Brunch… and cake?
Do you want to go to breakfast… I mean brunch… wait, it’s 1pm does it still count as brunch? The lifestyle in Spain has been a welcomed adjustment for us Californians but it’s still weird sometimes. You wake up later and go to bed much later so that means you eat differently too. There’s nothing like a salty treat or my fav a La Fabrica empanada after a siesta!
These empanadas are hot and buttery, and the thai chicken surprised both our taste buds but in a good way! And speaking of flaky pastries, there are so many delicious places for baked goods and brunch! Here are some of my favorites:
Cremat 11 - (El Born)
We first fell in love with this place when we were staying in Barceloneta (the neighborhood by the beach). It has plenty of space for outdoor seating and since Winston loves breakfast scraps, particularly bacon and sausage it was the perfect spot for us. As somewhat frequent customers we’ve noticed we got lucky the first time we went because there is usually a line out front with people queuing for the next table. So it’s best not to be in a rush when you come here. Actually, it’s best not to be in a rush anywhere in Spain… you never know how long one appointment will take.
My favorite dish is Sausage N’ Eggs - which comes with Catalan sausage stuffed with foie gras - how European do I sound? I’ll have my breakfast with foie gras! If you told me this would be my favorite breakfast item a year ago I would have rolled my eyes. Similarly Trent has become foie obsessed, he loves it! Cremat 11, and their newly opened sister restaurant Cremat Lounge, also has fun cocktails named after celebs like Beyonce and the decor is fun too!
Cafe Menssana (Poblenou)
Newly discovered, this breakfast spot made us extra happy when we got to order a homemade apple crumble for our first meal of the day. Please don’t judge. It has vegetarian and vegan options and is on the other side of Park Ciutadella in a slower-paced neighborhood called Poblenou.
When we were still back home and researching where to live, Poblenou was actually my first choice. I’m glad we were forced to stay elsewhere due to limited availability because it’s just a bit far from everything else but still a cute part of town and close to the beach! Another cute spot in Poblenou with yummy breaky is called Little Fern.
Picnic + Billy Brunch & Park (El Born)
Also near Park Ciutadella, where we walk everyday with Winnie are two other spots in El Born, Picnic that serves a multilayered chicken sandwich and crusty cinnamon roll pancakes, and a spot called Billy Brunch & Park. Ironically we also go for the chicken sando at Billy Brunch, and it’s a great spot with dog areas out front in the courtyard and they’re even dog-friendly inside. Makes a great welcome view with Winston sitting in the window!
Federal Cafe + Brunch and Cake (Gotico + Barceloneta)
Oddly enough, fresh brewed iced tea is really not a common menu item in Barcelona. Instead if you order an iced tea most places will come back with an extra sugary can of Nestea lemon. If you’d rather not drink liquid sugar, we found a great iced tea and atmosphere at Federal Cafe, plus their menu is delicious and the servers are friendly. If you like french vibes, En Aparte is rustic and has these little pastries called Canelé de Burdeos Caseros which is a custard cake flavored with rum. I’ll end with a spot called Brunch and Cake and I think the name is self explanatory. And one more thing to note about breakfast… Bacon, much to Trent’s sadness, is hard to find on the menu and if it is featured be prepared because it’s not like bacon back home. I’m picky about bacon as is, so you’ve been warned.