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By: Erin Langridge

Going out to restaurants as a vegetarian or vegan can be challenging anywhere, so as I started my semester abroad in Madrid, I was unsure of how many options I would have. However, I was excited to discover the overwhelming number of choices available here. In an effort to try as much local food as possible while staying within our budgets, one of my friends (vegan) and I (vegetarian) have spent the semester trying out several different restaurants throughout the city that offer a menú del día.

A menú del día, or “menu of the day” in English, is a lunchtime multi-course meal deal found at many restaurants in Spain. The menú del día is typically offered from Monday through Friday, starting at around 1 or 1:30 pm and ending around 4 or 4:30 pm. It varies between restaurants, but often it includes a first course, second course, drink, and sometimes dessert for around 12-16 euros. As far as restaurant prices go, I think it’s a relatively affordable and fun way to try local dishes in Spain, especially considering the generous portions of food they usually serve.

The way the menú del día works can vary between restaurants as well. Some will offer multiple options to choose from for each course, while others will have a fixed dish for each course that changes every day. If you want to check what’s offered on the menú del día in advance, most restaurants have it listed on a sign outside their front door or posted on their Instagram or Facebook page. 

Here are some of my favorite vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurants with a menú del día that I’ve tried so far:

• Yerbabuena
  • Calle de Bordadores, 3, 28013 Madrid
  • Everything is vegetarian, and most items can be made vegan!
• Vega
  • Calle de la Luna, 9, 28004 Madrid
  • Everything is vegan!
• Cora Gelato and Coffee Culture
  • Calle del Barquillo, 37, 28004 Madrid
  • Several vegetarian and vegan options available
• La Hummuseria
  • Calle de Hernán Cortés, 8, 28004 Madrid
  • Everything is vegetarian, and several vegan options available
• Restaurante Vegetariano Artemisa — Huertas
  • Calle de Ventura de la Vega, 4, 28014 Madrid
  • Everything is vegetarian, and several vegan options available
• Ramen Kagura Ópera
  • Calle de las Fuentes, 1, 28013 Madrid
  • Vegetarian and vegan options available
• Yoshi Sushi
  • Avenida de Menéndez Pelayo, 9, 28009 Madrid
  • Vegetarian and vegan options available

Bonus: If you’re looking to try churros con chocolate in Madrid and in need of a vegan option, try out Churrería Chocolatería 1902 near Puerta del Sol. They offer dairy-free chocolate!

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