Eating my way through Barcelona

Eating is my favorite part of traveling! Barcelona is a dream for food lovers, and even as a celiac traveler, I found so many spots that took gluten seriously. From Mexican tacos to 100% gluten-free pizza joints and sweet bakeries, this post shows the places I actually ate and loved in the city. Use this as your gluten-free Barcelona food guide when you plan your trip. Here’s everything we ate (and loved) so you can eat your way through Barcelona too, especially try Especiarium! You can find great deals on your trip to Barcelona here

Where we ate in Barcelona

Mexican + Latin Eats

Kiltro Pisco Restobar– I found this Latin restaurant on the Find Me Gluten Free app. I always look for a Mexican restaurant when I travel. This one was highly rated and close to our apartment. We ate here for dinner our first night. The atmosphere and decor was cute, very authentic Latin. I liked that they had a large mix of Latin foods, not just Mexican. They had everything from tacos to arepas to ceviches. They also had a great cocktail and mocktail list. I did eat tacos (pulled pork and short rib) and they were delicious. We also got some roasted corn as an appetizer.  My drink, called The Esperanza, was really good too. Overall, everything was great. They were great about gluten, and the waiter double-checked everything I wanted with the chef to make sure it would be safe for me. 

Classic Comfort

The Fish and Chips Shop Gluten Free– I found this on the app as well, and am so glad about it. I hadn’t eaten fish and chips in ages, other than the frozen fish sticks I made in my air fryer. We got both fish and calamari and chips, and it was all really good, but the best part was the dessert. We got a slice of cheesecake, and it was the best cheesecake I’ve had in a very long time. It was like full New York style, so creamy and rich. I would eat it way more often if I lived in Barcelona. And since the restaurant was 100% gluten-free, I didn’t have to worry about anything I ate. They also have locations that aren’t gluten-free.  

GF Bakeries & Sweet Treats

Chök the Chocolate Kitchen- This was a 100% gluten-free bakery and omg they had so many amazing looking things. It was so hard to pick what I wanted. I went with a cheesecake and a cookie. I would have gotten more, but it was a little expensive. The cinnamon rolls looked really good, and I wish I had tried one of those too. My stuff was really good, and everything was so pretty. I definitely recommend checking it out. 

More GF Meal Spots

Alt Heidelberg- This was a random stop for a small lunch/snack. My friend found it while we were walking around the Plaça de Catalunya area. It was a German Brewery. We had a small cheese plate, some currywurst, and sauerkraut with potatoes. It was a little difficult to order because the menu seemed to be English, translated from Spanish, translated from German, maybe? Because of this, it was a little hard to decide what to eat that would be safe, but I didn’t get sick, so everything must have been ok lol 

Messie Pizza- this was another 100% gluten-free place that I found on the app. I had a “Cool” pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella, mushrooms, ham, and goat cheese. It was a yummy thin crust, and the flavors all melded together perfectly. My friend had the Truffled Pizza. The crust on mine was good, but the one on the Truffled one was AMAZING! I actually ate all the crust he didn’t eat. I had a cider to drink, and we shared a slice of lemon cake for dessert. The cake was a little dry and not very swee,t but it was not bad, a very light and a nice ending to the meal. Again, I love being able to just eat anything on the menu without having to worry about getting sick. 

Pai Mei– This was a kind of a quick service style Asian restaurant. They did have gluten-free options available. It was kind of like Chipotle-style maye where you pick your food and add-ins. I had a chicken pad Thai. I was a little worried about getting sick because I didn’t feel that the staff I spoke with completely knew what I was talking about but I was ok after so it turned out ok. My friends ordered a ton of different stuff and they liked it all.

Bars

Especiarium– This bar was amazing! We were wandering around the El Born neighborhood and came across this. The outside looked cool so we decided to stop for a drink and I am so glad we did! The concept is that all the drinks are based on spices and each drink should take you on a sensory journey. The drinks are all very unique and are visually pretty. They also had some tapas on the menu. We got hummus and it was probably the best hummus I’ve ever had. It was so deliciously smooth. The vibe of the place was very cool, dark, and mysterious, boxes of spices lined the walls and it looked like the treasure chest of an explorer. Especiarium has been voted as one of the best 50 cocktail bars in the world and for good reason. It’s a definite must-visit. 

Cafe Bar l’ascensor– This was our last stop in Barcelona after Especiarium. We were going through the Gothic Quarter and found this. Google said it was a vintage-style bar with great cocktails. The cocktails were good and it definitely had a whole vintage vibe. It just seemed a little old and rundown though. But the concept of it was nice. 

Foodie Tip for Celiacs

Barcelona has tons of gluten-free places, from dedicated pizzerias and bakeries to Afro-style rice bowls and sushi. (There are over 60 gluten-free spots around the city.) Search “gluten-free” or “sin gluten” on maps and you’ll see them pop up everywhere.

Travel Tip

Sin gluten is Spanish for gluten-free

Sense gluten is Catalan for gluten-free

“Soy celíaca/o, ¿este plato no tiene gluten?”- I have Celiac, does this dish have gluten?

Our GF Barcelona Eats (Quick List)
• Kiltro Pisco Restobar – Latin food and great tacos, staff double-checked GF.
• The Fish and Chips Shop GF – Classic fish & chips with rich cheesecake after.
• Chök the Chocolate Kitchen – Must-visit GF bakery with desserts and pastries.
• Messie Pizza – Fully gluten-free pizza spot with fun toppings
• Pai Mei – Quick service rice/noodle bowl with GF options.

Other Gluten-Free Places Worth Trying in Barcelona

There are so many great options to eat gluten-free in Barcelona. I didn’t have enough time to get through them all. Here are some others that I would have loved to check out

Gula Sana
A 100% gluten-free café that’s perfect for brunch or a casual meal. Think coffee, juices, savory plates, and desserts that don’t feel like a compromise.

Jansana Gluten Free
One of the most well-known gluten-free bakeries in Barcelona. Great for bread, pastries, and grabbing something sweet to go.

Celiac Disease Bakery
A fully gluten-free bakery offering breads, pastries, and traditional treats. Ideal if you want safe staples for breakfast or snacks.

Singluteria
Another dedicated gluten-free bakery with a strong local following. Excellent for baked goods, sweets, and takeaway snacks.

Can Vernet Xurreria
A classic churros spot that offers gluten-free churros, so you don’t have to miss out on this very important Spanish experience.

Avocados Free
A 100% gluten-free restaurant with a broad menu including brunch, bowls, pizza, pasta, and salads. Easy, central, and very traveler-friendly.

Manioca
A gluten-free spot with Brazilian influence, featuring tapioca-based dishes, small plates, and desserts. Fun and different from the usual options.

En Ville
A Mediterranean restaurant with clearly marked gluten-free dishes. A good choice for a relaxed sit-down dinner.

Copasetic
A cozy café and brunch spot with gluten-free options available. Good for slower mornings or casual lunches.

Flax & Kale
Not fully gluten-free, but very accommodating with plenty of gluten-free and health-focused options on the menu.

M2 Gluten Free
A dedicated gluten-free restaurant serving pizza, pasta, bowls, and desserts. Great if you’re craving comfort food without the stress.

Cøliaki / Cèlia Bakery
Popular gluten-free bakeries known for pastries, breads, and sweets that actually taste like the real thing.

Final Thoughts

I loved eating my way through Barcelona, especially with all the gluten-free options! I can’t wait to go back because there were so many more places I wanted to eat at! On the Find Me Gluten Free app there are so many options, including a bunch more that are dedicated gf. I love that having celiac doesn’t really hold me back from much anymore because food really is one of the best parts of life. 

Read more about my Barcelona trip here and make sure to follow me on Instagram @vegas.to.portugal for more of my Barcelona adventure, other travels, and life as an expat in Portugal.

Thanks for reading💙