Where to Eat Breakfast in Barcelona

Breakfast in Barcelona is a beautiful thing. From the perfect savory toast drizzled with olive oil to the rich hot chocolate and churros, use our guide on where to eat breakfast in Barcelona for your most important meal of the day.

Breakfast in Barcelona, like in many parts of Spain, has its own unique characteristics and traditional offerings. One thing visitor will notice right aware that Catalan influences are prominent in the breakfast offerings. From savory options to sweet treats, breakfasts in the city often incorporate local ingredients and flavors. Keep reading to discover the best places to enjoy breakfast in Barcelona!

Granja Viader

Since 1870, the Viader family has been running this dairy-turned-cafe in the heart of Barcelona’s historic center, and not much has changed in all that time.

While Granja Viader itself makes a perfect spot for breakfast in Barcelona, a lot goes on behind the scenes to ensure quality and perfection—they still manage an offsite workshop where they pasteurize the fresh milk that accompanies their perfectly brewed coffee. Onsite, you’ll find the passionate team whipping up traditional Catalan favorites such as flan, cottage cheese, queso mató (Catalan goat milk cheese) and, of course, crema catalana.

Granja Petit Bo

Located a stones throw from the Sagrada Famila and also in the Eixample district, Granja Petitbo is an absolute gem. Like the name implies, the dining room of these corner cafes is very reminiscent of a farmhouse kitchen with rustic tables and mismatched chairs. Not your most typical concept in Spain, you can also sit at the communal table and chat with strangers. As far as breakfast goes, they offer everything from Spanish and Catalan classics (pa amb tomàquet, anyone?) to pancakes, porridge and more.

With high airy ceilings and dozens of cozy wooden tables, the Cafe del Born wins for the best spot to sip on coffee and leaf through the newspaper. Locals usually order one of their entrepans (Catalan for sandwiches), and though nothing out of the ordinary, they just are plain delicious coming on freshly baked French bread rubbed with tomato and drizzled in olive oil. They also offer up several brunch options for those who need something heartier.

La Donuteria

Who said you can’t eat donuts in Spain? On one of the most emblematic streets of Barcelona sits the lovely La Donuteria, a cafe and donut house offering up a variety of sweet and salty and even Catalan treats (try the crema catalana donut, similar to creme brûlée). Your sugar levels might spike but you won’t regret it after this memorable and modern experience of breakfast in Barcelona.

Xurreria el Trebol

Looking for the best churros in Barcelona? That’s easy! Xurrería el Trebol fries them fresh all day long, along with a handful of other tasty treats. If you’re a real sweet tooth, go for the xuxo, a custard-filled, fried pastry that’s rolled in sugar.

La Pubilla

Looking for a hearty breakfast, Catalan style? There’s no one that does the esmorzar de forquilla, or “fork breakfast”, better than La Pubilla in Gracia. The esmorzar de forquilla is a traditional countryside breakfast and much heavier than what urban dwellers typically eat. From Catalan pork sausages and beans to rich, hearty stews, it’s certainly an interesting way to start the day!

While we all would appreciate a few extra minutes in bed in the morning, the idea of chowing down in any of our selected spots is certainly enough to get us excited about being up bright and early! But we all know what the next question should be when breakfast in Barcelona is done right.

Update notice: This blog post was updated on September 26, 2023.

“So…where are we having lunch?”  

If you want to be just as up to speed on Spain’s main meal as you now are on breakfast, be sure to read our post on the best places to have lunch in Barcelona!