We just returned from the Best of Spain tour with guide Francisco Glaria. I have celiac so must eat STRICTLY gluten free - none of that "bread is different" in Europe for me, so please don't tell me otherwise. I wanted to share my experience for others and share some restaurants that we found. I did so much research before we left, so it may save some time. I felt unwell a handful of times during tour, and dealt with it but nothing that kept me from participating (I'm home and healing now) so I don't think it's 100% possible to go on a tour without getting some kind of gluten contamination. The breakfasts were the hardest... I had to be #1 in line every time, or very pushy to get to the meat and eggs before touched. Buffets are the worst / trickiest. One of the hotels was terrible and I had to eat my own food just because they would put bread directly over the eggs and meat/cheese platters, so crumbs everywhere. But the next day she set plate aside for me and had a gluten free baguette, with our tour guides assistance. If you are wondering why I signed up for a tour with this need... I was diagnosed after we signed up for the tour, and paid for plane tickets and everything. I was diagnosed about 10 months ago.
Francisco was amazing at advocating for me at the meals. I wouldn't have survived without him. He is very empathetic as he has some allergies himself. I don't know if I'll be able to take another tour again though, as It was stressful throughout always wondering if I am eating foods that aren't cross contaminated with wheat since the tour restaurants and breakfasts were not gluten free... although I have to say, Spain is great with allergies! They know so much more than we do in the US. The GF restaurants that I visited had clearly marked menus, and I was asked if I had any allergies when seated.
Here's where I had good experiences during our own time with food:
Barcelona -
1. Messié Pizza Gluten Free Gràcia
2. ARUKU Sin Gluten Sushi Gluten Free (near sagrada familia)
3. En Ville - we did not make our reservation due to late flight but this is a highly rated restaurant among celiac people.
Madrid -
1. Churrería Chocolateria 1902 - they have a separate area to make GF churros.
2. Naked & Sated Preciados - food was good but service not that nice and they forgot my desert in our take away. Make sure you have a reservation even for lunch if you want to sit. They only took spanish speaking individuals who did not have a reservation. (snobby)
3. Holy Grain - Bakery with really good pastries in Madrid. 100% GF
4. Walk and eat Tapas tour in Madrid - our guide took good care of planning a GF tapas tour.
Ronda
1. Tapería Las Campanas (sin gluten). A "real" Tapas experience on square.
Granada
1. Aparicio’s - good food and service. Great dessert sampler. Highly recommend.
2. Pasteleria m. isla - local crowd busy bakery.
Toledo -
1. Alfileritos 24 - nice restaurant and good service.
Jerez -
1. 0% gluten. Nice salads. Good for takeaway empanadas. Yummy looking loafs of bread.
Seville
1. El Pasaje. Very upscale. Nice staff.
2. Sede Mexico - and interesting take on Mexican food. They say they are 98% gluten free.
3. Senora pan. Flavorful. Nice staff.