Mood Brunch

Sants Estació is a place where travel-weary souls go to die under the weight of delayed trains and the smell of industrial floor cleaner. It is a transit hub, a grey concrete purgatory. But step a few blocks away to Avinguda de Roma and you’ll find Mood Brunch, a splash of neon and pastel that acts as a much-needed defibrillator for the neighborhood. It’s the kind of place that, on the surface, looks like it was designed specifically to be photographed for an app, but once the plate hits the table, you realize there’s actual substance behind the style.

The first thing that hits you isn't the decor—it’s the hiss of the espresso machine and the smell of sourdough hitting the toaster. In a city where 'breakfast' often means a dry croissant and a lukewarm café amb llet, Mood is doing the heavy lifting. They aren't reinventing the wheel; they’re just making sure the wheel is greased with high-quality hollandaise and topped with perfectly poached eggs. This is a haven for the gluten-free and the health-conscious, but don't let the 'health food' label scare you off. There is nothing ascetic about a stack of Red Velvet pancakes dripping in cream cheese frosting.

Let’s talk about the avocado toast, a dish so ubiquitous it’s become a punchline. Here, they treat it with a bit more respect. They smear the bread with a vibrant beetroot hummus that’s earthy and sharp, providing a necessary counterpoint to the fatty, smashed green fruit. It’s a protein rush that actually tastes like something. Then there are the Benedicts. The 'Benedict Mood' features eggs with yolks that run like liquid gold over smoked salmon or bacon, held together by a sauce that hasn't been sitting in a plastic tub since sunrise. It’s honest, caloric, and exactly what you need before boarding a three-hour train to Madrid.

The atmosphere is a curious mix of frantic energy and relaxed lounging. You’ve got the digital nomads hunched over MacBooks, nursing oat milk lattes like their lives depend on it, and then you’ve got the locals who’ve wandered in for a quick bite, looking slightly confused by the neon 'Good Vibes Only' signs but staying for the quality of the beans. The service is efficient—they know half their clientele has a train to catch—but they don't hustle you out the door. There’s a human element here that’s often missing from the more corporate brunch chains clogging up the Gothic Quarter.

Is it perfect? No. If you hate the color pink or find neon signs offensive to your aesthetic sensibilities, you might have a stroke. It can get loud, and on weekends, the wait for a table can test the patience of even the most Zen traveler. But in the desert of decent food options surrounding the station, Mood is an oasis. It’s one of the best brunch spots in Barcelona for anyone who demands that their 'healthy' meal actually tastes like a reward rather than a punishment.

You come here because you’re tired of the tourist traps on La Rambla and you want a meal that feels intentional. You come here because your gut is screaming for something green, but your brain wants a pancake. Most importantly, you come here because it’s a reminder that even in the most utilitarian parts of Eixample, someone is still bothered enough to poach an egg correctly and serve it with a smile that doesn't feel forced. It’s a solid, reliable, and surprisingly soulful spot in a part of town that desperately needs it.