The City Girl Cooks Barcelona Brunch Guide 2019

I've always said, "I don't do restaurant reviews" and rest assured, I'm not about to start.

This is a list of solid brunch spots from a City Girl in Barcelona. Because everyone has their idea of brunch and sometimes it's a hit, sometimes it's a miss. This guide is to help you get closer to what you're looking for. Consider it your brunch mood board.

Side note: England gets the credit for being the first to brunch. An author named Guy Beringer in 1895 wrote in his essay Brunch: A plea, some sort of a suggested menu for the unlucky souls suffering those Sunday morning hangovers.Spoiler alert: it was mostly sausage

Brunching abroad

By now, brunch has become a worldwide institution and if you're a city kid like me, or if you travel a lot, it's become a universal comfort-meal that you can find almost anywhere. In Barcelona, just like in any city, there's usually a local twist thrown in which, depending on your mood, can be a great way to expand your horizons or maybe leave you a bit confused and sometimes disappointed. But don't forgo your eggs benny just yet.

It's a mood.

Wrapping your hands around a mug of fresh, hot coffee, topping off the bubbles in your mimosa, visions of saucy Eggs Benedict over a lightly crisped English muffin. Oven-roasted rosemary potatoes, salmon gravlax, fresh fruit, pancakes, french toast, and usually a frittata or Quiche. These are usually my brunch menu must-have's. And these things are definitely on the menu in Barcelona, but not everywhere.

Brunching in Barcelona.

To help avoid any unnecessary confusion, use this guide to help you navigate the Barcelona brunch scene to find the right spot for your mood and moment.

The list is a result of information gathered from local blogs, popular lists, magazines, influencers, recommendations from Spanish, English, and Italian sources, and a personal experience at each. It's from the perspective of an American born, half Italian writer and entrepreneur who loves brunch.

The City Girl Cooks Barcelona Brunch Guide

Brunch is a mood. These are the current places in Barcelona with a strong game.

1. Alsur

2. Auto Rosellon

3. Benedict

4. Billy Brunch

5. Brunch & Cake

6. Caravelle

7. Cecconi's

8. Clubhaus

9. El Arbol

10. Flax & Kale

11. Picnic

12. The Federal Cafe

1. Alsur

Alsur Al Born

Plaça de Sant Cugat, 1, 08003 Barcelona

Alsur Cafe and Backdoor Bar

Carrer de la Ribera, 18, 08003 Barcelona

Alsur Cafe Lluria

Carrer de Roger de Llúria, 23, 08010 Barcelona

Alsur Cafe Palau

Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt, 4, 08003 Barcelona

Chic and light, beach house vibe. Instagram friendly. Adventurous or easy eats, from the Kamikaze Skillet to a scrambled eggs with jamon Iberico. Get some local flavors with creative spins. People on laptops, families with kids, or just friends enjoying breakfast, you can take anyone here for any occasion. It's a Barcelona staple. In house bakery means sumptuous cakes like matcha cheesecake, and lemon pie. Limited but full selection of fresh juices and smoothies, good mix of sweet and savoury menu items for veggie and meat-lovers.

2. Auto Rosellon

Carrer Rosellon 182, Barcelona, Spain

A vintage feel, an artisanal hipster touch. A tiny space that feels airy and light with a focus on craftsmanship. The menu follows suit. Just a few choices one of which is a replay on Eggs Benedict with razor-thin shaved ham draped over a homemade bun and a touch of hollandaise. A great place to meet up but maybe not to linger. Curious eaters will enjoy something local and slightly elevated.

3. Benedict

Carrer d'en Gignàs, 23, 08002 Barcelona

The morning after; English University vibe. Whatever combination of basic brunch you desire, from bacon and eggs to french toast. Fully satisfying combos that include standard coffee and mimosas. International, young, college feel but not rowdy. Perfectly reasonable to meet up with friends or the family. Not very veggie forward but not impossible.

4. Billy Brunch

Carrer de Bailin, 115, 08009 Barcelona

Industrial and graphic art elements on top of antique Spanish tiles. Brunch on point. Hype Beasts to hippies, it's a popular spot that throws down a mostly classic, straightforward brunch for English, Aussie, or American brunch enthusiasts. Eggs Benedict with roasted potatoes, buttered toast, and sausages ("bangers"), pancakes, and of course, avocado toast. Seating out front or inside.

5. Brunch & Cake

Brunch & Cake Carrer d'Enric Granados, 19, 08007 Barcelona Brunch & Cake by the Sea Passeig de Joan de Borbó Brunch & Cake Rosselló Carrer del Rosselló, 189, 08036 Barcelona Brunch & Cake Granados Carrer d'Enric Granados, 145

Adventurous eating in Neverland, have cameraphone ready. Unique combinations for which you'll want to keep an extremely open mind. Like, Cardi B open. Expect the unexpected and don't ask questions. Make sure you bring an adventurous friend. Be ready for fun, fantasy, & (incredible) cake. You'll beat any of your foodie friends' photos back home. Creative seating and food preparations make spills common. Wear black.

6. Caravelle

C/ Pintor Fortuny 31 Barcelona, Spain

Cozy and cosmopolitan. A proper brunch. Contemporary dishes and decor will make you feel at home with your summer-y straw bag and linen pants. Subtle Australian touches (the owners are Australian) like Schnitzel and smashed avocado on toast in addition to classics like Eggs Benedict and Huevos Rancheros. Right off of Las Ramblas but without the touristy feel.

7. Cecconi's

Passeig de Colom, 20 08002 Barcelona

The one to beat. SoHo House Barcelona restaurant, open to non-members. Sunday brunch buffet - €45 (includes a mimosa) and it's a deal. World class cuisine in a spectacular setting full of palms, velour seating and antique mosaic floors, with sun drenched gallery seating in front of the open kitchen. Suckling pig, eggs al Diavolo, oysters, craft cocktails, buckets of coffee. Special occasion, PR work meeting, people watching, or meeting the crew after last night's event. Go in YSL, Off-White, or your best vintage casual tee and jeans with a trench thrown over. Make reservations.

8. Clubhaus

Av. del Marquis de l'Argentera, 13, 08003 Barcelona

For a good time, everyone head to the Clubhaus, it's "Punch al Brunch". Berlin meets Barcelona in a wide open, industrial-chic art space, streaked with neon on wood, brick, and concrete. With vintage TV's overhead, a DJ, a game table in the back, and the bar, the chill mañana vibe still reigns thanks to the smart design. Roll in with your checkered or laced Vans for Korean tacos, legendary Street Bowls, and stacked fluffy pancakes loaded with whipped cream and berries. The brunch party lives on here (Garth).

9. El Arbol

El Arbol Aribau Carrer del Consell de Cent, 252

El Arbol Passeig de Sant Joan, 33

Brunch in a treehouse setting. Whimsical but without interruption. El Arbol (translation: "the tree" in Castellano) charms with features like swings for seats, ropes, branches, and other elements that transport you to someones childhood dream. In reality though (fortunately) they've accounted mostly for diners preferring a solid place to brunch. The rainbow layer cake is just one of the many cakes you can tack on to any brunch binge, (and) or top it off with one of their legendary smoothies. Smart casual in the gay-bor-hood (Eixample) location and boho nomad for Sant Joan.

10. Flax & Kale

Flax & Kale Carrer dels Tallers, 74b Flax & Kale Passage Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt, 31-33

Sophisticated, communal and creative. A touch luxe. Non-traditional brunch. Vegetarian but doesn't feel like it. Coupled with Teresa's, a fountain of local juices made to the level of alchemy, it feels like pampering. Expect bao with your egg, composed salads, and dishes full of local and international preparations full of flavor. Dress like you're having lunch at a tropical spa. Request the terrace at the Carrer dels Tallers location and break out your latest independent designer sunglasses.

11. Picnic

Carrer del Comerc, 1, 08003 Barcelona

Satisfying, rustic, beach skater vibe. Consistent, straightforward - ticks all the brunch boxes with some chilaquiles thrown in. Selection of two or three cocktails (with or without alcohol) and specialty coffees makes it a great place to linger. Seating out front on the corner near Arco de Trionfo makes it easy to saunter off to the park after. Feels like a pullover tied around your waist and your best Nike's on the weekend, type of place.

12. The Federal Cafe

The Federal Cafe Passatge de la Pau, 11 The Federal Café Carrer del Parlament, 39

Digital nomad mood, minimalist setting. Die-hard's for their local coffee that has a particular acidity, if you're into trying something local. Meet a showroom manager, chat with your programmer in Chiang Mai, or meet a new friend. Progressive vibe. Rustic, whole food bubbling in small cast iron dishes. Breathtaking courtyard at Passatge de la Pau location. Skinny jeans optional.