New Zealand–inspired Brunch in Barcelona
Barcelona’s food scene has a lot going for it: vermouth bars, seafood caught that day, and bread rubbed with tomato like it's a calling. But brunch? Real brunch? It’s still catching up.
Many spots offer a classic Catalan breakfast, with small sandwiches filled with ham and cheese, spiral-shaped pastries, or grilled meats, sausages, and beans. And we love it all! But sometimes in the middle of a trip, you want the comfort of home on a Sunday morning, with a classic brunch worth waking up. Then someone tells you there’s a Kiwi brunch café tucked in Poblenou, doing things no one else is doing. It’s called Little Fern.
Expats say it’s the real deal. Locals line up because it feels entirely new here. People whisper about kimchi pancakes and coffee strong enough to bring you back to life after drinking sangria far too late into the evening. So we went when we were in Barcelona. No reservations. No expectations (except the quiet hope that it might actually be worth the hype).
Spoiler: it was.
We showed up just before noon. There was already a small crowd out front. Locals. Tourists. Little Fern sits on a corner in Poblenou, a quiet, no-nonsense neighbourhood in Barcelona. It’s the kind of place you might miss if you’re not paying attention or were unlucky enough to walk just a block over. But once you see it, you don’t forget it. Big windows. Soft light pouring in. A few green ferns hanging out like they’re taking over the decor by accident. The vibe hits right away. Clean and calm.
We grabbed a spot on the patio. You’ll want to do the same (trust us). It’s tight out there, but worth the wait. People-watching is prime. If the patio’s full, bar seats by the window are the move. They’re the best in the house. Coffee in front of you, street in motion. You’re part of the show.
Inside, the details pop with stone walls, wood touches, good music, and no corporate nonsense that the touristy spots have given in to. This is a space built by hand.
Menu hits the table. We’re talking Turkish eggs with maple-garlic yogurt. Harissa scrambled eggs with za’atar. Kimchi pancakes. Sweetcorn fritters. No safe choices. No filler. Hard decisions to make.
The server shows up, relaxed but sharp. No fake upsell. No rush. Just straight talk. It’s easy to do when the food is great. We ask a few questions. They give us real answers. Honest opinions. It’s refreshing. It didn’t make deciding on which fantastic-sounding dish to order any easier, so we went overboard. We order a mix. Some eggs. Something sweet. Definitely going to get the kimchi pancakes: they kept coming up in whispers online. We add coffee, because, of course we do, and the espresso is some of the best in the city. And a smoothie. And a chai. This isn’t the kind of place where you should hold back.
By the time we finish ordering, we know. This place gets it. The kind of brunch you’d expect in Melbourne or Auckland. But here, in the guts of Barcelona? That’s something special. We settle in. Food’s coming.
First up: the kimchi pancakes. Three of them, golden, fluffy, just enough crunch on the edge. Stacked with house-made kimchi, miso mayo, sweet chili sauce, and a mess of herbs. It’s loud food, sharp, funky, sour, creamy, spicy.
Then the sweetcorn and zucchini fritters. They’re a New Zealand thing. Soft inside, crispy outside. Served with smashed avocado, beetroot tzatziki, rocket, and pico de gallo. It’s a plate that works hard. Sweet. Earthy. Bright.
The harissa scramble is rich, smoky, soft. Eggs done right (barely set). Topped with roasted tomato and red pepper salsa, creamy avocado, za’atar, and shaved pecorino. Everything sits on a thick slice of toasted sourdough. It’s the kind of dish that makes you stop talking for a minute.
We threw in a granola bowl because they make it themselves, and it shows. Crunchy, toasty, not too sweet. Comes with a rhubarb-strawberry compote, seasonal fruit, thick Greek yogurt, and fresh mint. It’s not an afterthought. It’s breakfast you could eat every day and not get bored.
Then there’s the banana bread. You don’t skip the banana bread. Warm, soft, smells like someone’s grandma made it. Topped with vanilla mascarpone, raspberry coulis, and a nut crumble. It’s rich, sweet, and salty all at once.
Now let’s talk drinks. Like we said earlier, the coffee here matters. They use stuff from Ozone: heavyweight roasters. We got a flat white and an espresso tonic to start. The tonic thing sounds weird, but it works, especially in the heat. Sharp, citrusy, bubbly, with the deep punch of espresso layered through. There’s a cold brew with tonic too. That one might be even better. Cold, bitter, and bright. We also tried the Prana chai, made like in Melbourne. Sticky, spicy, oat milk on the side with none of that powder garbage. This is the real thing. And then came the Nutcase smoothie. Banana, peanut butter, almond butter, oat milk, and maca. It’s a full meal. Thick. Cold. A bit like a milkshake that got into yoga. And yes, there are cocktails. We saw a Bloody Mary land on the next table. We grabbed a mimosa. Cava and freshly squeezed OJ.
By the time we were halfway through the meal, the lineup outside had doubled. People are waiting, watching, and jealous, hopefully taking inspiration from our monster order. You get why. This isn’t brunch that just looks good on Instagram. This is brunch that makes you too excited to take pics.
The food here isn’t safe. It’s not boring. It’s not phoned in. It’s full of weird ideas that work. Big flavours. Smart choices. Thought behind every plate.
This isn’t your average sleepy brunch. It’s Kiwi roots, global ideas, and serious coffee in a corner café. They’re not chasing trends, they’ve built something real. They’re offering a unique experience in Barcelona.
Barcelona is one of the best food cities in the world, and the only thing it needs more of is places like this. Until then, Little Fern has the crown.
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