Gluten-free desserts at Restaurant Gut | Courtesy of Restaurant Gut
When in Barcelona, the average traveller enjoys a non-stop tapas buffet with slices of bread, fried calamari, croquetas, croissants and just about every other gluten-based product found in the Mediterranean. But what if you are travelling to the Catalan capital on a restricted diet? Fortunately, Barcelona now boasts a number restaurants for gluten-free diners, so you’ll never be far from a place to eat.
Copasetic
Restaurant, Spanish, $$$
Copasetic is a food lover’s paradise in Barcelona’s L’Eixample neighborhood, with a Mediterranean-inspired menu. Soups, sandwiches, burgers, crêpes and more are made fresh daily with locally sourced and mostly organic ingredients. The aim is to provide good food for everyone – including those with gluten and lactose intolerances. The cosy atmosphere, well-trained staff, and menu full of gluten-free and allergen-friendly options are enough to make even the most sensitive eaters relax and enjoy their meal, worry-free.
Now with two locations in Barcelona, Conesa has been making hot sandwiches since 1951. In the mid-2000s, the founder’s son set out to create a coeliac-safe sandwich and, after extensive research and a collaboration with the Coeliac Association of Catalunya, Conesa now offers over 30 varieties of certified gluten-free sandwiches, loaded with meat or vegetables. With delicious bread, a side of patatas fried in uncontaminated oil, gluten-free beer and naturally flourless sauces, Conesa proudly offers a wealth of gluten-free alternatives.
Mayura is perfect for fans of Indian food. If you are tired of local cuisine and would like to try something different, this bedazzling restaurant will awaken your senses with its vibrant colours, textures and flavours. Mayura provides a wonderful experience for a romantic outing.
Located in the Gràcia neighborhood, Gut is another Barcelona restaurant dedicated to providing incredible food for people of all diet profiles. The menu includes gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free and egg-free options. The owner has carefully assembled a varied menu, featuring mostly gluten-free dishes and coeliac-friendly desserts.
Els Pollos de Llull specialises in roasted whole chickens. Their menu has expanded over the years to include many pastas, croquetas and other bread-based products; as they began to receive more and more gluten-free requests from customers, the restaurant decided to change things up in the kitchen. Since their famous chicken was already naturally gluten-free, staff were trained to prevent cross-contamination and are now well versed in allergy-friendly options.
Considered one of the best gluten-free restaurants in Barcelona, La Lluna is a great place to get traditional Spanish food. The owners did not set out to become a gluten-free destination, but their geographic proximity to the Coeliac Association of Catalunya and customer demand changed the way their chefs thought about food. The restaurant stopped using wheat flour in sauce bases altogether and the pastries are made with almond meal. Those who are gluten intolerant should avoid the fried foods as they may have been exposed to cross-contamination.
One of the best restaurants for fresh seafood and traditional Catalan cuisine in Barcelona, Bar Mut offers gluten-free dishes. Most of the seafood plates are grilled or can be prepared for coeliac customers on request. The staff is well versed in what does and does not contain gluten, and this is one of the best places for tapas in a city that tends to serve everything on bread.
Roca Moo is the Michelin-star restaurant of the upscale Hotel Omm, located just off Passeig de Gràcia. Roca Moo doesn’t have a gluten-free menu or a specialist kitchen. However, this outstanding restaurant is used to accommodating people with all dietary needs and the chefs can cook almost any dish without gluten. The other restaurant in the hotel, Roca Bar, offers healthy options that are naturally gluten-free.
This granja (meaning ‘farm’ and the term for older cafés that were authorised to sell milk products) opened in 1870 and is tucked away just behind Las Ramblas on Carrer d’en Xuclà. Since it opened nearly 150 years ago, the menu has continued to expand, as generation after generation have flocked to the café to satisfy their sweet-tooth cravings. The thick chocolate milk and churros hit the spot after a long day of sightseeing in the surrounding area of Ciutat Vella.
