Best Vegan Fine Dining in Barcelona: Xavier Pellicer Review

Are you searching for the Best Vegan Fine Dining in Barcelona? If so, you have likely heard of the legendary Xavier Pellicer. But is Xavier Pellicer Restaurant, ranked as the world’s number one Best Vegetable Restaurant 18′ and 19′, actually worth the visit?

In this post, I am sharing my honest review of the food, the service, and everything you need to know before you book.

During our recent trip to Barcelona before our Mediterranean Virgin Voyages cruise, we made it a priority to visit this Michelin-recommended gem to see if it lives up to the hype.

Although the restaurant is famous for being the premier vegetable kitchen globally, it is also included in the Michelin Guide for Barcelona and holds 2 Repsol Suns.

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Where is it located?

Xavier Pellicer restaurant is located one block from the famous Gaudí house, Casa Milà. If you are visiting Barcelona to explore the impressive architecture of Antoni Gaudí, you are within walking distance of this delicious restaurant.

Travel Tip: Since you are so close to Casa Milà, I recommend booking a skip-the-line tour before your dinner. Get your tickets to Casa Mila here. It is the perfect pre-dinner activity.

Disclaimer: I am vegan and gluten-free by preference. This information reflects my personal experience and is not intended as dietary advice. I also mentioned some non-gluten-free options that my husband enjoyed, so always confirm the ingredients with the restaurant.

When Does The Xavier Pellicer Restaurant open?

• Opening Hours: Wednesday to Saturday from 1 pm to 2:45 pm and 8 pm to 9:45 pm.
• Planning Tip: Make sure you check the website for the yearly holidays before your visit.
  • August: If you really want to visit, avoid traveling in August because they are closed for almost the entire month.
  • Christmas: They also typically close during Christmas week.

Where can I make a Reservation?

To make a reservation, visit the official website to book online. I highly recommend you reserve at least a month in advance to secure your spot.

What is the Dress Code?

The vibe at Xavier Pellicer is Smart and Elegant. It’s the kind of place where you want to look nice but stay comfortable for a long meal.

What we wore:

• Women: I wore a long skirt with a long-sleeved blouse.
• Men: My husband wore tailored pants with a long-sleeved button-up shirt.

Most diners wore a similar style of clothing. To keep with the upscale atmosphere, I recommend avoiding sportswear or overly casual beachwear.

First Impression Of The best fine dining in Barcelona

The Vibe

• The Entrance: The restaurant exterior is very simple, featuring only one small black wooden and glass door.
• The Atmosphere: The real magic happens once you step inside. It has a cozy, intimate vibe.
• Capacity: While the restaurant can seat about 60 diners, it never feels crowded, though it was very busy during our visit.

The Layout & Decor

• Interior Style: The walls are covered with a beautiful rock wall, and the space is warmed by hanging wood lamps.
• Seating: You’ll find wooden tables with matching chairs and comfortable cushions, along with a long cushion bench running along the right side.
• Open Kitchen: As you enter the dining area, the open kitchen concept is positioned right in the middle on the left side.

The Kitchen & Counter Seating. There is a counter with six stools located right at the division between the kitchen and the dining area.

During our visit, I spotted a few customers eating there, and they were super lucky because their courses were presented directly by the chef, Xavier Pellicer.

Pro Tip: If you want to experience the counter seating, make sure you request it specifically when making your reservation or by calling the restaurant directly.

The Lighting & Kitchen Action. The contrast in this restaurant is fascinating. The dining area has dim, moody illumination, but the kitchen area is a total shift:

• Bright & Focused: It is a huge kitchen packed with several chefs under bright, incredible illumination to ensure every detail on every plate is perfect.
• The Vibe: The kitchen energy is so interesting to watch. Each chef works independently, yet they harmonize perfectly to ensure every part of the course is completed at the exact same time.

Prices And Offerings

The restaurant offers extensive options. You can choose between two different lengths of tasting menus (both offer vegan options), or you can choose the à la carte menu to order specifically what you want.

Although we tried the vegan tasting menu, the restaurant is not entirely vegan. Here is a breakdown of the menus:

Tasting Menu Options:

• Full Tasting Menu (8 Courses): This is the option we chose, starting at 105€.
• Short Tasting Menu (5 Courses): A lighter version of the experience starting at 85€.

For both the Full and Short menus, you can choose from the following dietary options:

• Vegan
• Vegetarian
• Omnivore

A separate À La Carte Menu which also includes a few vegan options (starting on 16,50€)

You can view the current seasonal offerings here: Link to Xavier Pellicer Menu

The Vegan Tasting Experience

When making my reservation, I mentioned that I was gluten-free. When I arrived at the restaurant, the chef explained that accommodating me was not going to be an issue because most of the culinary creations are naturally gluten-free.

Below are the delicacies we tried, but keep in mind the menu changes based on organic sourcing and local product availability in the season.

1. Ajoblanco cucumber salty almond sorbet
2. White asparagus, morel vegetables, and marinade
3. Confit artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, hazelnut
4. Potato and wax green beans
5. Baby broad beans, sorrel leaf, cumin-infused coconut yogurt, lemon, and arugula gel
6. Green peas, vegetable pil pil sauce
7. Local beans, celery, and onion demi glace
8. Grilled carrot, orange pil-pil
9. Strawberries, consommé

Every plate was an explosion of flavors and textures. The one I loved the most was the local bean, celery, and onion demi-glace.

The one that I liked least was the creation with artichoke. I found the artichoke too chewy. The flavor was perfect, but the problem was that it felt gummy, and I spent time chewing it.

The Restaurant Experience and Service Quality

Every course is served at the table for all the people at the table at the same time.

After your food is served, the server explains the ingredients, the expectation in the mix of flavors, and the order on how best to eat it.

So you are not only eating impressive creations, but also you are getting culinary knowledge on how to best match different produce to come up with perfect recipes.

• Digestion Focus: Each serving is well thought out to help with digestion. Even though we ate 8 different courses, we did not feel over-bloated.
• Presentation: Every item comes with unique plating, making each course unique not only in flavor but also in presentation, color, and texture.

At the end of the experience, we had the chance to meet Xavier Pellicer, and I was so mesmerized by the humbleness of the chef and the friendly approach to us.

Final Thoughts: Is it the Best Vegan Fine Dining in Barcelona?

Although I had a good view of the kitchen from my table, the next time I visit, I will definitely ask for the counter stools.

Being closer to the kitchen environment and the action, plus having the opportunity to have my courses presented by Xavier himself, would be the ultimate experience.

Totally a super experience which is worth every dime. It is a must-visit, especially if you are searching for the best “fancy restaurants in Barcelona” or looking for the perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion.