Vegetarian restaurants in Spain
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A
El Grillo Azul
Vegetarian visitors to Salamanca have a treat that's rare in Castilian towns – a real-life vegetarian restaurant. It's a buzzy place with attractive blue-and-white decor and a creative menu that includes a plato degustación (€11.50): a veritable veggie feast for two with taster portions of dishes like grilled seitan or tofu, vegetable soufflé, wild mushrooms and inventive salads.
reviewed
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B
La Isla del Tesoro
Unlike some vegetarian restaurants that seem to work on the philosophy that basic decor signifies healthy food, the dining area here is like someone’s fantasy of a secret garden come to life. The cooking is assured and wide ranging in its influences; the jungle burger is typical in a menu that’s full of surprises. The weekday lunchtime menú del día (daily set menu; €11) is more varied than most in Madrid, taking a different national cuisine as its base every day.
reviewed
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C
Organic
As you wander into this sprawling vegetarian spot, to the left is the open kitchen, where you choose from a limited range of options that change from day to day. Servings are generous and imaginative. The salad buffet is copious and desserts are good. The set lunch costs €9.50 plus drinks.
reviewed
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D
Sarasate
This bright, uncluttered vegetarian restaurant on the 1st floor offers excellent veggie dishes and gluten-free options. The quality is undoubted. It’s well worth getting stuck into one of its €14 menús del día.
reviewed
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E
Al Natural
Tucked away behind the Spanish parliament, Al Natural has an intimate ambience and terrific vegetarian food. There are the usual suspects such as salads and pastas, but some welcome creative touches, including grilled provolone cheeses, make this a terrific choice.
reviewed
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Restaurante Integral Artemisa
With a couple of options for meat eaters, this mostly vegetarian restaurant does a brisk trade with its salads, moussaka and rice dishes. The decor is simple, the service is no-nonsense and the salads are what marks this place out as worthy of a visit. Alternatively, try the plato degustación (from €24.95) for a range of tastes.
reviewed
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G
Restaurante Vega Viana
Chueca is surprisingly lacking in vegetarian restaurants and even this one does a small sideline in chicken dishes (albeit of the free-range variety); not surprisingly, vegans need not apply. Dishes like zucchini burritos with Manchego cheese and carrot croquettes with sultanas and yoghurt cream should nonetheless keep most vegetarians happy. It has an English-language menu. Smoking is not permitted.
reviewed
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H
L'Atzavara
A limited and varying menú del día (daily set menu; €9.90) is offered in this proper little place, and while servings are hardly gargantuan, the grub is tasty. The menu changes regularly but you might encounter a scrumptious paella d'arròs integral amb verdures (whole-rice vegetable paella) or an oven-baked pastís camperol (vegetable pie).
reviewed
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I
Biocenter
Head past the coffee bar and the dining area, with its warm exposed brickwork and dark wooden tables, to the kitchen at the back to order your menú del día (€9.75 plus drink). A huge plat combinat (single dish with several portions) costs €7.95. Top up with as much salad as you can handle. This is one of several options on what has become a bit of a vegetarian street.
reviewed
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J
El Estragón
A delightful spot for crêpes, vegie burgers and other vegetarian specialities, El Estragón is undoubtedly one of Madrid’s best vegetarian restaurants, although attentive vegans won’t appreciate the use of butter. Apart from that, we’re yet to hear a bad word about it, and the menu del día (daily set menu; from €8) is one of Madrid’s best bargains.
reviewed
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K
Madre Tierra
A cool cavernous space, with exposed brick arches, a soft ochre colour scheme and muted light, creates a romantic atmosphere for enjoying Indian-, Asian- and Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian meals, including sushi, moussaka, pastas, pakoras (vegetables in a spicy batter) and salads. Reservations recommended.
reviewed
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L
Viva La Vida
The enticing vegetarian buffet with hot and cold food, always filled with flavour, is one of the best deals in town. On the cusp of Plaza de la Paja, this place has a laid-back vibe and is a great place at any time of the day, especially outside normal Spanish eating hours when your stomach’s rumbling. It has another branch in Huertas, although it’s more takeaway and food store, with only a handful of stools.
reviewed
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M
Ecocentro
Ecocentro is a vegetarian’s paradise. Depending on which door you enter, there’s an extensive organic food shop, a cheap cafeteria-style eatery or a basement restaurant that serves wonderful veggie food. The menú del día changes daily and has plenty of choice.
reviewed
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Restaurante Vegetariano
Full of beans, this little place is one of the Basque Country’s all-too-rare vegetarian restaurants. It has crispy fresh salads, imaginative quiches and lots of bean-based meals. There’s an excellent noticeboard covering everything and anything alternative taking place in the city.
reviewed
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O
Sesamo
For 'food without beasts', this relaxed corner eatery attracts all sorts. Drop by for juices and pastries at breakfast, a three-course set lunch or dinner. Wafting electronica is almost soothing and nice touches include the home-baked bread and cakes.
reviewed
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P
Yerbabuena
Cheerful bright colours, a full range of vegetarian staples (soya-bean burgers, biological rice and homemade yoghurt) and plenty of creatively conceived salads add up to one of central Madrid’s best restaurants for vegetarians and vegans.
reviewed
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Q
Arraitxiki
It's not all writhing prawns and pierced pintxos in Donostia. This excellent vegetarian restaurant does a fine line in creative meals and everything is organically sourced. There's a menú del diá for around €13.
reviewed
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Tabulé
Service is swift and friendly at this fairly upmarket vegetarian restaurant, where you take what’s on offer on one of the day’s different menus, which includes a drink and coffee. You won’t repeat yourself; it’s original, inventive and changes weekly.
reviewed
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Adolfo
A classy place in the well-heeled La Malagueta area, Adolfo does a range of imaginative Mediterranean dishes including vegetarian starters with goat's cheese, lobster salad, and kid with rosemary honey.
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Amaltea
The ceiling fresco of blue sky sets the scene in this popular vegetarian eatery. The weekday set lunch (€10.50) offers a series of dishes that change frequently with the seasons. At night, the set two-course dinner (€15) offers good value. The homemade desserts are tempting. The place is something of an alternative lifestyle centre, with yoga, t’ai chi and belly-dancing classes.
reviewed
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O Triángulo Das Verduras
Lacklustre service and decor aside, this below-street-level restaurant is a herbivore's best shot at a varied meal - hummus, stuffed eggplant and veggie soups are a few of the dishes available.
reviewed
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El Vegetariano de la Alcazabilla
Laid-back veggie/vegan restaurant combining friendly service with good food in a shabby-chic setting just a cannonball shot from the Alcazaba walls. Do try the ‘meatballs of Seitan’.
reviewed
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W
Bíomenú
This ultracheap option is both vegetarian restaurant (load your plate from its varied pay-by-weight salad bar) and shop specialising in organic produce.
reviewed
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Paprika
Ecological wines, vegetarian and vegan cuisine and a brightly coloured Mexican-inspired interior combine to make this an inviting alternative eating option. The American chef whips up some healthy south-of-the-border dishes, as well as veggie Thai curries and tofu and seitan specialities.
reviewed
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Y
Hicuri
Colourful Lantino-inspired murals cover the walls at this spacious restaurant that specialises in vegetarian food with a few dishes for diehard carnivores, including pork tenderloin and chicken salad. Tofu and seitan are liberally used in dishes, and classic Spanish puds are given the eco treatment with organic eggs and soy milk.
reviewed