
Barcelona’s Superfood Boom
The thought of eating in Spain conjures images of a hearty tapas feast, plates heaped with ribbons of jamón and wedges of local cheese; vegetarian options are notoriously limited. However, if 2014 was the year of gourmet fast food, with popular chains like Bacao proving particularly popular in the city, 2015 is the year of the raw, plant-based and organic. Veganism is no longer the preserve of a select few as consumers become increasingly health conscious – with a preference for ethical, locally sourced produce (with the London Evening Standard boldly declaring that Green is the New Black). Barcelona is surfing the trend, with new establishments popping up across the city, creating something of a superfood boom!
The Juice House
Barcelona’s first cold-pressed juice bar, this gem of a café in San Antoni is the brain-child of Caracas-born artists Luz and Dani. Advocates of clean eating and green juices, The Juice House is a veritable culinary mecca for health aficionados with tantalising options ranging from oven baked salmon drenched in honey and mustard to the sublime watermelon and strawberry gazpacho. Cold-pressed juices priced at a purse-friendly 3 Euros, so there’s no excuse not to get your chia seed + spirulina fix.
C/Parlament 12
08015 Barcelona
+34 93 117 15 15
Woki Organic Market
Located just off Plaza Cataluña, the original Woki Organic Market is a versatile retail space stocking over 2,000 products. An ideal place to source those hard-to-find organic ingredients (with medjool dates n’ goji berries aplenty), Woki is equally handy for a spot of lunch. With vast open areas serving up artisan pasta, Asian-fusion Wok dishes, freshly tossed salads and sushi in a hipster food court style setting, they also do take away boxes for lunch on the go. The brand has grown so popular that they have recently added branches in Poblenou and Gracia, and even stock a selection of trendy Yoga accoutrements.
Ronda de la Universitat 20
08003 Barcelona
+34 93 302 52 06
C/Ramón Turró 201
Poblenou
08005 Barcelona
+34 93 277 87 21
C/Astúries 22
Gracia
08012 Barcelona
+34 93 292 03 99
Juicy Jones
Entering Juicy Jones feels a little like stepping into an alternative nu-age psychedelic circus, with rainbow paint splashes sweeping across the walls and ceilings. However, don’t be put off by its somewhat unconventional interior, and bohemian clientele – this colourful (fully vegan) establishment does a selection of delicious juices and smoothies, offering some of the best value lunch options in the city. Definitely less cosmopolitan than some of its more upscale counterparts in the city, Juicy Jones is a free-spirited nook for a cheap and cheerful healthy lunch.
C/Hospital 74
El Raval
08001 Barcelona
www.facebook.com/JuicyJonesBarcelona
Teresa Carles
This family-run business is booming, despite its discrete side street location just off the bustling Ramblas. Founded in 1979, Teresa Carles is one of Spain’s leading vegetarian chefs, blending cuisine inspired by her Catalan heritage with tricks learned on her travels throughout Europe and the USA. The décor is paired back – think exposed brickwork and Modernista mosaics, with a stylish yet unpretentious atmosphere. There’s a great deal to be said for a vegetarian restaurant with a 95% non-vegetarian fan base, as the meat, dairy and often gluten-free dishes orchestrated in Teresa’s “Feel Good Food workshop” are creative enough to excite even the most zealous of carnivores.
C/Jovellanos 2
El Raval
08001 Barcelona
+34 93 317 18 29
La Bàscula
Housed in a former chocolate factory on a narrow side street in the city’s charming Born district, La Bascula is a divine cooperative-run café. Everything served is fully organic (even the cutlery and plates are biodegradable). Grab a pew at one of their sociable communal tables (made from vintage repurposed doors) and strike up a conversation with your neighbour over a tasty milkshake (or better yet, a glass of crisp biological wine). They even serve gluten-free desserts for a moment of indulgence after all that leafy goodness.
C/Flassaders 30
08003 Barcelona
+34 93 319 98 66
www.facebook.com/bascula.cereria?fref=ts
Sesamo
For exquisite vegetarian fine dining, discerning clientele have turning to Argentinian owner and head chef Alfredo for over a decade. The imaginative daily tasting menu boasts contemporary, minimalist takes on simple dishes such as gnocchi with hazelnut and beetroot sauce. The intimate space is cosy and the ingredients are sourced each morning from the world famous Boqueria market. Booking for dinner is a must!
C/Sant Antoni Abat 52
08001 Barcelona
+34 93 441 64 11
Flax and Kale
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.
Top Insta Pick! ~ Follow Flaxandkale on Instagram and feast your eyes on mouthwatering foodie delights!
C/Tallers 74
08001 Barcelona
+34 93 317 56 64
Tribu Woki
Following the latest success of Woki Organic Market, the team behind the successful trio of superfood supermarkets have opened a series of establishments across the city and along the Maresme Coast. The self-titled “Woki Tribe” are passionate about eradicating the use of synthetic / chemical substances and promote fair trade with their local suppliers (ask them where absolutely any ingredient was sourced and they’ll tell you).
Barraca Barceloneta on the seafront serves exquisite paella and seafood, overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean. Much-acclaimed head chef Xavier Pellicer shows off the best of Catalan cuisine, feeding hungry guests freshly caught fish on the relaxed terrace. Higher up near Francesc Màcia and Diagonal, Celerí serves strictly seasonal products (usually limited to around 8 ingredients) in three categories from strictly vegan, to vegetarian to not at all. Grab a ringside seat overlooking the kitchen to watch Pellicer in action.
Passeig Marítim Barceloneta 1
08003 Barcelona
+34 93 224 12 53
www.tribuwoki.com/en/restaurante/barraca-barceloneta/
Passatge Marimón 5
08021 Barcelona
+34 93 252 95 94
www.tribuwoki.com/restaurante/celeri/
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