Breakfasts and Brunch in Barcelona, an LFStyle Guide

Slice of Life Coffee Bar & Artisan Food, El Borne

SliceofLife

Finnish/Russian owned Slice of Life in El Borne serves seriously good coffee (many have claimed, the city’s best). Grab an artisanal flat white made with an ever changing selection of beans from ethical Right Side Coffee Roasters, or try the Russian “Caf Raf” made with cream and vanilla sugar.

SoL baristas are passionate about what they do, and are a fountain of knowledge about the art of coffee (as well as talented creators of particularly fetching latte art) – they’re all about great taste. Team your brew of choice with a warm buttery croissant slathered with locally made plum jam, or an indulgent slab of homemade dark chocolate dotted with purple berries (for a mega caffeine buzz to kick start your engine) and you’re onto a winner.

C/Assaonadors 19
08003 Barcelona

www.facebook.com/sliceoflifecoffee

Hofmann Patisserie, El Borne

Hofman

Absolutely everything that they make here is to die for. We love the cheesecake croissants, mango croissants, framboise croissants, the tiramisu, the cookies (I really do mean everything).

If Juliette Binoche’s character in Le Chocolat grew tired of cacao (and France) and decided to open a bakery in Barcelona, this would be the place. Absolutely everything they produce at Hofmann is to die for  – framboise croissants, delicate buttery biscuits, rich tiramisu; heaven for anyone with a sweet tooth and guaranteed to induce smiles (and likely moaning!) Grab a selection of treats to-go, and people watch in the fabulously vibrant square outside. If you love it too much to leave, we dare you to find the hidden entrance of their delightful secret terrace, where sweet and savoury tapas treats await!

C/Flassaders 44
08003 Barcelona

www.hofmann-bcn.com

Picnic, El Borne

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A stone’s throw away from the lush oasis of the Ciutadella Park, on the edge of the hip Borne district, Picnic is a favourite among brunch-lovers. Spend the morning perusing the independent and vintage boutiques on the quirky neighbouring streets, then pop to Picnic to load up on scrumptious brunch tapas (a novel concept which we enjoyed very much!).

With a strictly Mediterranean take on both American and Mexican brunch classics (think eggs benedicte with spicy hollandaise sauce, or tomates verdes fritos, fried green tomatoes with crumbly feta), the menu is fresh and colourful. Try the pulled pork dish based on the ubiquitous taco – an unusual morning option but it works! It is the perfect prelude to a relaxing stroll under the Ciutadella’s canopy of orange and gold leaves (though with such an abundance of palm trees, you will most likely forget what season it is altogether).

Be sure to book in advance (the secret’s out and the tables are sparse).

C/Comerç 1
08003 Barcelona
+34 93 511 66 61

www.picnic-restaurant.com

Papas & the Mamas, Poble Nou

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In uber family-friendly Barcelona, a café dedicated entirely to parents and wee ones is a rare find indeed (and rarer still one that appeals to the parents as much as the kiddies!) Chic Papas & the Mamas (not to be confused with the 60s hitmakers) is one such establishment, with not a primary colour or ball pool in sight.

The soothing aesthetic (wooden panels and an astroturf floor ideal for playing) is extremely zen. With plenty of space to park buggies, real thought has been given to the layout (no more balancing act to squash between tightly packed tables, narrowly missing someone’s OJ with a stray elbow). Yummy mummies welcome!

Rambla del Poblenou 127 – 129
08018 Barcelona
+34 93 485 67 93

www.facebook.com/PapasTheMamas

Skye Coffee Co, Poble Nou

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A vintage Citroën truck within the colossal Castel Veciana Architects studios is home to Sky Coffee Co. Serving coffee-from-heaven in this bright and airy space with the highest of ceilings, this is an ideal spot for catching up on some extra work or contemplating new creative ideas, of a restful morning. We’re all in luck – they stock up on Hoffman bakery pastries every morning. Open to the public daily from 9am -1.30pm (with shiny new afternoon opening hours coming soon). Their gorgeous truck also pops up at events and festivals around the city – keep an eye out for its shiny silver facade!

Skye

C/Pamplona 88
08018 Barcelona
+34 93 356 88 18

www.facebook.com/skyecoffeeco

Vai Moana, Bogatell Beach

vai-moana

Trendy member of the Pantea Group on Bogatell Beach, Vai Moana apparently means “blue sea” in Rapa Nui. Rise early and take a bracing dip in the sea if you dare. Our top pick is their energising bio breakfast complete with ginseng tea, freshly squeezed juices, Greek yoghurt sprinkled with antioxidant rich berries, home baked granola (with more nuts & seeds than you can shake a squirrel at) and mountainous platters of fruit salad. There are, of course more indulgent offerings; an array of breakfast cocktails in particular. What could be lovelier than Sun, Sea and Bellinis all before midday? (Not much, we think).

Platja de Bogatell,
Av Coastline s/n
08005 Barcelona
+34 93 309 12 91

www.panteagroup.es/en/chiringuito-gastronomico-vai-moana-beach-bar/

Café Federal, Poble Sec

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Originally Aussie owned, the Barcelona Federal venue is “easy like a Sunday morning” (if you don’t mind queuing for a table that is – they have an annoying “no reservations” policy, and the service can be prickly at peak times). Set on the foodie mecca that is Carrer del Parlament, this is the ultimate hipster hangout in up-and-coming Poble Sec, where yummy mummies are equally at home as twenty-something art students. Order the salty salmon ribbons with potato pancakes and crème fraiche mousse and ascent to heaven! Their cold-pressed juices are great for clearing any lingering weekend cobwebs, or if you fancy a naughty treat to reward bad weekend behaviour, the oreo red velvet cupcakes are to die for!

For inspiration on rainy days, cosy up in their comfy rocking chairs on the second floor with a steamy mug of ‘joe’. On the remaining 363 sunny days, bask on their roof terrace in the privacy of parasols and bamboo for gossip with tangy Bloody Marys. The huge sociable table downstairs is always stacked with the latest editions of National Geographic and Cereal Mag – claim a pew and get chatting to your neighbour!

C/Parlament 39
08015 Barcelona
+34 93 187 36 07

www.federalcafe.es

Zucker Haus, Sant Antoni

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A minute, quirky bakery housed in a bright turquoise ex-hairdressing parlour, Zucker Haus is a fab place to scoop up a home-baked cake (or three) for a leisurely brunch at home. Run by the fabulous German Manuela, there are tiny pale flowers housed in miniature cream jugs, sugar everywhere and a general sense of organised chaos. A total gem!

Pick up a silver bag of neatly packaged coffee for your French Press at neighbouring Mercat Sant Antoni and you’re all set!

C/Parlament 17
08015 Barcelona
+34 677 623 847

www.facebook.com/pages/Zuckerhaus-Pasteler%C3%ADa/188991617880208

Pudding, Eixample

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Pudding is a Wonderland-esque café perfect for brightening up those rare rainy days as we move deeper into Autumn. They offer a very sweet fixed menu at breakfast time with freshly squeezed OJ then an array of brunch dishes. They always provide an array of daily newspapers as well as ipads on hand for getting up to speed before work mid-week, or more leisurely browsing at weekends. Sip a steamy tea served in delicate vintage china under the fairy-tale circus canopy, and bag a spot at the downstairs banquet table festooned with books, games and activities (popular with adults and kids alike).

C/Pau Claris 90
08010 Barcelona
+34 93 676 10 25

www.puddingbarcelona.com

Café Emma, Eixample

BCA - Cafe Emma 1

This friendly French Bistro on Pau Claris serves mouth-watering home baked pains au chocolat and buttery croissants (arrive early enough and they’ll still be warm from the oven). Accessorise with a black-as-midnight coffee in a tiny cup, in this Parisian café-style setting. Their charming covered terrace is ideal on drizzly days, if you don’t mind mopeds whizzing by, full steam ahead (just like the centre of gay Paree).

Calle Pau Claris 142
08009 Barcelona
+34 93 215 12 16

www.cafe-emma.com

Brunch & Cake, Eixample

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Brunch & Cake is one of the biggest success stories of the “Cup & Cake” family, set in the heart of Eixample Left on the beautiful pedestrianised C/Enric Granados. The company mantra is “Long Live Grandmothers”, in keeping with the splendid home-baking on offer and the friendly waiting staff wear braces and flat caps! Their covered terrace and cosy off-white upholstery makes this quaint American style café perfect come rain or shine. We love the gigantic retro Smeg fridge filled with treats. The truffled egg and bacon bagel served in a “skillet for 1” tastes just like home and is plentiful enough to feed a small army – yours, all yours for the conquering! They also make a mean flat white (recently named by a self-proclaimed “coffee snob” friend to be her favourite in the city!).

C/Enric Granados 19
08007 Barcelona

www.cupcakesbarcelona.com

Timeline Café, Gracia

Pancakes

This cosy retro café offers the rather novel DIY Brunch – a hearty buffet with unlimited mimosas and/or bloody mary’s, all for 15 euros a pop! A tempting array of sweet and savoury treats lie temptingly in wait (slow and steady wins the race), with highlights including salty bagels and a fluffy stack of golden pancakes! With plenty of nooks and comfy corners, Timeline is great for a rainy day – curl up with a good book and dig in.

C/Providència 3
08024 Barcelona
+34 93 217 79 38

www.facebook.com/TimeLine-Bar

Meatpacking Bistro, Gracia

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Meatpacking Bistro on the edge of trendy Gracia is a New York style bistro that feels terribly Carrie Bradshaw, with a large pavement terrace great for basking in the Autumn sunshine. They offer three set menu brunch “styles” – the “City Brunch” (an inviting eggs benedict + bloody mary combo), the “Oxford Brunch” (a Catalan interpretation of the classic full English) and the “Sweet Brunch” (light-as-air pancakes served with an oozy cascade of maple syrup) – as well as their à la carte options. Wash down with a steamy mug of joe and be transported to Manhattan.

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Keep an eye out for their nifty wee vintage style food truck zipping around too, serving hungry commuters brunch-to-go.

Travessera de Gràcia 50
08021 Barcelona
+34 93 200 89 08

www.meatpackingbistro.com

The Benedict, Barrio Gótico

Benedict Brunch

A certain English actor of the same name wouldn’t look out of place in this elegantly appointed bistro. However you like your eggs in the morning, they’ll prepare ‘em just so – with 3 variations of eggs Benedict alone! Request a large coffee and the astonishingly big mug will last you for hours. The presentation is always thoughtful and the French toast is decadently sweet without being sickly. An English country manor vibe, serving homemade brunch with love from 10-5pm (they’re our kind of people!).

C/Gignàs 23
08002 Barcelona
+34 93 250 75 11

www.benedictbcn.com

Milk, Barrio Gótico

milk

Another top pick for a recovery brunch rescue operation the morning after the night before (and little sister of popular Marmalade in the Raval). Plenty of cosy upholstery, magazines on tap and a chintzy 1950s vibe that’s comfortingly familiar yet suitably stylish. Their delicious eggs Royale draped with salty ribbons of smoked salmon and velvety hollandaise is one of the best around, and we’ve heard that their innovative “noodle burger”, (taking Barcelona by storm) is delish.

C/Gignàs, 21
08002 Barcelona
+34 93 268 09 22

www.milkbarcelona.com

Satan’s Coffee Corner, Barrio Gótico

Satans

Fabulously hipster, Satan’s Coffee Corner is a welcome addition to the Barrio Gótico’s increasing café culture scene. Order up a sticky Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich (or a warm, flakey croissant if this popular but arguably weird American breakfast combo isn’t your thing).

Arc de Sant Ramón del Call 11
08002 Barcelona
+34 666 222 599 (Is the triple 6 a coincidence? I think not).

www.facebook.com/SatansCoffeeCorner

Caravelle, Raval

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The Aussie owners Zim & Poppy have recently set up shop in the increasingly gentrified Raval, having wholeheartedly conquered the London gastropub scene with the trailblazing Princess of Shoreditch and Easton. Bringing hipster vibes South from the big smoke, a nonchalantly pared back aesthetic and warm friendly service (the house motto is “Work hard and be nice to people”), they’ll have you coming back for more. Arrive early for brunch to avoid waiting (alongside hordes of hungry beautiful locals) and be rewarded in spades! The menu is ever changing (each week’s offerings are jotted down in a notebook so you can browse backwards at previous mouth-watering sounding dishes while you wait – torturous!).

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Each menu is, of course, bang on trend, with enormous Killner jars heaped with chia pudding (as tasty as it is trendy), creamy, swirly flat whites and home brewed chai lattes!  Don’t miss Taco Sundays with craft beer on tap (IPA-mazing)!

Pintor Fortuny 31
08001 Barcelona
+34 93 317 9892

www.caravelle.es

Brunch at Home ~ Baci d’Angelo

For those of you living in central Barcelona, indulge in a Baci d’Angelo brunch home delivery! Founded by a pair of talented, forward thinking pastry chefs, this innovative company offers a variety of brunch options (within a range of budgets), all hand-delivered with a colgate smile. The Florentine Brunch, just shy of 25€ for two, offers great value for money including chilled Freixenet Cava and freshly-squeezed orange juice (mimosas anyone?). Just place your order before 5pm on the night before and wake up to a luxurious feast (it will feel just like Christmas) – you’re so worth it!

+34 93 348 68 62

www.bacidangelo.com

Flax and Kale

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Flax and Kale is veggiepreneur Teresa Carles’ most recent venture (and little sister of her flagship restaurant in the Raval), based on New York’s trendy Soho district. F&K boasts an innovative “Flexitarian” menu: boasting 80% veggie-based plates with 20% omega-boosting oily fish. Proving that foregoing your steak doesn’t mean saying goodbye to flavoursome, delectable dishes, Flax and Kale offers a refreshing reinterpretation of sustainable, clean eating. Don’t miss the healthy pancakes made with red quinoa and soya milk, washed down with a vitamin-rich juice from Teresa’s Juicery – a veritable breakfast of champions.

C/Tallers 74
08001 Barcelona
+34 93 317 56 64

www.teresacarles.com/fk/