THE BEST GLUTEN-FREE AND DAIRY-FREE BAKERIES IN MADRID

For those of you that have lived under a rock for the past decade, I have Crohn’s Disease. Due to the fact that I am currently between meds, my stomach is a little unpredictable right now. I have no clue what will send me next into a flare, so I need to be mega careful with what I’m eating. And thus, I have had to cut out gluten and dairy for the time being (along with tomatoes, onions, celery, pork, the list goes on.) And let me tell you, it’s no easy feat having a picky diet when living in Madrid for three months.

After spending hours trying to research gorgeous little Spanish bakeries where I could actually order consumable food (surprisingly more difficult than I thought) to no avail, I eventually decided to simply venture out on a little mission to discover said bakeries. It was a long and hard journey filled with churros and cupcakes, but I’m more than willing to suffer by eating gorgeous food 24/7 for research. No need to thank me.

Heladería Borgonesse

Best for… choice

Starting off this post with a bang, Borgonesse is hands down the best place to get ice-cream in the whole of Madrid. Offering flavours you you will glimpse only a couple times in your life, this heladería is set on the gorgeous Gran Vía street – making it the perfect location to grab a delicious cone before heading out to explore the heart of Madrid. Along with ice-creams, they also serve a plethora of crêpes, waffles, frappes, smoothies, cakes, sweets, and nougats. If you’ve ever wanted to use the phrase “I’m like a kid in a candy shop,” then you can defo knock that off your bucket list here.

maestro churrero

Best for… churros!

Unexpectedly, this one brags the best churros in the whole of Madrid. Thankfully for gluttons with malfunctioning immune systems like yours truly, they offer gluten-free churros with thick, lactose-free chocolate. There’s nothing that screams Madrid quite like sitting outside in the sun, churros and chocolate in hand, looking out to the busy plaza streets, leaning back accessorised with Jackie O-esque sunglasses and long flowery skirts. 

celicioso

Best for… first dates

Celicioso has multiple locations, with my absolute favourite being the one located on Calle de Hortaleza. Whilst the other shops are equally as beautiful, I found this one location to be the cosiest, prettiest, and filled with the nicest staff. Their rich triple chocolate cake is absolutely divine, and the open-plan design and pretty decor makes it a super lovely place to hang out. With laid-back vibes, cute surroundings, and cake, this place would be absolutely perfect for a first date (let me know how it goes!).

freedom cakes

Best for… aesthetics

Absolutely everything at Freedom Cakes is vegan, which is great when you have a whole plethora of intolerances to cater to. I found myself in shock after trying several of their desserts to find that everything was dairy-free, given how insanely chocolatey and gooey their homemade brownies are. Their ice-cream is thick and creamy (although, I guess technically, more soya-y?), and their ridiculously healthy smoothies are presented in pretty little cactus glasses. I’m not one to drink blended kale – and yet, at Freedom Cakes, I found myself absolutely chugging the whole glass. 

azotea del círculo

Best for… smoothies

An unconventional place to call a cafe, sure, but the fact that they offer some absolutely stunning dairy- and gluten-free beverages should definitely mean that it should be included in this post. I absolutely adore their smoothies, and the fact that you choose the fruit flavours that you want and then some kind lass proceeds to blend it right in front of you merely adds to the appeal. They’re so full of flavour that they make your cheek tingle, and due to the fact that they’re basically granizados, they’re über light and refreshing. 

turrones vicens

Best for… turron

Officially the best place (and, dare I say, only place) in Madrid that freely gives out complimentary turron (especially if you continuously return in an abundance of disguises to continue snacking on tasters*), Turrones Vicens is officially one of my favourite places in the city. The bakers are super creative with their flavours, and the styles, flavours, and textures on offer are unlike any other turron I’ve ever tasted. Pop by for a look around, and then tell me that you haven’t ended up purchasing eight different bags of these sweet treats.

rodilla

Best for… local vibes

No post about cafes in Madrid would be complete without a mention to Rodilla. Founded in 1938, this cute little place has grown to be one of the best-loved places in Spain for decades. Whilst not advertised as being lactose-free, they offer many an option for absolute pains-in-the-ass like myself, and so I would gorge myself almost on a weekly basis on their matcha green teas and tubs of sorbets. Unsurprisingly, they have multiple locations, but the best – and only one I am going to mention – is the on on Calle Gran Vía. You’re welcome.

las cuevas de luis candelas

Best for… history

Whilst I do adore their sorbets here, the main reason I am including it in this post is for the fact that it is so thick with history that you can practically feel Candelas’ ghost arms around your shoulders. Luis Candelas was born in the early 1800s and grew up to be an infamous bandit known for his turquoise blue jacket, Mahón trousers and Corinth belt. He was infamous for assaulting stagecoaches and stealing goods, and wold hide out in where Las Cuevas is today, using the many available exits to confuse his persecutors and get away scot-free. There are so many more super cool stories about this legendary lad, which you can read all about when you visit this epic little place. 

alcampo

Best for… Bizcocho

Whilst technically not a “cafe” per se, they do offer a whole lot of baked goods. “Bizcocho de magdalena” literally translates to cupcake cake – and there’s nothing I love more than giant versions of little guilty snacks. I’d actually never tried one before moving to Madrid, but as it happens, I found myself eating probably a whole bizcocho per week – and don’t tell my host family, but even their homemade bizcocho doesn’t rival the gorgeous cake at Alcampo.

abanda

Best for… hot coco

Abanda is officially the cutest place to grab a hot coco and sit outside, as their shop is located just off of a large plaza. Technically, their lactose-free hot chocolate isn’t on the menu – until you ask for it specifically. The staff are the friendliest ever, and being surrounded by the liveliness and bustle of Madrid condensed to a little square merely adds to the appeal. 

heladeria tutti frutti

Best for… buckets of ice-cream

Okay so, to be completely and entirely honest with you, I looove this heladeriá for one reason and one reason only – the fact that you can literally buy their ice-cream in buckets. I am quite possibly the greediest person alive, but nothing has appealed to me more than taking a whole bucket of ice-cream to a park and subsequently demolishing the whole thing. Not only do they have gorgeous helado flavours, but to spike your blood pressure even more, they also sell the sweetest and most refreshing granizados ever. Let me tell you, it is one heck of a dangerous place to venture into with a full wallet. 

Ay mi madre

Best for… carrot cake

This little place has a whole menu dedicated to the vegan diet, offering a wide range of dairy-free pizzas, empanadas, and sandwiches. The best bit, however, is of course the carrot cake, which is light, sweet, and somewhat healthy (because that’s how vegetable-infused cakes work, right?).

And so, do you guys have any suggestions? Let me know in the comments below – and be sure to check out my other guide on the best bookstores in Madrid!

*That’s a joke, people! Don’t do that**

** (Or do it for the meme and send me pics)

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