Finding gluten-free ice cream in Barcelona shouldn’t be a complicated adventure — but for many coeliacs or people with gluten sensitivity, it is. Most ice cream shops don’t clearly list their allergens, and the uncertainty about whether a flavour contains traces of flour, biscuit or wafer ends up taking the joy out of having a quiet ice cream.
At La Palau, an Italian ice cream shop in the Born neighbourhood, right opposite the Palau de la Música Catalana, things are different. The gelato we serve is made artisanally by Menodiciotto, a workshop founded in Turin in 1986 by master gelatiere Luca Grassi, and we have a complete, up-to-date allergen chart for each of the more than 80 flavours in the catalogue.
Which gelato flavours are gluten-free
The good news is that the vast majority of artisan gelato flavours are naturally gluten-free. Unlike industrial ice cream, which often includes thickeners, stabilisers or biscuit pieces, Menodiciotto gelato uses simple ingredients: fresh milk, sugar, fruit and raw materials of Italian origin.
Of the more than 80 flavours in Menodiciotto’s full catalogue, over 60 are certified gluten-free according to their official allergen chart (March 2026).
Fruit flavours that are gluten-free
Virtually all fruit sorbets are suitable for coeliacs and are also vegan. Some of the most popular include pineapple, blood orange, strawberry, raspberry, passion fruit, mango, blueberry, lemon, peach, melon, pink grapefruit and Sicilian blackberry, among many others.
If you’re looking for something different, flavours like red berries and basil, lemon and sage, or melon and chilli are also gluten-free.
Creamy flavours that are gluten-free
Among the dairy-based flavours suitable for coeliacs are some of the most classic: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate and orange, Madagascar vanilla, fior di panna (cream), coffee, salted caramel, dulce de leche, mascarpone, ricotta, yoghurt, egg custard, banana and coconut.
Nut flavours such as pistachio, roasted pistachio and the famous bacio (chocolate and hazelnut) are also gluten-free.
Flavours with alcohol — also gluten-free
For those who prefer an adult touch, flavours such as mojito, limoncello, lamponcello, orange and Campari, mango and rum or pear and Calvados are also suitable for coeliacs.
Which flavours are NOT gluten-free
It’s equally important to know which flavours do contain gluten. According to Menodiciotto’s official allergen chart, flavours that do not carry the gluten-free mark include:
- Cookies — contains biscuit pieces
- Oreo — contains Oreo biscuit
- Speculoos — made with speculoos biscuit
- Gelato con Bueno — contains wafer
- Stracciatella — may contain traces
- Tiramisú — contains sponge cake
If you are a coeliac or have gluten sensitivity, these are the flavours you should avoid. If in any doubt, our team at La Palau can check the allergen sheet for each flavour on the spot.
What about waffles? Not suitable for coeliacs
As well as gelato, La Palau serves artisan Belgian waffles. However, waffles are not gluten-free, as the batter contains wheat flour. If you are a coeliac, the safe option is to enjoy the gelato directly in a tub or cone (checking that the cone is gluten-free).
Vegan and gluten-free options combined
If you are both a coeliac and vegan or lactose intolerant, Menodiciotto has a dedicated vegan range with flavours that are both vegan and gluten-free:
- Vegan salted caramel
- Vegan chocolate
- Vegan coconut
- Vegan Madagascar vanilla
The Oreo flavour from the vegan range is the only one that does not carry the gluten-free mark, so it’s best to avoid it.
All fruit sorbets from the general catalogue are also vegan and gluten-free: strawberry, mango, lemon, raspberry, blueberry and many more.
Why artisan gelato is safer for coeliacs
Artisan Italian gelato tends to be safer for people with coeliac disease than industrial ice cream for several reasons. First, the recipes are simpler: fruit, milk, sugar and little else. No artificial thickeners or processed ingredients are added — those often contain hidden gluten.
Second, workshops like Menodiciotto maintain rigorous allergen control with up-to-date technical sheets for each flavour. This allows the ice cream shops that work with them, like La Palau, to inform their customers accurately.
Even so, it’s important to remember that gelato is served from shared display cases containing flavours that do contain gluten, so total absence of cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed. If you have severe coeliac disease, let the team know so they can take the necessary precautions when serving you.
Where we are
La Palau is at Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt, 14, in the heart of El Born, right opposite the Palau de la Música Catalana. We are open every day from 12:30 to 23:30.
It’s a very accessible area on foot from Via Laietana, Barcelona Cathedral and the Sant Pere neighbourhood, in the heart of Ciutat Vella. If you’re coming after a concert or a visit to the Palau de la Música, we’re literally just across the street.
You can find out how to get here on our location and contact page, and see all the available flavours on our ice cream menu.
Frequently asked questions
Are all ice creams at La Palau gluten-free?
Not all, but the vast majority are. Over 60 flavours from the Menodiciotto catalogue are marked as gluten-free. Those that contain gluten are mainly the ones with biscuit or wafer (Cookies, Oreo, Speculoos, Gelato con Bueno, Tiramisú).
Are the waffles at La Palau gluten-free?
No. The waffles are made with wheat flour and are not suitable for coeliacs.
Is there a risk of cross-contamination?
The gelato is served from display cases where flavours with and without gluten are kept together. If you have severe coeliac disease, let us know and we will take every possible precaution when serving you.
Do you have vegan and gluten-free options?
Yes. Menodiciotto’s dedicated vegan range includes flavours such as salted caramel, chocolate, coconut and Madagascar vanilla, all gluten-free. In addition, all fruit sorbets are vegan and gluten-free.
Where can I check the allergens for each flavour?
At La Palau we have Menodiciotto’s complete allergen chart available. Ask our team and they will give you information on any specific flavour.
What are La Palau’s opening hours?
We are open every day from 12:30 to 23:30, at Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt, 14, Born, Barcelona.