Morning Glory
By Melissa Leighty
Hidden on a quiet street behind the Rambla del Raval, Morning Glory is the kind of place you’re glad you stumbled on. It’s a small, eco-minded brunch café in one of the city’s most diverse quarters, built around healthy, ecological food and craft coffee – a calm start to the day a few steps from the bustle of the Rambla.
Owners Juanma and Rocio Peñalver run it with evident care. Beyond the expected avo toast and eggs Benedict, the menu leans on quiches, pastries and tarts homemade by Rocio’s mother, the sort of from-scratch baking that’s harder to find than it should be. There’s a serious tea program too, with high-quality Japanese and Moroccan leaves for anyone who wants something other than coffee, and the cooking keeps a green, seasonal bent throughout.
It’s as much a neighborhood hub as a café. The week carries a rotating roster of events – early-morning yoga on Saturdays for the disciplined, live music scattered through the week for everyone else – giving the room a looser, more communal feel than the average brunch spot. Those after a fresh, unhurried way to start the day will find it more than worth seeking out.