Madrid’s plant-based transformation over the past decade has been remarkable. The city that once ran on cocido and jamón now has El Invernadero — chef Rodrigo de la Calle’s fully plant-based restaurant with 2 Michelin stars and a tasting menu around €110 — alongside 50+ dedicated vegan restaurants spread across every barrio and price point. The vegan restaurants Madrid scene is most concentrated in Lavapiés and Malasaña, the two most plant-friendly neighbourhoods, but you will find solid options across the whole city. Here are the 12 best picks, plus the practical detail you need to navigate a traditionally meat-heavy food culture. Start with the Madrid food guide for the full landscape.
Table of Contents
- Fine Dining: El Invernadero and Beyond
- 12 Best Vegan Restaurants
- Lavapiés and Malasaña: Best Vegan Barrios
- Vegan Tapas
- Tips for Vegans in Madrid
- FAQs
Fine Dining: El Invernadero and the Top End
El Invernadero (Calle de Ponzano, 85, Chamberí; Metro: Alonso Martínez) is the reference point. Rodrigo de la Calle pioneered gastrobotánica — the application of haute cuisine technique to vegetables, herbs, and grains — and his restaurant is now the best argument you can make that plant-based cooking belongs in serious fine dining. The tasting menu runs around €110 (2026) for 12-15 courses. It is fully plant-based. It holds 2 Michelin stars. Book four to six weeks ahead; weekends go faster.
Mana Madrid (Calle de Espalter, 6, near Retiro) is the other high-end option — modern Spanish-Japanese vegan fine dining with refined small plates at €40-60 per person. A very different register from El Invernadero but equally serious.
For context on what the Michelin-starred side of Madrid’s food scene looks like overall, the Michelin-star restaurants Madrid guide covers the full landscape.
12 Best Vegan Restaurants in Madrid
1. El Invernadero — Fine Dining, Chamberí
2 Michelin stars. Fully plant-based tasting menu around €110. The most acclaimed vegan restaurant in Spain. Book far ahead.
2. Distrito Vegano — Lavapiés
Calle de Argumosa, 9 (Metro: Lavapiés). Playful takes on Spanish classics — vegan paella, vegan tortilla made with chickpea flour, vegan calamares using fried oyster mushroom. €15-25 per person. Casual and popular with locals. One of the best arguments that vegan Spanish food can actually taste Spanish.
3. La Encomienda — Lavapiés
Calle de la Encomienda, 7. Vegan tapas bar: creative small plates, vegan croquetas, plant-based cheese boards. €15-25 per person. Good for a longer sit-down grazing session rather than a quick meal.
4. Gold Bar Madrid — Malasaña
Calle del Pez, 13 (Metro: Noviciado). Weekend brunch spot: acai bowls, vegan huevos rancheros, granola plates. €12-20 per person. The kind of place Madrid’s plant-based scene needed a decade ago and now has in abundance.
5. Level Veggie Bistro — Centro/Chueca
Calle Almirante, 11. Refined vegan cuisine with a European bistro sensibility. Good wine list with natural and biodynamic options. €25-40 per person.
6. Honest Greens — Multiple Locations
Fast-casual chain with strong vegan menus — grain bowls, roasted vegetables, plant-based proteins. Malasaña, Chamberí, Retiro, and Salamanca branches. €12-18 per person. Reliable for a quick lunch when you don’t want to search.
7. Sanissimo — Barrio de las Letras
Calle del Prado, 11. Fully vegan tapas bar with plant-based versions of Spanish classics. €18-28 per person. Good location for pre-theatre or post-museum eating near the Prado.
8. Bumpgreen — Salamanca
Calle de Velázquez, 28. Plant-based fast-casual in Madrid’s most expensive barrio. Good bowls, wraps, and salads at €12-18. Useful if you’re in Salamanca and want something quick and reliable.
9. Yerbabuena Madrid — Near Sol
Calle del Bordadores, 3. Running since the 1980s, mostly vegan. Old-school feel, reliable, well-priced at €18-25 per person. One of the longest-running vegetarian restaurants in Madrid and still worth visiting.
10. Vegelicious — Chamberí
Calle de Hilarión Eslava, 25. American-inspired vegan — burgers, fries, brunch plates. €15-22 per person. Popular weekend brunch spot; arrive early or book ahead.
11. El Vergel — Chueca
Calle de Hortaleza, 80. Sustainable Mediterranean vegan. Seasonal menu, natural wine list. €20-30 per person. Good for a proper sit-down dinner.
12. Indian Restaurants, Lavapiés
The Indian and Pakistani restaurants on and around Calle de Lavapiés have the most extensive vegetarian-vegan menus in Madrid. Restaurante Sirtaj and Indian Aaja offer full thalis (combination plates) with four to six plant-based dishes for €8-12. The best-value vegan eating in the city.
Lavapiés and Malasaña: The Vegan-Friendliest Barrios
Lavapiés (Metro: Lavapiés) is where I would base anyone doing a plant-based trip to Madrid. The neighbourhood’s diversity — Indian, Senegalese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern communities alongside Spanish and international vegan restaurants — means you have more options within walking distance than anywhere else in the city. Falafel and hummus joints on Calle del Ave María run €4-7 for a full meal. Distrito Vegano and La Encomienda are both here. The Saturday Rastro flea market extends through the area and costs nothing to wander.
Malasaña (Metro: Tribunal) is the other concentration point — Gold Bar, Honest Greens, and a scattering of cafés with strong vegan brunch menus. The barrio has a younger energy than Lavapiés and slightly higher prices to match. For what makes each neighbourhood distinct, the Malasaña neighbourhood guide has the detail, and the broader Madrid neighbourhoods guide covers the full city.
Vegan Tapas: What to Order at a Traditional Bar
Not every meal needs to be at a dedicated vegan restaurant. Madrid’s traditional tapas bars have several reliable plant-based options:
- Pimientos de Padrón: Always vegan. Blistered green peppers, sea salt, olive oil. €4-7.
- Patatas bravas: Usually vegan — confirm the bravas sauce does not contain mayo. €4-7.
- Pan con tomate: Grilled bread rubbed with fresh tomato and olive oil. Always vegan. €3-5.
- Espinacas con garbanzos: Spinach and chickpeas. Almost always vegan. €5-8.
- Marinated olives (aceitunas): Always vegan. €2-4.
- Gazpacho: Cold tomato soup — usually vegan; confirm no ham stock. €4-7.
- Champiñones al ajillo: Mushrooms in garlic and olive oil. Vegan if no butter. €5-9.
Avoid: tortilla española (eggs), croquetas (dairy-based), most jamón dishes. Always ask about chicken or fish stock in soups. For broader vegan-friendly budget eating, the cheap eats Madrid guide covers the full range including Lavapiés international spots.
Tips for Vegans in Madrid
- Use HappyCow. Lists 200+ vegan-friendly restaurants in Madrid with verified reviews and up-to-date hours.
- Learn the Spanish phrase. Soy vegano/a (I am vegan); sin carne, pescado, lácteos, ni huevos (no meat, fish, dairy, or eggs). Print a card for traditional restaurants.
- Confirm at traditional restaurants. Spanish vegetarian sometimes means just no red meat. Ask specifically about chicken stock, fish stock, and dairy in sauces.
- Mercadona for self-catering. Spain’s main supermarket chain has an extensive own-brand vegan range.
- Markets have vegan stalls. Mercado de Antón Martín and Mercado de la Cebada both have plant-based counter options.
- August warning. Some local favourite vegan restaurants close for owner holidays in August. Have backup options.
Vegan Restaurants Madrid FAQs
Is Madrid vegan-friendly?
More than you would expect from a traditionally meat-focused capital. The city has 50+ dedicated vegan restaurants, a 2-Michelin-star plant-based restaurant, and strong concentrations in Lavapiés and Malasaña. The transformation over the past decade has been real.
What is the best vegan restaurant in Madrid?
El Invernadero (2 Michelin stars, around €110 tasting menu) for fine dining. Distrito Vegano for creative vegan Spanish food at casual prices. Gold Bar Madrid for weekend brunch in Malasaña.
Are there vegan tapas in Madrid?
Yes — La Encomienda and Sanissimo specialise in vegan tapas. At traditional bars: pimientos de Padrón, patatas bravas (confirm sauce), pan con tomate, espinacas con garbanzos, and marinated olives are reliably vegan.
Which Madrid neighbourhood is best for vegans?
Lavapiés has the most options per square metre, including cheap international vegan food from €4. Malasaña has the best vegan brunch scene. Both are considerably better than Salamanca or Recoletos for plant-based eating.
How much do vegan restaurants in Madrid cost?
Casual: €10-20 per person. Mid-range: €20-40. Fine dining (El Invernadero): around €110 tasting menu. Cheap vegan (Lavapiés Indian restaurants): €8-12 per person.
Is the menú del día vegetarian-friendly?
Variable. Traditional menús del día are often meat-heavy. Modern restaurants in Lavapiés and Malasaña are more likely to offer a vegetarian or vegan option. Ask when you arrive.
Can vegans eat at Mercado de San Miguel?
Some stalls yes — fruit, olives, and a few vegetable-focused options. But the market skews heavily towards jamón, seafood, and cheese. For cheap vegan market eating, Mercado de Antón Martín and Mercado de la Cebada are better. See the full Mercado de San Miguel guide for what is actually worth buying there.