contain gluten. But truth is that some “special” flavoured ones do contain flour and vegetable oils, altough that is not very common.
About Mine, yes, it was announced as a celiac friendly restaurant and the menu has indications for us celiacs, but sadly I have to say I have visited it several times and have witnessed mistakes such as bringing me the wrong kind of bread (this I noticed myself when I saw it), topping my ice cream with oreo cookies (the cook realised what he had done and sent the waiter running back to my table to retrieve it, hopefully I hadn’t started) and things like that… therefore it is not really safe.
Thanks for gluten-free restaurant tips!
Hey there Just wanted to say thanks of your hard work ! Compiling the information I just moved here and will try out your suggestions ! Happy Wednesday Paul )))
Thanks Paul, and welcome to Barcelona:)
Hello,
Do you know about seafood, fish, and peanut friendly places to eat? Is that common in Spain? I’m traveling from the States with these allergies and I’m concerned about being able to find places to eat. My allergies are deadly, but I still want to enjoy eating out, like I do in the States.
Thank you for any suggestions!
Hi Allison, sorry if i’m late. My son is also allergic to egg and nuts and we book table in some restaurants from the website https://www.allergychef.es/ Just wanted to say what a fabulous experience we had using their services a couple of weeks ago!!! My son really enjoyed the tapas restaurant (Mirilla) the first night with the “allergy chef” reservation placard on the table… he felt special. I highly recommend the website!
Thanks for all these top tips!! I Enjoyed a lovely sandwich in Conesa! Unfortunately walked all the way to the pizza place but it was closed 🙁
Found somewhere that did gluten free pasta in the marina at Barcelonetta though!
Hi Jen, glad you enjoyed Conesa:) I’ve actually now found a great restaurant in Poblenou that does gluten-free pasta – it’s called Mammamia, on Pallars 230. It’s famous for its pizzas, which sadly don’t come gluten-free, but the pasta variety is very good and it’s a firm favourite with my Italian friends.
Very helpful!! I spent a week in Barcelona last July and also loved Copasetic. I also found L’antic Bocoi del Gotic does gf pizza. address is Baixada de Viladecols 3, not far from Jaume metro.
There is also (unbelievably) a Chinese restaurant “Out of China”. Can’t remember the address but they are coeliac experts!
Thanks for the heads-up, Katie!
Hello, love the post! I am planning a last minute trip to Barcelona with my Boyfriend and I am ceoliac and have been for about 5 years now. He is extremely considerate but when I can’t find food I can eat it becomes really frustrating for me and everyone around me!!
Please can you give me any more advice on going to barcelona, anywhere that provides gluten free meals for breakfast, lunch etc. We are staying in Hotel Universal. I love travelling but the thought of struggling with food makes it rather stressfull!!! Thankyou for your blog post though, I’m determinded to visit these restaurants!!
Hi Victoria! I know the feeling – I was vegetarian for 20 years before being diagnosed Coeliac, so very familiar with the hassle this can cause friends and partners when you’re travelling especially. So you’re staying on Parallel Avenue? I came across a place recently, the Barcelo Raval hotel on the Rambla del Raval, which does an amazing buffet brunch for 25 euros (Sundays for 12 till 4). It’s just a few streets away from where you’re staying. They have tons of stuff that’s naturally gluten free (fruit, roast veg, meat etc) plus they bake gluten-free bread on site – just remember to mention this to them when booking. The price includes a cocktail at the end, which you can take up to the 360-degree viewing deck after your meal. Staying in the Raval, you could try En Ville Restaurante – a pretty wee place, would be nice for a romantic meal, with a fair amount of GF options on the menu (they even do gluten-free ‘pan con tomate’!) Hope you find enough to be able to enjoy the food here – best of luck:)
This is amazing Julie, thank you!!! Do you know how safe these places are in terms of cross-contamination? For example, at Conesa the picture looks like a panini– is it cooked in the same place as sandwiches with gluten?
Hi Tali. You can have a look on Conesa’s website (http://www.conesaentrepans.com/english/gluten-free-restaurant-barcelona.html) for the full details, but I do know that they’re approved by the Catalan Coeliac Association, who are the GF authority in this neck of the woods. I wouldn’t bet my life on most places, even if they claim they’re gluten free, being completely safe – there’s still a long way to go in terms of awareness of cross-contamination issues here. For example, one restaurant I went into (not mentioned in the post) went to toast me gluten free bread in the same toaster they used for everyone else’s normal bread, and I had to point out to them the dangers for Coeliacs. If you’re concerned at all anywhere you go into, just ask them to double check and play it by ear, I would say.
Hello!
Thanks a lot for great places to eat. We are a norwegian family living her for almost 5 weeks this summer. My husband is a celiac. Vienna at la rambla served him sauce with gluten, even he told them sin gluten.
Have you tried Ginos restaurant? Its nearby placa catalonia. They also have a restaurant at diagonal mar center. They have a glutenfree meny. Great pizza and pasta!
Many places have gluten in the pomme frites because they cooked it in the same place as nuggets. So he get sick a few times now.
We love the conesa baguet!
Hi Christine, and thanks very much for the info. I don’t know Ginos but will seek it out the next time I’m in the centre of town. Always good to know more GF places to try. Yes, chips anywhere can be dodgy for Coeliacs, as most places deep fry them in the same oil that’s used to batter other food. Always worth checking with the restaurant staff.
Hi, your post really calmed me down, because i’ve been worrying about the fact that i have wheat allergy and on my way to a vacation in Barcelona. So i know its tricky even here in Finland to find wheat free fast-food place/restaurants, that does know the difference between coeliac and wheat allergy.
So i meant to ask, do you know about those Conesa sandwiches, are those made out of wheat starch? And would you have any recommendations of any places that serve naturally gluten free/wheat free food?
Hi Jenna, and thanks for your comment. The Conesa sandwiches are certified gluten-free by the Catalan Coeliac Association, but if you have any doubts the best thing is to email the restaurant itself, who I’m sure will be able to confirm for you. For places serving food that’s naturally gluten free, I would try Barcelona’s growing range of vegetarian restaurants, which tend to be more health-conscious by nature. I love the newcomer Flax & Kale, which helpfully marks up its menu with the ‘GF’ designation. Some of the Indian restaurants can be good, too, as they tend to use chickpea (gram) flour rather than wheat flour.
Thank you so much. My Boyfriend and I are going to Barcelona, Madrid and Mallorca in 2 weeks and this GF page is so helpful. He is highly allergic to Gluten and was very anxious about dining. So thank you. Will hit all places recommended during our stay. Details to come.
Lilly
You’re welcome, Lilly, I hope you’re having a good time here. Let me know how you get on!
Thanks so much for this information! We’ve been in Barcelona two days and had a bacon sandwich and an amazing pizza with the best gf tiramisu I have ever had. It’s a great list!
Thanks Louise:)
thank you for this information it’s really helpful! Yet again my excitement of a trip abroad sinks when I think of dining out, anxious about where to go and hate making a fuss. I’ll definitely be looking these places up at the end of the week.
By chance do you ask about the stock in the paella or do you take it for granted that it will be g/f?
Many thanks again!
Jo
Hi Jo. The truth is I don’t ask as often as I should, and you can’t take it for granted that it will be gluten-free. I was out for dinner recently at 7Portes, for example, and they were excellent about double checking – they eventually came back and said I couldn’t have any rice dishes there as they use wheat flour to thicken the sauce. Better to ask and be on the safe side!
This is reassuring. There are tons of gluten-free restaurants out there now to help ease the transition to health.
Oh, this website is fantastic. Quick question does anyone know where we can buy gluten free soy sauce in Barcelona? Also has anyone tried Messi sin gluten? A totally gluten free pizza place — it was awesome!
You can buy gluten-free soy sauce in the oriental super markets at the end of calle balmes, close to plaza universitat.
Thanks for the comment, Lisa. I’ve been able to find Tamari (gluten-free) soy sauce in quite a few of the bigger supermarkets here – it shouldn’t be that hard to find. If you’re stuck, head to Dong Fang Asian supermarket on Balmes Street, very close to Plaça de Catalunya. I was in there the other night (found lemongrass!) and they not only have the standard Tamari soy sauce but the ‘lite’ version too.
This is really helpful, thanks. I recently discovered a new pizza/pasta restaurant which is 100% gluten free, also have good cakes. It’s called Messié Pizza, in carrer de Siracusa (Gracia) and I tried the pizza which was delicious.
I’ve heard great things about it! On my list for the next time I’m up in Gracia:)
Moving to Barcelona but worried about feeding myself (as I do every time I move to a new country). Your site is HUGELY helpful. I am saving it for the future and may have more questions when I get there. Thanks thanks! Muchisimas Gracias!
Don’t worry, Emily, the situation for Coeliacs in Barcelona is getting better all the time. You’ll love the place:)
Nice list of gluten free options in Barcelona. There is one more site to mention in Poble Nou : Belgious on the Rambla del Poblenou 24 offers gluten free savory and sweet crepes made with buckwheat flower. Simply mention you are gluten intolerant and they will follow a procedure in order to avoid cross contamination 😉
Top tip, Michel – I work in Poblenou so will be heading down there one night after work to give it a go. Thanks!
Thanks for your gluten free list. I have just returned from Barcelona and found it really useful. The crepes at Copasetic are brilliant, and I would add Enrique Thomas for their fantastic gf jamon buns. An The Attic on las Ramblas – the only restaurant I have ever been to with a separate gluten free menu. Thanks, you made our trip a whole lot easier!
Thanks for the tips, Jackie. Glad to hear The Attic has its own GF menu – I wish more places did this, or at least marked on their main menu what’s definitely gluten-free. I keep hearing about European Legislation set to make this obligatory, but I’m not sure when that will take effect.
great tips are very tasty gluten-free recipes that will help to improve my health. thanks!
Thank you for gluten free list! It’s really helpful. Finally. I can eat pizza pasta cake !!
Thank you so much for this! I’m heading to Barcelona in a week. Will be very helpful!!
Hi Jane
Just heading to Barcelona formy wife’s birthday for weekend in 2 weeks time.She is Coeliac – loved your recommendations and would be grateful if you could say if La Lluna is still the best restaurant for a slap-up meal ( in your humble opinion). thanks a million
It’s a little bit like dining on the Titanic (before it went down), but yes, I’d say it’s a good bet for somewhere a bit fancier. Have fun!
I’m loving your blog. Your posts always amazes me!
So thankful to find this great resource! We will be traveling to Barcelona in June as a family with two celiac kids. We’d like to attend a Flamenco show but see that many of them involve dinner. Do you know of any shows that can accommodate customers with celiac?
Hi Cheryl, and thanks for the comment. I have to confess that in nearly six years in Barcelona I’ve never been to a flamenco show (and nor have most people I know). Flamenco hails from Andalucía, in the south of Spain, and isn’t native to Catalonia, so many people here view it as a tourist trap, cashing in on Spanish stereotypes. Nothing against flamenco itself – I love the drama and passion of it – but just to let you know it’s not really a Catalan thing. What dates will you be here in June? The big festival that month is Sant Joan – it would be great if your family were here for all the flames and fireworks on the beach:)
What an incredible resource; thanks so much for sharing! I will be going with my family this summer and just recorded most of these restaurants to visit. Are you aware of anywhere that has GF churros con chocolate, or am I dreaming? Thanks again 🙂
Andrea
Thanks Andrea! I’ve never seen any GF churros from stalls or restaurants, but El Corte Inglés sells frozen GF ones in the special diets section, if you’re up for supplying the chocolate. Have fun this summer:)
Hi Julie,
Thanks for putting up this useful blog, I am staying at Poblenou, near Mammamia and will check out their pasta tonite,
I also found this place called Creps al Born today which has some nice gluten free pancakes, they do some good cocktails too, apart from the cocky staff the place is real good and also located in a nice place with lots of food and shop options
Hi Julie, thanks to your gf restaurant list we made ultimate tour de gf Barca!! Fantastic experience, especially on bikes.
Thank you for sharing such great article, here’s my map showing the gf places I used last week in Barcelona.
https://www.google.com/maps/placelists/list/1HFW4n7EwdqnleGxJWcBI8Q6Az-s
I wish I had come across your blog a year ago. We went to Barcelona last summer. I struggle to eat in every city we visit in Europe. I try going on TripAdvisor or Yelp, but the restaurants are always miles away from where we are staying. I will be traveling back to Barcelona this October. Are all these restaurants still up and running? I know you wrote it in few years ago. Do you have any new recommendations? I appreciate your help and thank you for your blog.