Sesamo restaurant |Vegan Barcelona

C/ Sant Antoni Abat, 52
El Raval
Ciutat Vella
08001

Sesamo’s Facebook

Sesamo is a tiny restaurant hidden away in the deepest, darkest corner of Raval – the district, which is the Gothic Quarter’s ugly but up-and-coming sister on the other side of La Rambla. Calle Sant Antoni Abat leads from calle Carne or calle Hospital (if coming from La Rambla) and is close to Sant Antoni market. It’s quite a strange place to find a cute and upmarket vegetarian restaurant, but there it is.

‘Food for your body and your mind’ is how Sesamo describes its ethos. They use the best seasonal ingredients – sourcing organic where possible – and combine them to make innovative global cuisine.

Related article: Top 5 vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona

What to eat

Starters might be a crème of orange and carrot soup and a salad that is served with parmesan cheese, which can be substituted for something vegan.

Main dishes are the likes of lasagne filled with spinach and pine nuts – we tried it, it’s divine!

If you are after something sweet, you can guiltlessly tuck into homemade desserts, such as an almond and saffron tart or a gluten free carrot cake.

Vegetarian tapas?

Interestingly there is a vegetarian tapas menu, which will have any vegetarian living in Spain having a sigh of relief, as interesting vegetarian dishes are hard to come by in this country. There is only so much pan con tomate and patatas bravas a human being can take.

Got thirsty after all the food? There are organic herbal teas, freshly prepared juices and gorgeous milkshakes made with soy milk that are perfect to quench your thirst.

The dishes are inspired, creative and beautifully presented like miniature objet d’art or surreal sculptures.

Related article: Vegetarian restaurants in Gràcia

The mood

The interior is tiny and intimate with small white chairs and tables. A blackboard above indicates what’s available. The walls are exposed bricks. The ambient is cosy and informal – you’ll be in no rush to leave.

Sesamo caters for vegans and raw foodists as well – the items are clearly marked and the enthusiastic staff can help you if you’re not entirely sure about a certain ingredient.

The tiny menu doesn’t allow for a huge list of vegan options, but you’ll find something to your liking. The staff are always happy to throw something suitable together, even if it’s just a hearty salad with nuts and seeds.

The staff is exceptionally friendly, although the service can be fairly slow in a typically Spanish way. But who cares, when you know your meal is being prepared from fresh organic ingredients and caters to your diet?

It’s always a pleasure to grab a bite at Sesamo. Despite being more vegetarian than vegan, it comes highly recommended.

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