Vegan Food in Madrid vs Barcelona: Which City Is Better?

If you’re planning a trip to Spain as a vegan, you’ll probably end up choosing between Madrid and Barcelona.

Both cities have strong food scenes. Both are easy to travel to. But they are not the same when it comes to vegan food.

So which one is better?

Overall Vegan Scene

Barcelona has a reputation for being more vegan-friendly. It has more fully vegan restaurants and a more established plant-based culture.

Madrid has grown quickly in recent years. It now has a solid number of vegan options, but it feels more spread out and less obvious at first.

Barcelona leans more toward:

Madrid stands out more for:

If you want to experience Spanish food specifically, Madrid has an edge.

Barcelona is easier if you want convenience. You can walk around and stumble into vegan options without much planning.

Madrid takes a bit more intention. The good spots are there, but they are not always right next to each other.

Both cities are similar overall.

Barcelona can feel slightly more expensive in central areas. Madrid often has more mid-range options that are easier to access.

Barcelona has more of a “vegan lifestyle” feel. It is visible and integrated into the city.

Madrid feels more traditional. The vegan scene exists alongside a very meat-heavy food culture.

Choose Barcelona if:

Choose Madrid if:

Both cities are good for vegan travelers.

The difference is not about availability, it’s about the type of experience you want.