smoke free spain

Update 2006: Spain banned smoking in office buildings, shopping malls, cultural centers and public transportation. Bars and restaurants with more than 1,100 square feet of floor space now must have nonsmoking areas. Listings of venues which comply are still very much welcome.
    "just back from the Canary Islands and the new Spanish smoking rules (since 1-1-2006) are really working. the airport and the ferry's are completely smokefree. the bars, restaurants and disco's have big signs on the doors whether smoking is allowed or prohibited. you can easily find several smokefree restaurants." -- Thanks Carla from the Netherlands!

Update May 2006: The Carla Report -- On the contrary to the Canary Islands the new spanish smoking law is absolutely not working in Spain. We spent 4 weeks in Spain in 3 different "comunidades" (autonomic regions). In many bars and restaurants the smoking / non smoking signs are lacking. In the smaller places you won't find any non smoking establishment. Even in the bigger places (like Granada and Salamanca) it is very difficult to find a smoke free establishment. We did not visit the tourist spots on the coast, so we don't know how the situation there is.

2004: The Dave Report - Smoking is common almost everywhere, including restaurants, hotels, offices, stores, even cinemas. A helpful friend's comments follow - more are welcome.
    Only in the last few years have they begun to post signs in establishments re underage smokers and made it a law for anybody who sells cigarettes to post signs [ prohibiting selling cigarettes to minors] .
    Smoking is prohibited on local train rides (less than an hour and a half). There are smoking compartments for longer trips but they smell terrible and even smokers don't want to sit in them; if a non smoker tries to get on a train at the last minute the only seats available may be smokers seats. Smokers will take the non-smoker seats because they know if they want to smoke they can go to the bar on the train and not have to deal with the foul odor due to poor ventilation.
    Buses normally do not allow smoking at all. Spanair has a very liberal smoking policy on their flights. If you fly to Spain on Spanair you are really getting prepped for what Spain is going to be like, a good airline and great service but yes they do allow a large smoking section. Iberia is more corporate and since I haven't flown with them for years I don't know what they're like except they are on strike all the time. A lot of taxi drivers post non-smoking signs on their vehicles; most are non-smokers.
[Thanks Dave! See Dave's cool art at ANSURBANA.]

ALICANTE

ARNEDILLO (LA RIOJA)

Hospederia El Molino Del Cidacos
Ctra Arnedo, Km. 14     tel 941-394063     fax 941-394200
elmolino@pegarrido.com
Hotel de turismo rural sin humo, de 8 habitaciones, en medio de un bonito paraje, resultado de la rehabilitacion de un antiguo molino harinero del siglo XVII. No se puede fumar en todo el edificio. En la segunda etapa, no fumar tambien al exterior.
    Small 8-room hotel in beautiful countryside, in a converted 17th-century mill. It is non-smoking throughout; on the second floor it is even non-smoking outside.

BARCELONA

Biocenter
Calle del Pintor Fortuny 25     93 301 4583
Vegetarian restaurant and bar. The bar allows smoking.
Restaurant hours 1pm-5pm Mon-Sat

Restaurante Cal Rectoret
Ctra Santa Perpetua s/nº     (SANTIGA)
Smokefree sections

Restaurante Can Salvatella
Barbera del Valles
Smokefree sections

Govinda
Plaç de la Villa de Madrid 4     93 318 77 29
Pleasant Indian restaurant, vegetarian-friendly. Crowded on weekends. No smoking during *lunch* only.
Sun-Mon 1pm-4pm / Tu-Sat 1pm-4pm & 8:30pm-11:45pm

Self Naturista
Calle de Santa Anna     93 318 26 84
Vegetarian cafeteria, inexpensive.
Mon-Sat 11:30am-10pm

HUELVA

Naturalia
C/Fernando el Católico No 6, 21006 Huelva     959 81 03 44
Cafeteria, cerveceria y bar de copas. el horario es de 8:00 al 2:00 o 3:00 de la madrugada, eso lo decide el publico. Por la mañana tienen unos desayunos naturales bases de todos tipos de tee, infusiones zumos naturales y tropicales, y toda clases de panes tostados, integrales, con cereales, etc. Por las tardes cafeteria con dulces naturales, y por la tarde noche se convierte en una cerveceria y bar de copas en un ambiente sano y sin humos. Lleva poco tiempo abierto y parece que a la gente le gusta, han echa alguna propaganda en radio, televisión y en propaganda de turismo etc... Creemos que somos los primeros en España.
Cafe and bar, 8am-2 or 3am. Morning: natural teas and tropical juices, fresh bread, etc. Afternoon: a cafeteria with natural sweets. Night: a bar in a healthy atmosphere and without smoke. It's only been open a short while (May 2003) and seems popular with customers and also in the media. We think it's the first such place in Spain.
gracias a Lilura!

MADRID

VIPS is a chain of coffee shops plus convenience stores with many branches throughout Madrid. They have non-smoking sections. The ambience is definitely American-style coffee shop, but the food is cheap and good, especially the cooked breakfasts. Also, Starbucks doesn't allow smoking.

Artemisa
Calle Ventura de la Vega 4     91 429 50 92
Calle de las Tres Cruces 4     91 521 87 21
Popular, inexpensive restaurants in Central Madrid. Solid meals of pasta, chicken and salad. Vegetarian-friendly. Wine available. No-smoking *section*, which for Madrid is something.
1.30-4pm & 9pm-midnight Mon-Sat / lunch only Sun (note, lunches and dinners in Spain start and run later than Americans are used to)

Dosa Grill Café
Calle Libertad, 17 (Madrid 28004)     91-360-4750
[ Aparcamiento - C. San Marcos entre Barquillo y Libertad ]
Totally smokefree, fast gourmet food.
Hours: 7 days a week. Sun -Th 130pm-11 and Fri-Sat 130pm-1230am.
English spoken as well.
From the owner: I'm quite surprised at what great feed back we have received ... For the most part is a pretty smoothe process but sometimes it gets awkward for smokers. Although it seems to have made it an easier transition for the smokers because I smoke with them out on the side walk! They constantly ask me, "if you are a smoker, why do I have a non-smoking restaurant". I share with them four basic reasons.
a.. I want to offer Madrid a breath of fresh air (literally).
b.. I understand that it is not pleasant to eat while people are smoking.
c.. I am trying to quit smoking.
d.. For me, my restaurant is an expression of my heart. In my heart, i am a non-smoker.
I'm not sure how many people are 'fervorant fans' but I know there are some people that are deeply appriciating a breath of fresh air in Madrid.

Elqui
Calle de Buenavista 18     91 468 04 62
Vegetarian restaurant with a reputation for natural ingredients and healthy cooking. Popular and inexpensive. Buffet lunch on weekdays.
Tu-Sun 1:30pm-4pm / Fri-Sat also 9pm-11:30pm (like we said, dinner runs LATE)

Starbucks
Ortega y Gasset 29
Plaza de Canovas
Coffee, pastries and occasionally sandwiches. Worldwide chain.

Urban Cowboy
Calle de Cañizares, 14     619.21.99.70 / 655.37.45.64
Bar y restaurante 'ecológico' - se puede comer, beber, escuchar música sin humos. Comida rápida y vinos naturales.
Smokefree bar and restaurant - with music. Organic food and wine, moderate prices.

Zugiis FruitCafe
- Plaza de Chueca 10 (Metro Chueca)
- Calle Sevilla 2 (Metro Sevilla or Sol)
+34 91 4202881
Zugiis FruitCafes are the first and only authentic juice and smoothie bars in Madrid. Promoting 100% fruit smoothies, juices, wheatgrass, and healthy foods. Fully licensed serving cocktails, organic wine and beers. Proud to be one of the few locations in Madrid where you may enjoy a bar atmosphere in a smokefree environment. Open everyday 8am-1am (weekends to 3am).

MALLORCA

Hotel Lido Palace
S/n Camp De Mar, Palma De Mallorca
Has a nonsmoking restaurant.

VALENCIA

Nature Restaurant
Plaza Vannes 7 at Ramon y Cajal 36 dcha.     (34) 96 394 0141
(about 10 mins walk from rail station)
Restaurante chino, vegano, economico.
Todos las dias 1.30-4.00 & 8.30-12.00
Chinese Buffet style rest. Very cheap (6 Euros per person excl. food and drink). Great Vegitarian (vegan) food ONLY!! NO alcohol & NO SMOKING!!
Open every day 1.30-4.00 & 8.30-12.00
Thanks Paul!

NO FUMADORES
Ocio sin humos! Bares, cafeterias, restaurantes, hoteles
"una asociación sin ánimo de lucro y sin vinculación política, sindical ni religiosa alguna cuyo objetivo prioritario es defender en todo el Estado Español el derecho a vivir sin tener que estar obligado a respirar involuntariamente humo de tabaco."