..but I visit Madrid a lot and find it very hard to get decent food in restaurants. Even those mentioned as catering for vegans on this site seem to not understand the concept when I get there or only have 'Vegetable Paella' as the vegan option (which does get boring). Has anyone got any suggestions of places where I can get decent vegan food for when I visit again?

i'm not exactly a spaniard either, however,
I've been in Spain for 2yrs now and i to have had a pretty hard time eating out. TAPAS! thats your best bet... or i like to buy fresh fruits and vegies from the open markets. I live near sevilla and i can find one almost every day of the week except Sundays of curse. I'm sure Madrid has to have some open markets.
Good Luck...

Thanks Damian but I have found, being vegan that Tapas often contains stuff I can't eat, cream etc and/or they seem to have been cooked with meat products. I am quite happy to buy fresh fruit to eat but, as I tend to stay in hotels there's no where to cook vegetables, prepare salads etc. I really would like to know of any restaurants in Madrid that can reliablyprovide food for vegans.

Have you not checked the directory here at Happy Cow?
It has oodles of listings for Madrid restaurants and herbolarios!!

Let us know what you find.

OK - Just read your post again!!

LOL!

I find that all Chinese and Indian restaurants always do a good selection of veggie options and if you say to the chef that you do not eat meat, dairy or eggs they are more understanding and careful than other restaurants will be.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2008 07:07AM by treehugger.

Hello,

Yes, in the UK (and probably USA too) it is fairly easy to get vegan food in Chinese and Indian Restaurants but its simply not the same in Spain. As I have said, I have tried most of the places you have listed on here for Madrid and havn't found one that caters well for vegans. The best place I've eaten is the Maoz Falafel Bar but you can't eat falafels all the time!