Planning holidays in Spain? Wondering what Spanish people eat for breakfast in Spain? Want to learn about typical Spanish food for breakfast and typical breakfast in Spain?
Look no further. Here are the most traditional Spanish breakfasts in Spain you need to know about
14 MOST TRADITIONAL SPANISH BREAKFASTS IN SPAIN
If you love the Mediterranean diet, you’ll enjoy breakfasts in Spain.
Traditional Spanish breakfast is usually light, but with some hearty Spanish breakfast options as well.
Like in many countries around the world, breakfasts in Spain can be quick or slow, and sweet or savory. As expected, traditional Spanish breakfast varies depending on if it’s enjoyed at home or in a bar or a restaurant.
Typical Spanish breakfast includes coffee (cafe con leche or cafe cortado) with some pastries (churros and croissants are the most popular), cookies (Maria galletas), cakes (most typically bizocho), toasted bread (various tostadas), sandwiches (bocadillos), or potato omelet (Tortilla Espanola).
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So, if you search for Spanish breakfast ideas, here you’ll find the most traditional Spanish breakfasts (with Spanish breakfast names), and the most traditional Spanish breakfasts foods.
Breakfast foods in Spain:
Breakfast foods in Spanish
1. PAN CON TOMATE – TOSTADA CON TOMATE Y ACEITE – Spanish toasted bread with tomatoes and olive oil
Tostada de tomate y aceite de oliva is one of the top traditional Spanish breakfasts in Spain.
It is also called pan con tomate in Spanish and pa amb tomàquet in Catalan.
Pan con tomate is literally toasted bread with fresh grated tomatoes sprinkled with salt and olive oil. It’s a quick tapa eaten not only for breakfast in Spain but also as a traditional Spanish snack throughout the day.
To make it short, tostada de tomate y aceite de oliva is one of the favorite Spanish breakfasts. As might you assume, it has been my favorite breakfast in Spain ever since I’ve tried it for the first time.
2. TOSTADA CON MERMELADE Y MENTEQUILLA – Spanish toasted bread with jam and butter
Crunchy tostadas belong to the list of the favorite Spanish breakfasts.
If you thought that tostada de tomate y aceite de oliva was the only tostada loved by Spainards, you were wrong.
Classic tostada con mermelada y mantequilla is an easy and quick Spanish breakfast that boosts energy for the rest of the day.
Both of the toasts (toasted bread with tomatoes and olive oil and toasted bread with butter and jam) are found on a typical breakfast menu in Spanish bars and restaurants.
Nedless to say, tostada con mermelada y mantequilla is eagerlly prepared in Spanish homes, Spanish bars, and restaurants.
To tell the truth, golden toasted bread with nutritious butter and sweet jam are some of the most popular breakfasts in the world.
3. CHURROS CON CHOCOLATE – Spanish fried-dough pastry with chocolate
Churros con chocolate are the most popular traditional Spanish dessert eaten for breakfast in Spain.
Churros are long and fried Spanish doughnuts typically sprinkled with sugar and sometimes cinnamon.
Spaniards indulge in sweet churros along with coffee for breakfast. A typical Spanish breakfast includes dipping churros in dark chocolate along with a cup of coffee.
If you would like to have a sweet Spanish breakfast, have some churros con chocolate for breakfast in Spain!
4. TORTILLA ESPANOLA – Spanish omelette
If you want fried eggs for breakfast in Spain, please forget them.
Fried eggs are not traditional Spanish breakfast food, unlike in many European countries.
But iconic tortilla Espanola served with a cup of coffee is one of the most typical Spanish breakfasts in Spain.
Energy-giving Spanish tortilla is made of slow-cooked caramelized onions and potatoes in olive oil and eggs.
Hearty tortilla Espanola, also called tortilla de patatas, is served sliced or squeezed between bread into a sandwich (bocadillo).
Tortilla de patatas is more than a breakfast food in Spain. It’s a national dish of Spain.
Spanish omelet is eaten in Spain for breakfast, brunch, dinner …. as an appetizer, the main course, or as tapas.
5. HUEVOS ROTOS – BROKEN EGGS OVER FRIED POTATOES
Pan-fried eggs are a common breakfast in many countries.
The same goes for Spain. Huevos rotos are a popular breakfast food in Spain.
Broken eggs are typically fried in extra virgin olive oil in Spain. Spanish huevos rotos traditionally come over French fries, chips, and meat (chorizo – sausage, Jamon Iberico – Iberian ham, morcilla – blood sausage…).
Huevos estrellados is a version of huevos rotos. It is a typical dish of Madrid. Huevos estrellados dish is always made with broken eggs and French fries (but not chips) and seasoned with salt and smoked paprika.
So if you are looking for Spanish breakfast eggs, order huevos rotos or huevos estrellados.
6. CROISSANT A LA PLANCHA CON MERMELADA Y MENTEQUILLA – Grilled Spanish croissant with jam and butter
Croissant is one of the favorite breakfast foods in many countries (France, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Argentina ..).
So, it’s in Spain as well.
Flaky croissants accompanied by coffee, milk, or fresh juice represent a common breakfast in Spain.
Classic croissant a la plancha con mermelada y mantequilla is one of the most popular croissants in Spain served in many bars and restaurants throughout Spain.
Besides classic croissants, you can find sweet cuernos pastries in Spain . Spanish cuerno (meaning horn) is a special type of croissant filled with cream.
Take a cuerno or croissant with coffee and juice, and you will have a classic Spanish breakfast.
7. MAGDALENAS – Spanish muffins
Magdalenas are lemony and fluffy Spanish muffins.
Magdalenas muffins with coffee are traditionally consumed for breakfast in Spain.
Fresh magdalenas are available in supermarkets, bars and bakeries across Spain. Fluffy magdalenas are equally enjoyed for breakfast in Spanish homes, bars, and restaurants.
If you are interested in refreshing but sweet breakfasts in Spain, go for lemony magdalenas with coffee or other beverage.
8. BIZOCHO – Spanish sponage cake
Bizocho with coffee is one of the most typical Spanish breakfasts.
Spanish bizocho is a light sponge cake flavored with aromatic Spanish lemon rid.
Remember, Spanish sponge cake is traditionally eaten for breakfast in Spain. It is a classic coffee cake typically served with coffee in every cafe in Spain.
9. BOCADILLOS – Spanish baguette sandwiches
If you are looking for hearty breakfasts in Spain, you’ll probably love having a tasty bocadillo with a beverage (juice, and/or coffee).
Bocadillo is a traditional Spanish sandwich made with baguette-like bread.
There are many types of bocadillos in Spain: omelet bocadillos, cold meat bocadillos, vegetarian bocadillos, egg bocadilllos, fish bocadillos, cheese bocadillos, and even sweet bocadillos.
Bocadillos are eaten literally everywhere in Spain: from Spanish taverns, tapas bars, cafeterias, and restaurants to Spanish homes.
If you are after a hearty Spanish breakfast, take a bocadillo with juice.
If you are after a hearty Spanish brunch, please note that delicious bocadillos go well with Spanish beer.
10. CAFE CON LECHE Y ZUMO DE NARANJA – Spanish-style coffee with milk and fresh orange juice
When I am at home and not traveling, I can not eat for 3 hours after getting up.
But I always start my day with a cup of coffee, preferably accompanied by freshly squeezed juice.
It might not be the healthiest breakfast in the world, but it’s a typical breakfast for many people across the world, including me.
Spaniards love light breakfasts as well. In addition, they are very proud of the sweet oranges from sunny Valencia.
Freshly squeezed orange juice made from sweet Valencian oranges is one of the most delicious orange juices in the world.
If you want to start your day with a simple breakfast in Spain, have cafe con leche y zumo de naranja!
11. TORRIJAS – Sweet Spanish French toast
Spanish torrijas are sweet fried bread slices soaked in milk and wine with spices (cinnamon, typically).
Aromatic torrijas are always spiced with cinnamon. But, sometimes with lemon rid and cloves as well.
Spanish torrijas with coffee and beverage are traditionally eaten in Spanish homes for breakfast.
If you are looking for a sweet traditional Spanish breakfast, try out yummy torrijas with cafe con leche.
12. CARNES FRIAS Y PICOS – Spanish cold cuts meats and sausages with breadsticks
Stay calm, Spaniards don’t have only sweet and light breakfasts. And bocaddilos or tortilla Espanola are not the only hearty and savory Spanish breakfast foods either.
Spaniards enjoy a fine selection of cold cuts and sausages for breakfasts too: from jamón (ham), lomo (cured loin of pork), chorizo (Spanish red sausage), to salchichón (salami).
Want a proper hearty breakfast in Spain? Have some cold meats with picos (small pieces of crunchy bread) along with some beverages.
If you want a comfort food brunch in Spain, Spanish cold meats with picos and Spanish beer make a perfect brunch!
13. BREAKFAST EMPANADAS – Spanish stuffed pastries
Spanish empanadas are famous half-circle pastries filled with various ingredients: from meats and seafood to vegetables, cheese and sauces, and even fruits (like plums and apples).
The first empanadas were invented in Galicia in northwest Spain. Empanadas Gallega (also called Empanadas de Atún) with tuna, sofrito sauce and green olives were the first empanadas. Today there’s a wide range of various empanadas equally enjoyed in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.
Appetizing Spanish empanadas are some of the favorite snacks in Spain, enjoyed throughout the day: for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Savory or sweet empanadas with coffee and other beverages make one of the best breakfasts in Spain.
14. SPANISH COFFEE
As you might have noticed, coffee is an important part of traditional Spanish breakfast.
Coffee in Spain can be served for breakfast alone, or along with biscuits, cakes, and tostadas. Coffee alone might not be the healthiest thing to have in the morning. Nevertheless, Spaniards appreciate a good cup of coffee in the morning.
Coffee is an important item in Spanish breakfast menus. The most popular morning coffee drink in Spain cafe con leche (coffee with milk). If you are a coffee lover and you are traveling to Spain, here is how to order coffee in Spain:
- café solo – short espresso
- café cortado – coffee with a splash of milk
- café con leche – coffee with milk (half-half)
- café Manchado, or leche Manchada – (1/3 coffee and 2/3 milk)
- café Bombon – coffee with condensed milk (half-half)
- café Americano – long coffee with water (half-half)
- café Carajillo – coffee with brandy (this is not a morning coffee! 🙂 )
- café con hielo – coffee with ice
FAQ
How to say breakfast in Spanish?
Breakfast in Spanish is called Desayuno.
What do Spanish people eat for breakfast?
Spanish people usually eat for breakfast some pastries (churros and croissants are the most popular), cookies (Maria galletas), cakes (most typically bizocho), toasted bread (various tostadas), sandwiches (bocadillos), cold cuts meats (carnes frías), or potato omelet (Tortilla Espanola) along with coffee and some other beverages.
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CoCo
Monday 10th of April 2023
I lived in Spain for 5 years and I can say that this is so accurate, I ate most of this food when I lived there.
Liza Iniga
Saturday 17th of December 2022
wonderful article. I love international cuisine, and this was just perfect
Casandra
Monday 3rd of October 2022
Nice article very accurate. After growing up in Spain its so nice to have our habitats exposed to the world.