The Rough Guide to Barcelona 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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Barcelona’s vegetarian restaurants
The restaurants listed below are the pick of the specifically vegetarian places in
Barcelona, but you’ll also be able to eat well in many tapas bars and modern Catalan
brasseries and restaurants. Some salads and vegetable dishes are strictly vegan – like
espinacs a la Catalana (spinach, pine nuts and raisins) and escalivada (roasted
aubergine, onions and peppers). Otherwise, there are plenty of Middle Eastern, Indian
and Pakistani restaurants, where you can order veg curries or a felafel-stuffed pitta.
The W website is useful for listings and reviews in Barcelona.
L’Atzavara c/Muntaner 109, Eixample T934 545 925; M Provença, map, pp.128–129.
This lunch-only spot is a bit more gourmet than many similar places. For a fixed price
you choose from half a dozen starters and soups, and three or four mains (stuffed
peppers, say, or a vegetarian fideuà) and puds. Even with drinks and coffee, it should
come to well under €15. Mon–Sat 1–4pm. Inexpensive.
La Báscula c/Flassaders 30, La Ribera T933 199 866; M Jaume I, map, p.78.
An old chocolate factory in the back-streets has been given a hippy-chic
makeover, by a local cooperative and serves up speciality pastas, gourmet sandwiches,
crêpes and salads, plus dozens of teas, coffees, organic wines, juices and shakes.
Their original café, La Cerería (Bxda. Sant Miquel 3–5, Wed–Sat 7pm–midnight, T 933
018 510), is also now open again for more of the same in the Barri Gòtic. No credit
cards. Wed–Fri 7pm–midnight, Sat 1pm–midnight. Moderate.
Biocenter c/Pintor Fortuny 25, El Raval T933 014 583, dinner reservations
T667 042 313, W ; M Liceu, map, pp.66–67. One
of the longest-running Raval veggie places, with a restaurant-bar across the road
from the original health-food store. The fixed-price menú del dia starts serving at
1pm, with soup and a trawl through the salad bar for a first course, followed by
market-fresh mains. For dinner, they dim the lights, add candles and sounds, and
turn out a few more exotic dishes, from red veg curry to ginger tofu (mains €7–10).
Daily 1–4pm, plus dinner Thurs–Sat 8–11.15pm. Inexpensive.
Illa de Gràcia c/Sant Domènec 19, Gràcia T932 380 229, W ;
MDiagonal, map, p.134. Sleek vegetarian dining room where the food is a cut above
– think grilled tofu, stuffed aubergine gratin or wholewheat spaghetti carbonara. The
veggie lasagne is a weekend special and the tofu burger also comes highly recom-
mended. Tues–Fri 1–4pm & 9pm–midnight, Sat & Sun 2–4pm & 9pm–midnight;
closed mid-Aug to mid-Sept. Inexpensive.
Juicy Jonesc/Cardenal Casañas 7, Barri Gòtic T933 024 330;M Liceu, map, pp.54–55.
Veggie and vegan restaurant and juice bar with a menú del día that touches all corners
of the world – cashew, carrot and coriander soup could be followed by pumpkin-stuffed
gnocchi. The restaurant inhabits a mural-and-graffiti-splashed cellar at the back – juices
are squeezed and soya milkshakes whizzed at the front bar. Another outlet in the Raval
(c/de l’Hospital 74) offers more space, a similar menu and the same young, funky vibe.
No credit cards. Daily 10am–midnight. Inexpensive.
Sesamo c/Sant Antoni Abat 52, El Raval T934 416 411, W ;
MSant Antoni, map, pp.66–67. Innovative yet inexpensive vegetarian cooking that
relies on fresh, mostly organic ingredients and influences from all over the globe. Set
lunch is a steal, though even eating á la carte at night, you’re unlikely to top €25.
Meals are served 1–3.30pm & 9–11.30pm, but outside kitchen times it’s open as a
bar. Mon & Wed–Sat 1–5pm & 8pm–1am, Sun 8pm–1am. Moderate.
€18, though if you come for weekday lunch
there’s a really good-value menú del dia.
Mon–Thurs 1.30–4pm & 8.30pm–midnight,
Fri 1.30–4pm & 8.30pm–1am, Sat 8.30pm–
1am, Sun 8.30pm–midnight.
Shunka c/Sagristans 5 T 934 124 991;
M Jaume I. Locals think this is the best
Japanese restaurant in the old town – it’s
certainly always busy, so it’s best to make
an advance reservation, though you might
CAFÉS, TAPAS BARS AND RESTAURANTS
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Restaurants