Top 5 bakeries in Barcelona

A new wave of traditional eco bakeries are opening up, changing the face of stale sticks flopped and hung behind counters everywhere.

Oh-Barcelona went in search of bread that is crafted and not mass produced. We have put together a list of the top 5 bakeries in Barcelona.

Most of these bakeries are located quite centrally so an apartment near Plaça Catalunya would be perfect for cake lovers.

Reykjavik Barcelona

Hidden away in the Raval behind the bustle that is the Rambla is this gem of an Organic Bakery. Created by Nelson and his partner Gudrún-Margrét, making it part Icelandic and hence the name, it uses only organic ingredients, with each one being picked from the finest parts of Spain, ranging from Lleida to Alicante, Asturias and Albacet. For those interested in a bit of DIY bread, the ingredients can even be purchased in-store.

The secret ingredient?…Spelt…Kamut…the bakery’s philosophy is to go back to the start, using an ancient type of wheat which is easier to digest, with a fuller, richer and chewier taste. Be prepared to cough up some dough here though, as prices are rather expensive.

Walking in there is a complete contrast to the screams of children leaving the nearby school. There’s a queue of about 5 people, it’s quiet, and everyone is focused on the pastries behind the counter. Reykjavik seems to be a really relaxed space.

Forn Mistral

This bakery was born in 1977 to the Bertran family, over five generations, again. The bakery uses traditional wood-fired ovens and plenty of organic breads; Be prepared to queue for a while. Forn Mistral is the ideal spot to take your self away from the shove of the city and indulge in some well priced quality goodies, comparatively cheaper than other bakeries.

Escriba

Located on the Rambla and 104 years old. This may be the most uniquely insane bakery on this list. With a range of tasty pastries, exploding cakes, jewellery made entirely of sweets and their website is enough to spur anyone’s curiosity. This bakery is ideal for gift buying, everything is packaged well, and the shop on the Rambla is great if you’re a tourist, as its art nouveau influences shine through. Escriba also have another store in Gran Via which may be a better pit-stop if you want to escape the crowds.

Turris

Located in Aribau. Turris is run by the experienced baker, Xavier Barriga who takes his bread seriously. What’s unique about Turris is this bakery uses 100% natural processes as well as natural ingredients. Be prepared to pay for quality here, and the shop can also get fairly busy.

Balaurd

French-style bakery with baguettes, croissants and the like. This bakery uses traditional Catalan techniques and is pretty simple and honest. Again, expect to queue, however while you do, you can enjoy watching the bakers at work; “Many of their wheat flours are organically cultivated and the salt used in the baking of some breads is even sourced from the Atlantic” (Barcelona unlike)

<h5>Alternative Bakeries</h5>

The following is a list of alternative bakeries, that we also recommend taking a visit to: