Photo by LikeMeat
Just because it doesn’t have cheese, doesn’t mean it has to suck.
Madrid, the capital of Spain, has come leaps and bounds in terms of its non-meat-based offerings. While you will still find giant ham legs hanging from the ceilings in many traditional Spanish tapas bars, the amount of restaurants dedicated to vegan food is growing each year.
#CantStopWontStop
There will always be the cranky, disgruntled, pizza purist who says something to the likes of: “if it doesn’t have cheese, it’s not pizza.”
To that, I say: pish posh.
I’m 100% sure that most Italians would look at Domino’s or Pizza Hut or Papa John’s with a mixture of both disgust and confusion, so let’s just not. shall we?
This is a no pizza snob zone, thank you very much.
Here are my top places to get delicious vegan pizza in Madrid:
Pizzi & Dixie
Address: Calle de San Vicente Ferrer, 16, 28004 Madrid
Why? They specialize in plant-based Italian cuisine. If your skeptical auntie doesn’t trust non-dairy cheese, she’ll at least be happy with fresh pasta. It’s a win-win for all parties involved!
Bonus: They offer different types of pizza bases including activated carbon / charcoal and gluten-free!
My recommendation: The truffle pizza is a star. Also, the Ferrero Rocher cake is the one thing I order as I sit down so as not to miss my chance at a slice.
Masa Madre Vegan Food
Address: Calle de San Marcos, 17, 28004 Madrid
Why? You can feel good while eating at Masa Madre. It ticks so many boxes! For example, they’re dog-friendly (love that for them!), they don’t use palm oil (Yay!) and they’re limited-mobility-friendly, so tasty food for everyone!!
Bonus: All of their dishes are gluten-free!
My recommendation: The Barbacoa pizza. What can I say? I like corn on pizza, and everyone knows bbq sauce is the most superior of the sauces, so just trust me and go with it.
Pura Vida Vegan Bar
Address: Calle de Santa Isabel, 27, 28012 Madrid
Why? It’s a no-frills, Spanish taberna style restaurant which simply happens to be vegan. Apart from their generous portions, and homemade pizza bases, they offer a variety of traditional Spanish tapas like croquetas and tortilla de patata. But back to the pizza, eat that. It’s wonderful!
Bonus: They sell wine by the bottle, which for me says: hey, bring some friends and stay awhile!
My recommendation: Carbonara pizza. It has never failed me! Not-a-once!
I’m sure we can all agree that pizza is good for the soul: it’s warming, varied, and has tomatoes so it’s totally considered as a healthy(-ish) food. There are plenty of other restaurants which offer vegan pizza in Madrid; however, these are my favorites, and I’m hesitant to encourage anyone to spend their well-earned coins on a place I’ve yet to try.
If you make your way to one of the above, or have a place you think deserves a mention, give me a shout!
