The residents of Barcelona love a good brunch, that’s for sure. And as lunch in Spain doesn’t really start until 2pm (at the earliest), we have the luxury of being able to lie in bed that little bit longer, and only stumble to our favourite brunch hangouts before 4 or 5pm to take advantage of the delicious menus. Here’s my pick of the best brunch in Barcelona, spread throughout the city so you can find a delicious Barcelona brunch wherever you are!
Barcelona Brunch – Classic Comfort Food:
Marmalade / Milk
These sister restaurants share the same menu, and are definitely worth checking out if you’re in the Raval or Gothic quarters respectively. Marmalade made this list because it is considerably larger than its cozy sibling, which usually means less waiting for a table, and you can dine outdoors on the terrace. It does lack some of the charming atmosphere of Milk, but funky décor and pool table help make this a great place to while away a weekend afternoon. The food is awesome, boasting a compact but varied menu with something to suit every taste. You could kid yourself into thinking you’re being healthy with berry smoothies or granola to start with, but then the real action happens when you turn over the menu and discover the Salmon Eggs Benedict, Ranchera Omelette or the huge fry up, also served with toast and jam. Freshly squeezed orange juice or bloody mary’s kick start your system and chase the hangovers away; all in all perfect brunch fodder.
Riera Alta 4-6, 08001, Barcelona
Barcelona Brunch – Foodie Heaven:
Federal
Recommended to me by several foodie friends, this café is one of the best known spots for brunch in Barcelona. Located in the up-and-coming Sant Antoni area, the highlight is the garden terrace, and the huge windows which can be opened up in Summer to add an al fresco feeling to your brunch. Spread over 3 floors including the terrace, it gets busy at the weekends so be prepared. Free wifi helps pass the time, and it is worth the wait. The menu has a great selection of eggs, any way you like them, and extra items to add to whatever takes your fancy – essentially a build your own brunch experience. There are plenty of healthy options on the menu too, including muesli, quinoa breakfast cereal, fruit and yogurt, and other usual items like croissants, cereals and of course a good old cooked breakfast with English bacon. Or you can try a spicy vegetarian breakfast burger for something a little bit different! They have also opened a second restaurant in the Gothic Quarter, so you have a choice of locations for your brunchy delights.
C/ Parlament 39, 08015 Barcelona
Barcelona Brunch – Breakfast Tapas & More:
Picnic
Another popular spot with locals and tourists alike, this fantastic café in the Born offers a varied menu including brunch tapas options, offering the chance to mix and match your favourites and share with your friends. They also offer tasty desserts offerings such as cheesecake, crumble and the cake of the day should you need something sweet after your brunch. The service deserves a special mention here, recommended for being quick and friendly, something which is sadly lacking in many other cafés and restaurants here. You can also reserve a table which is a huge plus for busy weekends, and can even do this on their website. Menu recommendations include the tapas dish of fried green tomatoes with feta, and the duck hash; brunch heaven!
C/ del Comerç 1, 08003 Barcelona
Barcelona Brunch – Brilliant Buffet & Baking:
Tonka
5 words to ensure Tonka’s inclusion in this list: “all you can eat buffet”. In addition to the usual brunch menu, on Sundays Tonka offers its delicious brunch buffet for just 12 euros per person, including home-made cinnamon rolls, cakes, fruits, cereals, cheeses, cold meats, and more so it really is The Place for Brunch. If the cold buffet isn’t quite enough for you, hot items like eggs or sausages are available as extras too. Add to all this a terrace, a playroom for the kids, table reservations by phone or internet and this place is tough to beat.
Marques de Campo Sagrado 27, 08015 Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Brunch – The One to Watch:
Les 3 a La Cuina
This deli/grocery/café in Gracia is a relatively undiscovered gem, although the secret is now out and its popularity is growing. The offer a varied selection of freshly made dishes that change every day, and with special dishes for brunch until 4.30pm at the weekends. You can also select dishes to take away – breakfast in bed anyone?
C/Sant Lluis 35, Gracia, 08012 Barcelona, Spain
Other notable brunch offerings include Brunch & Cake, Mama’s Café, The Benedict BCN and the Barceló Hotel in Raval for the views from its 360° terrace.
All photos have been sneaked from the restaurants’ own websites to give you a proper food porn fix.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
Although some people prefer to stay in a quieter area of the city, I love being right in the centre of Barcelona so I can walk everywhere. Areas in the Gothic Quarter and around La Rambla do get noisy at night, so bring some earplugs with you.
If you are travelling to Barcelona on your own, be careful walking around quieter streets alone at night, especially in Raval. Barcelona is a safe city, but still be aware of what’s going on around you.
Hostels in Barcelona
I stayed at Fabrizzio’s Petit Hostel and loved it, and they even had free paella nights if you are backpacking on a budget and want to try some delicious Spanish food. There are private rooms and dorms available, and I really enjoyed my stay here. Read my full review of what I think is the best hostel in Barcelona, or book it on Hostelworld.
If Fabrizzio’s isn’t available then there are plenty of other hostels and budget hotels in Barcelona, including plenty of options for private rooms in hostels. You could also try Hostel One Las Ramblas which is great for solo travellers or Fabrizzio’s Terrace which also gets excellent reviews and has private rooms or dorms to choose from. Take a look at all the hostels in Barcelona on Hostelworld to check prices, read reviews and book your hostel online.
Hotels in Barcelona
There are hundreds of hotels in Barcelona to choose from, and you can find something for every budget. Staying outside of the city centre is cheaper, but as you only have 2 days in Barcelona these options are all in or around the Gothic Quarter so you can easily reach the attractions in Barcelona on foot or with the metro.
Luxury: The 5* Mercer Hotel has a rooftop pool, chic décor with original beamed ceilings and exposed brick walls. Guests love the helpful staff, comfortable beds and the location.
Mid-Range: The H10 Madison hotel has lovely views of the Gothic Cathedral from the roof terrace and gets rave reviews for the friendly staff and excellent location.
Budget: Chic & Basic Born Hotel is in the popular Born neighbourhood. It has a restaurant and bar onsite, and guests loved the boutique style and the location.
Airbnb in Barcelona
There have been problems with Airbnb in Barcelona, with large companies buying up apartments to rent to tourists and pushing out local residents. If you do decide to book an Airbnb in Barcelona I would recommend staying in a private room in an apartment, so you are helping someone who lives here to pay their rent, which is now at record levels in the city.
Something like this room in the gorgeous apartment hosted by the Soler family or this room in Barceloneta are central places to stay and close to everything you might need.
If you prefer to have your own place you could try this cosy studio, or check out all the options for Airbnb in Barcelona.
If you have never used Airbnb before, use this link to sign up & get up to $52 credit to use on your first trip! Read more about the Airbnb first time discount code and my full Airbnb guide or click below for your Airbnb coupon.
If you’re looking for travel insurance for your trip to Spain, get a quote now from World Nomads.
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Oh my goodness! You have me craving brunch like none other! I never really think about brunch being a big thing in other countries, but I’m elated to find that I don’t have to get up so early to enjoy amazing foods in another country! Cheers!
Haha Brunch is the most important meal of the day for me! Especially in Barcelona, where everything happens much later – lie-in & lazy brunch is my perfect Sunday!
Oh, Claire, I so wish I had read this article before I went to visit Barcelona 2 months ago.
Each of these places looks amazing and I’d have visited at least one, should I have known them in advance.
Pinned and will read it again later when I go back to Barcelona again 🙂
Aww sorry you missed it – but it’s just another excuse to go back to Barcelona 😉
They all look delicious so the problem would be choosing which to visit. Marmalade sounds amazing thiugh
I think Marmalade is my fave too but it is a tough call – I love the veggie brunch burger in Federal too!
You had me at BRUNCH. I’ll take any kind of eggs benedict… I’d be down to eat the eggs florentine at Marmalade all day everyday 😛 Egg porn is just the best!
haha a woman after my own heart 😉
I love all you can eat buffets so I would be seeing binge eating in Tonka next time when I am in barcelona haha. I can’t believe I missed all these amazing options last time.
Ahhh trouble is with Barcelona there are so many option to choose from! Just remember these for next time 😉
It makes me really hungry now. All these food are really appetizing and it makes me wanna go to Barcelona now and try all of these yummy food. I am more excited to go to Barcelona now.
Hehe do it!! See you there 😉
Yes, brunch looks amazing! Spanish food is delicious, so fresh and vibrant flavors. Great recommendations, I will need to check these out.
I love Spanish food – true, brunch isn’t very traditional but what the hell, it’s delicious!
Thanks for this list! We were in Barcelona a month ago, and sadly didn’t really hit up the food scene. Only there for two days so we frequented La Boqueria Market for the majority of our food. Would love to get back and hit some of these fab brunch spots though!
La Boqueria is always a great option for food too, there are so many choices it can be overwhelming!
I like the Spanish way of eating small meals. It does take a bit of getting used to eating both lunch and dinner later though. The eggs Florentine look delicious.
Ah yes, everything is later in Spain, I couldn’t sleep at night for ages after eating a late dinner but after 3 years I’d gotten used to it 😀
This all looks so good. Several friends just went to Barcelona, but none really mentioned the food. I’d be all over the eggs benedict if I had the opportunity to visit! Always up for a foodie adventure.
Ahh they missed out big time if they missed the food! Foodie adventures are the best!