As I arrived in Madrid for the first time, I was blown away by the beautiful architecture, the fashionable Madrileños, and the laid-back lifestyle. I realized that this renowned city prides itself on not only its decadent food but also the social aspect that comes with grabbing a bite to eat. Walking through the streets of Madrid, I noticed that the locals are out during any hour of the day, enjoying tapas and drinking sangrias or cervezas (beer). As one who believes in fully immersing into the culture, I knew that I wanted to experience this for myself. There was just one small problem; I’m vegan. I live in California, where I take veganism for granted. Almost every restaurant you find back home has varied options for people with specific diets. That is not the case here. If there is something I know to be certain about the Spaniards’ cuisine, it is that they love their meat and cheese. Since I arrived, I have gone out to dinner at traditional Spanish restaurants several times with friends, and each time, I have had difficulty ordering a meal. Often times, I have only had the option to eat potatoes or bread, with no veggie options whatsoever. Because of this, I decided to do some research and find locations in Madrid that would offer vegan friendly options for tourists like myself. Here are three great places I found that gave me my vegan fix during my stay in Madrid.
One of AbonaVida’s vegan options –hummus with paprika and olive oil on a slice of toast | Tabata Gordillo
AbonaVida
This alluring café is located in the center of Madrid. The space offers outdoor and indoor seating, gorgeous décor, and a jaw dropping bar area that displays an assortment of liquor and wine. Although not 100% vegan, this café offers various wholesome foods, making it a space that anyone would be inclined to try out. When I went, I was pleased to find that there was a lot to choose from on their menu. I ordered their vegan guacamole, which came with tortilla chips, carrots and celery for dipping. I also ordered hummus toast, which came with a sprinkle of paprika and drizzled with olive oil. Not only was the food mouth-watering, but the display was extremely appealing as well. The menu also offers other vegan options such as villaverde pizza, the veganera salad, chili vegano, sandwiches, chia seed pudding, and much more. Aside from the food options that this warm café has to offer, it is the overall environment of Abonavida that reels customers in. According to Maria Granados Garcia, the restaurant’s manager, “There is a fine line between those who come here because they are vegan or vegetarian and those who come here for its elegance.” This insight makes AbonaVida the perfect option for vegans touring Madrid with others who might not have this same diet, giving them the chance to choose from a diverse menu.
Customers enjoying Raw Coco’s trendy ambience | Tabata Gordillo
Coco Raw
If you’re a native Californian visiting Madrid, this green bar will make you feel right at home. Its LA-like ambiance and “100% Raw” motto pulled me in the second I walked by it on the upscale streets of the Salamanca neighborhood. Raw Coco is the perfect and affordable place to get your fruit and veggie fix. Smoothies, detox juices, power bowls, sandwiches and salads; You name it, they have it. I felt like I was in desperate need of fruits and vegetables after a week in Madrid, so I decided to get both by ordering their Defender smoothie. Its blend of kale, pineapple, spinach banana, chia, orange and chlorella has me feeling energized the rest of the day. This restaurant caters to various diets, focusing primarily on healthy foods. Vegan food options include quinoa croissants, vegan banana bread, hummus, tomato, and avocado toast, salads, wraps, and more. Rosa Garcia, the location’s manager, says the green bar is looking to change their menu so that it consists of even healthier alternatives. “There is a high percentage of customers that come here for the vegan food. We don’t want to make the menu completely vegan for those who don’t have this diet but we do want to include more vegan options on our menu.” With all the decadent and not-so-healthy foods that one is tempted to try while abroad, restaurants like Raw Coco provide alternatives for a well-rounded diet, and a vegan one at that.
Customers having lunch at Rayén Vegano on a Saturday afternoon | Tabata Gordillo
Rayén Vegano
This small yet inviting café offers an all-vegan menu that changes twice each season, giving customers a chance to try a variety of food depending on the time a year. The menu offers breakfast and brunch, assorted dishes, cakes, and much more. It was nice to see the chefs from the kitchen window interacting with the waitresses. Witnessing this interaction as well as being able to see them make the dishes made this experience much more intimate. I ordered Aguacate Relleno, which means stuffed avocados, and I can honestly say that it was the best dish I had during my stay in Madrid. It came with sliced avocado stuffed with a miso and tofu cream, a cucumber and tomato salad, fried tofu and quinoa, sautéed zucchini and mushrooms, and tortilla chips. Each bite had a new burst of flavor and I could not get enough of it. Most of these plates were about $17, but the portions were big, perfect for sharing. Rayén Vegano was founded by Noemi Chianetta and her boyfriend Paulo Aillapán four years ago, mainly for health and ethical reasons. Chianetta said that they wanted every item on the menu to be ecological. Since Spanish cuisine is known for having a lot of meats and cheeses, Rayén Vegano was truly a first of its kind. “Before us, there was absolutely nothing”, says Chianetta about vegan cuisine. “But, the Spanish diet is changing a lot. There are even people who aren’t vegan that come here because they want healthier food options.” In just four years, this delicious vegan restaurant has become one of Madrid’s top contenders for healthy alternatives
AbonaVida; Calle de las Navas de Tolosa, 3, 28013 Madrid; +34 915 22 98 60 or +34 620963877; Metro Opera; 9am-2am Monday-Friday; 12pm-2am Saturdays and Sundays.
Prices: $$-$$$
Raw Coco; Calle del General Pardiñas, 21, 28001 Madrid; Metro Principe de Vergara; 8:30am-9pm on Wednesday-Monday; closed Tuesday; +34 914 49 50 17 or +34 620963877.
Prices: $$-$$$
Rayén Vegano; Calle Lope de Vega, 7, 28014 Madrid; +34 675382072; Metro Antón Martín or Sevilla
Hours: Lunch Monday to Saturday 1pm-4:30pm
Dinner Friday and Saturday 9pm-11:30pm
Sunday 11am-4:30pm; closed Tuesday
Prices: $$$
Travel Journalism, Photography & Video Internship Seminar in Madrid, Spain