Vegan in Madrid
Madrid doesn’t immediately spring to mind when thinking of vegan-friendly cities. But I was so pleasantly surprised. It’s good to know where you’re going and making sure to get there early because as I found out, the best ones fill-up fast.
Distrito Vegano
100% vegan handmade cuisine, Distrito Vegano makes all 'Vegan in Madrid' dreams come true. The setting is cosy and the staff unbelievably friendly. Their range of typically Spanish dishes is fantastic including my all time favourite, Tortilla Española, in four different varieties. Accompanying it are delicious homemade croquetas, patatas bravas, nachos, tacos and much much more.
If there is any room left, the red velvet cake is not to be missed either.
Rayen Vegano
Vegan and organic, this is an absolute gem in the centre of Madrid. It has a real homely feel and is so popular that it often fills up. I came for brunch and had to stop myself from taking one of everything! They have a great range of fresh juices and successfully passed my tough oat matcha latte test. I’m looking forward to coming back for lunch soon.
The perfect spot for a deliciously healthy breakfast in the heart of Barrio Salamanca. They have a wide range of coldpress juices in just about every combination imaginable. Fruit & vegetables are the front runners on the menu with something for everyone, the immune booster, detox, gym recovery amongst others. They have various plant-based milks and the setting is just perfect for Instagram.
I can highly recommend the Superbreakfast Bowl, almost too beautiful to eat!
Chillin' Cafe
Chillin’ Cafe is the place to come to enjoy a coffee and a sweet treat. Located right in the centre of the city, tucked just off Gran Via, this was the first solely vegan cafe in Madrid when it opened. They serve a variety of brunch options but the coffee and oat Matcha latte were the best I had in town. It has a trendy vibe with mismatched chairs including reused cinema seats. This is a great spot to catch up with friends or just have a well earned walking break.
Fit Food
A detox juice bar with locations across the city, this is another great option for breakfast in the city. There is a huge list of detox juices and smoothies. And the most beautiful breakfast bowls full of delicious açai favourites topped with fruits and nuts. The cafe is cute and cosy complete with a small ‘shop’ section where you can buy some fantastic products to take home. With four branches across the city, this is easily one not to be missed.
El Trasgu
El Trasgu, just outside of Madrid, has a beautiful terrace, considered to be one of the 5 best in Europe, offering an exceptional view of Madrid. Covered with heating in winter and open yet fresh in summer, this is a great spot to get away from the city and appreciate the incredible nature circling Madrid. They have a great variety of vegan options including a simple yet delicious grilled artichoke and stunning vegetable paella.
The Ritz Hotel Madrid is one of the most luxurious settings in all of Madrid with a grand history to match. This is where we came to celebrate Christmas Day, enjoying the sumptuous buffet that filled an entire room. Sadly, it is the least vegan-friendly place that I’ve experienced on my travels, the staff aren’t clued up on veganism, the buffet had an exceptionally limited choice and it was a battle to get anything extra, making it a very expensive vegetable paella with just sorbet for dessert. Still, it was Christmas and the company was fantastic.
Copenhagen
Combining the hygge-ness of Denmark with the delicious foods of Spain, this was one of my favourite restaurants in Madrid. So excited, I ordered enough to feed me for my whole time in Madrid, but it all sounded fantastic and I wasn’t the slightest bit disappointed.
I’ve since found out that they closed their doors just 2 weeks after I visited, despite being full and fantastic when I was there. They have a few other branches in Valencia so I’m leaving it in in the hope that it will soon be back and I’ll be straight back for more patatas bravas and croquetas.
Top Tip
My best Madrid tip is to know people in Madrid because the best meal we had was home made, various courses and included a vegan empanada that stole the Christmas show!