Best places for brunch in Barcelona

Eat My Trip has become one of the hottest breakfast spots in town. The menu features sweet and savoury items, so all day you can get yourself some ‘American waffles’ (which happen to be both sweet and savoury) or an amazing ‘Guacascramble’ that also includes salmon tartare. Try some eggs Benedict with a Thai touch thanks to the panang sauce. Or get a salad bowl or a smoothie bowl, but follow them with a home-made dessert, please. There’s also a whole page of drinks, including speciality coffees, smoothies, and an array of lattes. 

In Barcelona there is no shortage of great sushi restaurants and Japanese cuisine. And among them is a real heavy-hitter: Nobu Barcelona, ​​on the 23rd floor of the hotel with the same name. Yes, one of the partners is Robert De Niro. But the real incentive to stop in for a meal is the megastar chef Nobu Matsuhisa. French chef Hervé Courtot directs the kitchen and interprets Matsuhisa’s recipes, which gives him plenty of room to inject his own creativity. And on Sundays from 12.30pm to 3.30pm you can dig in to their special brunch options, with the World of Nobu Brunch, featuring dishes from Nobu restaurants around the world, or the Nobu Signature Brunch. Either way, you’re going to be dining on heavenly food with an equally divine view.

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming decor at Auto Rosellon. The keep it simple and they make great food. As part of their excellent brunch menu, you might choose the Nordic scrambled eggs with cured salmon, crème fraîche and dill (all the egg dishes are out of this world, and all made with organic eggs), or maybe you’re in the mood for a bowl of granola with home-made Greek yogurt and organic fruit, or perhaps some toast with home-made jam. If you’re feeling frisky, get a brunchy cocktail, like a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Kir Royale or Bellini. This is quality food with an eco-friendly attitude.

Attention fans of Basque cuisine (or haute cuisine in general): Martín Berasategui – the chef with the most Michelin stars in Catalonia and Spain – offers his version of traditional Basque cuisine for brunch at the Monument Hotel. Be aware that these ‘Yummy Sundays’ are only on the first Sunday of each month, from 12.30pm to 4pm, in Glasss, the restaurant on the hotel’s terrace. You might wonder if the €59 per person price tag is worth it. We’re here to tell you: if you’ve got it in your budget, it is. You’re getting a vision of Basque cuisine by the most important Basque chef in the game. We recommend you visit the omelette station, where you’ll get yours made to order. And prepare yourself for wonders such as fried hake (a childhood fave of the chef’s, cod ‘kokotxas’ with Txakoli cockles and the Donostiarra-style ‘txangurro’ (crab). Plus there are all manner of fried delights. And if that weren’t enough, the open bar serves up soft drinks and cocktails (nothing beats a good Blood Mary with a Sunday brunch).

Federal Cafè is done up in a style befitting the trendiest, most cosmopolitan of cities. Natural light, tasteful decor, good music, fast and friendly service, and a menu specialising in breakfasts that can resuscitate you after a night of overdoing it: juices and smoothies, eggs and sausages, fruit and sandwiches... Federal was one of the pioneers on the brunch scene in Barcelona, and it’s still living up to and surpassing expectations.

The two schmucks in question, from Sweden (Moe) and London (A.J.), opened their bar for brunch, coffee and cocktails while it was still under construction, but now you’ll find a fully functioning spot that serves up a delicious American brunch with southern influences. You won’t have to pay a lot for quality food (the eggs and chicken are local, from central Catalonia), and the American chef serves up portions that won’t leave you wanting. The fried chicken with waffles and honey butter is well worth the calories. 

Venezuelans Fabio and Francia explain that they’ve travelled loads and love bringing those experiences to their menu, playing with Asian and Latin American flavours and reimagining them using local products. Their brunch (served daily from 10am to 4pm) includes highlights such as their version of shakshuka (poached eggs baked in tomato sauce, topped with yoghurt and avocado) – a creamy delight that pairs perfectly with the country-style bread. If you’re in the mood for something smaller, don’t pass up the tapas. And bear in mind they’ve got six craft beers on tap for when you’re feeling thirsty.

One Sunday a month (check their Facebook page or website), the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I presents a themed brunch with live music that’s a gourmet delirium, both in quantity and quality. There’s a station just for breads and sausages, for example, and a stellar selection of smoked seafood. The mains include made-to-order omelettes, a ‘capipota’ stew and a ‘picadillo’ with wild mushrooms and Iberian bacon, plus other great Catalan dishes in their best versions. And the dessert station is over the top. It’s all served in a majestic setting, for €59 (including a glass of cava) per person.

Brunch is kept simple at The Corner Bar, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it out. On Sundays from 12.30pm to 3.30pm you can sit down for a set brunch menu for just €21 per person. You get to choose from three hearty starters (among them some stunning eggs Benedict), then one of four mains (a cheeseburger, or perhaps vegetable moussaka), followed by a selection of desserts and accompanied by water and a glass of cava. It’s all set to live music from local musician Joan Tena, who was one of the six finalists in the 2002 edition of Spain’s nationwide singing competition, ‘Operación Triunfo’.

Specialising in brunch, Can Dendê serves up four different versions of eggs Benedict, sweet or savoury pancakes, and deli items for lunch that are simple yet exquisitely made, like pulled pork sandwiches with pork that’s marinated for hours before it’s grilled. You’ll also find a few Brazilian dishes from chef Patricia Leona’s country of origin.

Let’s make one thing clear. This is not your typical hotel brunch. Catalan chef Carme Ruscalleda’s brunch is nothing short of spectacular. You’ll find the chef’s local favourites like cannelloni and lobster rice, as well as delicate and exquisite sushi, and everything else you’d expect from a five-star luxury hotel with a Michelin-starred chef at the helm. Plus there are special dishes that pop up along with special dates, whether it’s Chinese New Year or the local La Mercè festival. Brunch is on every Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. And did we mention the free-flowing cava? 

The offering at Flaherty’s isn’t a brunch per se, but they’ve got some breakfast items on the menu served until 3pm every day and some served until 7pm for those who get a late start. Your traditional Irish breakfast includes Irish bacon and sausages, a fried egg, baked beans, black pudding, hash browns, grilled mushrooms, white pudding, slow-roasted tomatoes and toast. And that is all for less than a tenner! There are also creative vegetarian and vegan options (meaning they don’t just scrape off the meat!). Until 3pm you can get eggs Benedict, chorizo baked eggs, sweet and savoury waffle, and more. 

Now that a good few years have passed since the opening of Ugot (which means ‘cakes’ in Hebrew), owner Adi Nachson is proud that her ‘bruncherie’ has grown without losing its heart and soul. Now serving some of the best eggs in Barcelona, Ugot offers five versions of eggs Benedict – the ones atop shredded pork and their version of French toast are heavenly – and five other hearty options. Other featured options include omelettes and soups, and you can also get tapas, salads, burgers, and cakes that are out of this world.

After introducing brunch in 2009 at Picnic (see below), Californian Tara Penke and her husband and cook from Chile, Jaime, have opened The Little Basket. It’s a lovely, light-filled space where new food experiments are constantly happening, like a duck confit with naan bread or eggs with chipotle sauce. On Saturdays and Sundays you can enjoy brunch from 10am to 4pm either dining in or getting all the fixings to go and have a picnic of your own in the nearby park.

With a focus on healthy and energy-boosting food, you won’t feel guilty after eating brunch at Maai. The cuisine is friendly to those with gluten and dairy intolerances and focuses on fresh, quality meals. Forget crepes swimming in oil, and instead order waffles made from chickpeas with grilled avocado and eggs served along with a carrot salad with gorgeous cooked nectarines and almond vinaigrette. Everything is made from scratch using first-rate raw materials.

Picnic’s brunch is already known as the best place to recover from a night out on the town with its eggs Benedict and an ace cocktail selection. Since Tara and Jaime opened the space in the first half of the 2000s, the tradition of an American-style brunch has become a favourite in Barcelona, and you can dig into other scrumptious fare like pancakes or huevos rancheros as well. Plus, outside of brunch and depending on the season, you can gobble up dishes such as pork ribs with mashed potatoes, a New Orleans–inspired gumbo, or lighter options like ceviche. 

You’ve got to respect this powerhouse that opened in 2005 as one of the city’s brunch pioneers and has never lowered its standards. They serve brunch every day of the week from 9am to 4.30pm, and the impressive repertoire includes four different versions of eggs Benedict, bagels, a selection of pancakes, Turkish eggs, chorizo hash, huevos rancheros, gourmet burgers and more. Plus, you are sitting in a bar, so don’t forget to order a brunch cocktail. And if you’re not feeling up for that, try a smoothie.

This younger establishment, with cooks who’ve worked at Gresca and Monvínic, offers a modern and popular take on Catalan cuisine. There are some experiments in fusion with hearty Anglo fare, but Catalan tradition wins out. It’s a pleasure to sink your teeth into a sandwich stuffed with beef jowl and cheese (and made with impeccable focaccia from Cruixent). Yes, you can get eggs Benedict, but if you’re up for a truly local experience, order a Catalan staple like pigs’ trotters, ‘callos’ tripe with chorizo, or a spectacular sandwich with seasonal ‘calçots’ and romesco sauce.

Marmalade is a lovely spot to have a cocktail in the evening with plenty of pals, thanks to the large area it covers. Just like its older sibling Milk (see above), Marmalade serves a cures-what-ails-you brunch, which, it’s worth saying, is the same as Milk’s, so you know what you’re getting. Unlike Milk, they serve brunch only on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 4pm, but you know you’ve got options depending on what part of town you find yourself in when hunger strikes.

Three friends who graduated in philosophy, journalism and art history have turned a corner bar into a delicious miniature restaurant, where they rework and update classic dishes from Basque and Galician cuisine. Stop by on Saturday mornings and try their brunch menu, which includes toast and home-made jam that has become a reason to make the pilgrimage.

The duo from Australia and England who own this minimalist place define it as a gastropub. Here you can find delicious and original recipes with British, Italian and Catalan influences. They serve up good breakfasts in sweet or savoury options, as well as imaginative dishes like the American-style fried rabbit. There are excellent home-made desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth. And really, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, from confit ribs grilled over low heat to the now-ubiquitous healthy poke bowls packed with raw fish and 10,000 other ingredients.

The concept was to serve breakfast all day but gear the idea toward locals. And so they’ve become a staple in the Sant Antoni neighbourhood, with even the grannies having learnt to order pancakes with their cup of ‘suizo’ chocolate. The menu can make you dizzy, featuring pretty much everything you can imagine served in a diner, using local Catalan products. We’re still dreaming about the Manchito’s tail: their version of French toast with scrambled egg and cheddar, and ridiculously crispy bacon. Take your time drooling over the pancake menu – there are nearly a dozen and a half types to choose from.

Though customers do often go for brunch, the owner of Mama’s Cafe prefers to call her spot a diner. Feel free to grab a quick bite to eat or stay and enjoy your meal with a cup of coffee. Whenever the place is open you can order up a robust breakfast, opt for a daily special or choose from among the gourmet sandwiches. They use organic raw materials everywhere they can. They’ve also got gorgeous cakes and a delicious interior terrace.