Wellbeing in the City Guide Barcelona, where to stay, yoga and eat healthy food

Designed with the wellness traveller in mind, here’s our Wellbeing in the City Guide to Barcelona, sharing the best places to stay + spa, yoga and eat healthy food.

Wellbeing in the City Guide Barcelona

YOGA STUDIOS

YOMU

Created by Lucy Beckwith and Pepe Arias, YOMU aims to push the boundaries of yoga experience by combining deep and playful asana with live music. Pepe composes cello sounds, live looped beats and vocals spontaneously to the flow of Lucy’s vinyasa sequence which guides the breath and empowers the body to amplify your practice.

YOMU is currently taking residence at the Hidden Factory Barcelona offering classes for their growing community. When not at the Hidden Factory you can find them giving special events in hotels, private members clubs and other studios across Barcelona.

Telephone or email for contact:

+34 678 76 07 83
[email protected]

Garage Yoga

If a garage is a place where you take your vehicle to take care of it, and make the best out of it, The Garage is a place to improve yourself. Your body is the vehicle, the way to a greater version of yourself.

It contains the tools to move, breath and live a conscious, fun and peaceful life. Better yourself. Yoga is the main activity, but there is place for a whole lot more at The Garage. Personal trainings, workshops, exhibitions and events

Address:
Calle de Magalhães, 2
08012
www.thegarageblume.com

Yoga Con Gràcia

Yoga Con Gràcia is housed in a spacious former factory near Plaça de la Virreina. Yoga disciplines and classes include Hatha, Sivananda, Jivamukti, Yoga Dinamicó, Kids Yoga,  Prenatal Yoga, Mum and Baby Yoga.

In the words of co-founder Juliette Allard-Campbell: ”We want to offer variety so that anyone can find his own practice. We see ourself as a community yoga center for Gràcia people.’’

Address:
c/ Esglèsia 4-10, 4ª planta Plaza Virreïna
www.yogacongracia.com

Yoga Mandiram Barcelona

Mandiram Yoga offers a variety of dynamic yoga classes to suit your personal style while helping you to integrate body with mind and spirit.

Address:
Torrent de l’Olla 172 -Barrio de Gràcia / Urquinaona 1, 1-5 -Centro / Roc Boronat 114 -Barrio de Poble Nou
www.yogaenmandiram.com

Shunia Yoga Barcelona

Shunia is a Kundalini Yoga center in the heart of Barcelona founded in 1992. The word Shunia means zero. The power of a practitioner and teacher of Kundalini Yoga is in zero, Shunia.

At the moment you become zero all powers prevail through you. If you practice yoga regularly you can reach the Shunia experience every day of your life, you’ll have more intuition and ability to listen to the instructions of your single best adviser: your soul!

Address:
Sicilia, 236 BIS. 08013 / Sagrada Familia
www.shuniayoga.com

Agoyoga

Just a stone’s throw from Plaça Urquinaona, this bright and airy yoga space exudes a sense of calm and relaxation. Welcoming everyone from complete beginner to advanced practitioner, Agoyoga aims to define and refine each student’s personal yoga journey. The studio embodies a holistic approach to healthy living, encouraging both personal well-being and an eco-conscious lifestyle.

Agoyoga also sells environmentally conscious brands—including an ethically sourced botanical skincare range, Wisdom Cares, and the environmentally-friendly yogawear brand Shambhala Barcelona

Certified teachers from diverse backgrounds enhance the intimate yet cosmopolitan feel of the studio, ready to train each individual and direct their journey. Weekly sessions of Ashtanga, Rocket and Vinyasa yoga are available, as well as monthly activities that allow individuals to explore the practice in depth.

Address:
Carrer d’Ausiàs Marc, 8
08010
www.agoyoga.es

Astanga Love Barcelona

Address:
Carrer de Mendez Núñez 6

Yogaia Barcelona

The Dreta de l’Eixample based studio Yogaia derives its name from combining the word Yoga and the word Gaia, the Greek goddess of Earth. Yogaia is focused on the practice of Hatha Yoga Raja and the teachings of Andrei Ram Om and his Master, Sri Dharma Mittra.

Yogaia is a space for everyone: a place for holistic wellness, integral balance and personal growth.

Address:
Pg. Sant Joan 121
08037
www.yogaiabcn.org

Travel tip – buy a travel sized yoga mat and carrier, like this one from Manduka

Wellbeing in the City Guide Barcelona

The Almanac

In the summer months Barcelona gets very hot and there aren’t too many hotels located in the heart of the city that have a pool, thankfully the Almanac situated right on the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in the Passeig de Gracia neighbourhood has one.

You’ll be glad of it to cool off after a day of sightseeing. Opened in November 2017, this new luxury spa hotel is modern, glamorous and a superb choice when it comes to choosing your next wellness hotel.

Almanac Hotels believes that every trip to one of their hotels should be a personal journey, a journey that is comprised of four components – scent, taste, light and touch.

When all combined, you can expect the unexpected and experience a unforgettable moment that unlocks the essence of what Almanac is all about. So start your day with a steam room and sauna, followed by healthy a la carte breakfast served with a fresh juice, and in the evenings post dip in the pool, you can soak up a beautiful sunset.

We stayed in a cube room and we loved the floor to ceiling windows and the street view taken in from the window sofa, and the electric black out blinds that shut out the lights and gave us a peaceful nights sleep despite the traffic below. A unique feature of the room was the complimentary mini-bar. Read reviews.

Primero Primera

Primero Primera is a hidden gem, peacefully located in the wealthy Tres Torres district, a quiet and charming neighbourhood that is popular with fashion lovers who frequent the high class shops.

You will find lots of leafy green spaces and this family ran boutique hotel is more like an urban retreat with a cute garden lit up with fairy lights in the evening.

A place that feels more like being at home, there’s an impressive stack of books and magazines and cosy vintage chairs to sit it along with an honesty bar and complimentary tea and coffee to help yourself to.

Being family owned you are treated as a guest of the home. There are only 30 rooms which are all very spacious, quirky and have incredibly comfy beds. Read reviews.

The One

If you can afford to splash out or have a very special occasion to celebrate then the terrace suite Sagrada Familia is the number one room to book, where you can bathe and drink champagne from the outdoor jacuzzi.

Located on the top floor of this luxury spa hotel, this spacious suite of between 60 and 85 m² opens up to the city thanks to a 32 m² terrace that is accessible from all its rooms and besides the jacuzzi is equipped with sun loungers, a shower and of course, incredible views of the Sagrada Família.

For the wellness enthusiasts, there’s a 24 hour gym and the Despacio spa with experience pool and Finnish sauna and massages, facials and body treatments are available.

Highly recommended is the fabulous Fire & Ice facial by the iS Clinical skin care line, acclaimed as one of Hollywood’s Red Carpet treatments – which gives immediate results for all skin types.

The rooftop area and pool is exclusive for guests but the adjoining open air Mood bar is the place to be for a sunset cocktail and to socialise with the locals. Read reviews.

Carrer de Provença, 277
08037
[email protected]
+34 932 14 20 70

SOFIA

This luxury spa hotel is huge and beautifully designed. The spa rivals any of the worlds best (and biggest) spa’s we have ever visited, a whole 1,100 m2 dedicated to wellness with swimming pool, water circuits, saunas, steam baths, salt cave, experience showers, flotation tank, relaxation room, and an extensive menu of therapies and treatments using products from the exclusive cosmetics brands; Carita, Natura Bissé and Alquimia.

We tried and highly recommend the seaweed wrap using activated mud from the Dead Sea which re-mineralises the skin due to the high mineral and oligo element content. Also on the spa menu are rituals such as the Jet Lag Reviver and Just Landed.

Located on Avenida Diagonal and slightly on the outskirts of the centre, the Sofia is an excellent choice if you are wanting a really relaxing holiday in Barcelona and want to stay away from the tourist areas. The concept of the Sofia uses the theme ‘I am’, being not just a hotel to sleep in but also a social, fashion, gastronomic, meeting, conference and wellness space. Read reviews.

Plaça de Pius XII, 4
08028
[email protected]
+34 935 081 000

Mandarin Oriental

The darkly lit spa at the Mandarin Oriental hotel ensures complete privacy and serenity. Every treatment here begins with the sweet chime of Tibetan cymbals to send you into a deep relaxed state. Half and full day programs are also offered such as Detox for Wellness, Journey to Radiance and Urban Escape. Before your treatment it’s advised to spend some time in the Oriental steam room.

We tried and tested one of their signature facials called Oriental Essence aptly designed for the tired traveller, stressed executive or someone who just wishes to relive neck and shoulder tension.

Another hotel located on the famous Passeig de Gracia, the entrance is spectacular, an impressive runway style ramp takes you from street level to the entrance hall.

If you have cash to splash then go for a suite. Each suite comes with a private butler (who will unpack and pack your suitcase to perfection) and lift access, but for the best experience, we recommend the signature Barcelona suite, which in addition, comes complete with its own outdoor jacuzzi and solarium.

 

The Mandarin Oriental is also home to some of the best restaurants in the city including the two Michelin starred Moments restaurant and the beautiful light filled Blanc restaurant and lounge. Read reviews.

Passeig de Gràcia, 38-40
08007
‎[email protected]
+34 93 151 88 88

Hotel Majestic 

The luxury spa hotel Majestic is quite the institution in Barcelona!. The spa itself is located on the top floor, behind the La Dolce Vitae roof bar and restaurant.

It’s also an ideal spot for a bit of yoga in the morning, classes are offered every day between 8 – 9am. After the yoga class you can enjoy a detox juice or have a healthy breakfast.

Treatments and therapies are by the local brand Natura Bissé and Dr. Perricone. We tried the Facial Kobido Express, a deep cleansing, nourishing and firming facial therapy that is ideal for congested, sun-damaged skin.

Kobido is a form of Japanese facial massage which aims to rejuvenate the face, preventing and reducing the impact of the aging process. Kobido is also known as the “facelift without surgery”.

The spa and the restaurants of the hotel are open to outside guests and they have a very strong bond with the Spanish community.

Even if you are not staying at the hotel, the rooftop is worth visiting entirely for the views and in the summer months for cocktails and enjoying music from the DJ. Read reviews.

Passeig de Gràcia, 68
08007
[email protected]

Wellbeing in the City Guide Barcelona

Flax & Kale

Delicious flexitarian healthy food, which includes veggie raw options and some oily fish dishes. Great cold-pressed juices.

Eat better, be happier, live longer, is their motto. Teresa Carles, a pioneer in veggie restaurants in Spain, she started in 1979, has a new restaurant in the city. Flax & Kale is a stylish and trendy place that gets inspiration from some New York Soho restaurants and makes you feel like you’re in one while watching views of Ciutat Vella out of the window.

As for the food, this is mainly the kingdom of vegetables: 80% of the offer is plat-based. Teresa offers a vegan and vegetarian menu, explores some delicious raw options and also includes a few dishes of oily fish, hence the ‘flex’ part of the name– and has also some gluten-free options.

The juices, purées, veggie milks and smoothies are made with organic ingredients which include, of course, wheat grass, are out of this world and preserve all the nutrients thanks to a beautiful cold press that Teresa had brought in from the U.S. Price is very reasonable.

Address:
c. Tallers, 54
08001

Vegan Fromagerie

Everything is possible when you miss the cheese. That’s how the vision began for this amazing place serving vegan cheeses. It all began when the owners fell in love with a healthy and vegan lifestyle, more sustainable and above all fair for animals, but they had to give up the pleasure of eating what we called “cheese” until then.

Although not for long, because unknowingly they had found our purpose: to make a real almond cheese with all the flavour and free of dairy products, respectful of animals and the environment, healthy and delicious.

Address:
Morales 27
08029

Brunch and Cake

They say, ”our way of working is our way of seeing life. We like to eat the best, and we can only offer what we like. To believe in the philosophy of the grandmothers, to do absolutely everything by hand and on a slow fire. Be honest and give them the best possible ingredients.

We do everything with the utmost care, respect and passion to always be honest with the way of understanding life. We like to travel, learn and try to be better every day.”

The vegan brunch entry is marked on menu: quinoa salad with roasted veggies, spinach leaves, roast corn on the cob, beetroot hummus with black sesame seed, and wholemeal bread.

See website for various locations.

Vacka

Hidden in a quiet side street in Gracia, Vacka serves vegan burgers, gluten-free waffles and more, plus raw options. It’s also a great place to work from — though you won’t be able to stop yourself sampling the entire juice and drink menu! Try the porteño (Buenos Aires) lemonade, made with ginger and mint.

Carrer de Sèneca, 4

08006
www.vacka.weebly.com

The Green Spot

The Green Spot is a veggie and vegan restaurant that has a cool and funky vibe with plenty of choice on the menu including gluten free, macrobiotic and raw food options.

Try the sweet potato tagliatelle with macadamia nut cream and ample shaved truffle, the activated charcoal crust pizza and the vegan chocolate brownie, all very delicious.

The atmosphere gives the Green Spot those extra points – think lots of natural wood, modern soft-adobe style doorways, dimmed lighting, low bar, accent window filled with lush greenery, and perfect ambient music.

Address:
Calle de la Reina Cristina, 12

Sergi de Meiá

A real gem of a discovery, Sergi de Meiá, is not solely a vegan or vegetarian restaurant but offers a six course vegan tasting menu.

The dishes are part of a concept dedicated to Catalan cuisine that is, de Meiá says, “evolutionary” and “determined by nature,” a tribute to local products, mixing tradition and modernity in the same pot and in a menu that includes a few historic recipes as well as vegan options.

This restaurant is the chef’s personal project, focused on the slow food philosophy. The tasting menu uses only local and organic produce.

Every dish was carefully paired with wines from small local producers and the sommelier guided us perfectly on our wine journey around Catalunya.

The passionate chef, Sergi was a great host who took the time to introduce every dish and share his story with us. He grew up in his mother’s restaurant and received his first cooking lessons from her and from a family full of chefs and cooks before heading off to cooking school at 14.

He is one of the founders of Slow Food Catalonia Km 0 – an initiative that identifies restaurants that serve and promote homegrown products – and believes in a strong social, political and environmental commitment to quality produce, the producers behind it and the land.

Currently, de Meiá is fully involved in the protection and promotion of local organic agriculture, artisanal producers and the production of traditional foods, working directly with 87 Catalan farmers to get the best authentic ingredients for his kitchen

Address:
Calle Aribau, 106

Almalibre Açaí bar Almalibre Açaí Bar

This place specialises in açai, and they make sure it’s top quality. The açaí bowls are 100% açaí with a large assortment of toppings to add. In case you didn’t know, açaí is an original Brazilian fruit from the Amazon region that is considered by nature the most complete in healthy properties. The açaí berry is loaded with antioxidants, amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and proteins. It also has a delicious and very particular flavor.

It’s such a cute little restaurant with an amazing menu. Besides the açaí there is loads of choice on the menu such as salads, vegan burgers and hotdogs and freshly squeezed juices. Everything on the menu is recommended here and if you come for brunch at the weekends they make fresh vegan croissants!.

Address:
Carrer de Girona, 118

Petit Brot

If you’re after a fix of healthy, raw vegan fare in Barcelona then you absolutely must go to Petit Brot. This vegan restaurant in Barcelona is all plant-based and raw.

Run by a raw vegan couple with a lot of love and attention to detail, this raw vegan restaurant is the place to go if you want freshly made raw vegan dishes, cold-pressed juices and raw vegan cheeses.

Petit Brot’s main goal is to offer and promote conscious, sustainable, ethical and truly healthy food & lifestyle with a vision of a better and healthier world.

They are are specialized in cold-pressed juices and raw & living foods, all 100% organic and local whenever possible

Their drinks and foods are handmade, and are prepared with 100% plant-based and unrefined raw ingredients just as nature provides them!.

They use preparation methods that don’t heat ingredients above 42 °C which ensures that all the delicate enzymes and nutrients stay intact, facilitating their assimilation and proper digestion.

Eating more raw and living foods will give you energy, keep you young and provide protection from toxins and disease!

Address:
Carrer del Dr. Dou 10
www.petitbrot.es

Vegan croissants

For vegan croissants including one filled with chocolate and orange, a must try is Crois Sants, a small cafeteria specializing in vegan croissants!. they have many types and flavours, and all of them taste amazing. They have also plant-based milks, ’empanadillas’ and more vegan stuff. And it’s not expensive!

Address:
Carrer de Sants, 36
08014

Gocce di Latte

For a fully vegan gelato experience, head to Gocce di Latte, a dairy-free gelateria (only their cones aren’t vegan).

Gocce di Latte is an artisanal ice cream shop situated in El Born, close to Santa Maria del Mar church. It was started by the Italian couple Matteo and Rita in 2012, who moved to Barcelona from Rome.

With an emphasis on freshness and high quality ingredients, the shop produces unique flavors such as Chocolate with Sea Salt, Pear with Cinnamon and Ginger and Dates with Cardamom and Orange. Gocce di Latte has a second location around the corner (Carrer de l’Espaseria, 14) that serves vegan friendly ice cream, using rice milk and also offering gluten free cones.

Address:
Pla de Palau, 4
08003

La Basneta

There are a few vegan and vegan-friendly bakeries in Barcelona, so you won’t miss dessert. La Besneta is an all-vegan bakery in the Gracia neighbourhood that has muffins, cookies and cake (including cake in a jar!).

They say that ”as vegans, we are consistent with our thinking and none of our products participate in animal abuse at all. We demonstrate that you can enjoy the best whims of the pastries without any living being suffering to achieve it. We show it every day on the street. From the humility that makes you venture into a new project like this, we offer consistent prices, with the intention that the alternative is available to everyone. We give you the option to make a personalized and adjusted product in all the pockets, without ever giving up the best quality.”

Address:
C / Torrijos 37
08012

There are SO many delicious eateries in Barcelona. Got one to add? Pin it to our Wellbeing in the City Guide Barcelona Pinterest board.

All set for your trip to Barcelona? To help you prepare we recommend the following guide books and packing organic and vegan travel sized toiletries from Green People, who do a really great range of natural skin care.

The tourist board are also super helpful and if you are looking for a luxury experience in Barcelona check out their Premium experiences guide.