Madrid boasts zillions of charming cafés, perfect spots to take a break, have a chat, scrutinize a blind date, or just take a book and relax with a coffee or tea. It seems you can’t get through a week in the city without a new café or tea room opening up and drawing you in. The list is never-ending, so let us guide you to some of the best cafés in Madrid.
- Anti Café (C/ Unión, 2)
This vintage-style café attracts a lot of young people who come here to chat in the afternoon or to have the first drink of the evening in a relaxed atmosphere with attentive waiters. On the walls are regular art exhibitions, and some evenings a DJ spins discs on a nearby street. Vegetable cocktails or carrot cake. You choose.
2. La Bicicleta (Plaza de San Ildefonso 9)
If you feel crazy about bikes, coffee, or both, this is your place. A cozy space with an obsessive care for coffee and special attention to things like handmade pastries and healthy food. They have a large windows with natural light and comfortable sofas will make you feel veeery happy.
3. Café de Oriente (Plaza de Oriente, 2)
The belle époque interior is entirely fake yet utterly convincing, making this one of the most peaceful and elegant spots to flick through the newspapers or recover from the exertions of the Palacio Real opposite. Despite its location, with tables outside on the stunning Plaza de Oriente, the café seems to be as popular with locals as tourists, who are perhaps put off by its air of grandeur.
4. Abonavida (c/ Navas de Tolosa, 3)
Is one of those places that are conceived as a philosophy of life, therein lies its success. It is a garden immersed in the chaos of the city with wooden tables and chairs in white. What is worth noting is the nature of its products with a large number of organic food from fair trade. We love the huge variety of teas, such as “Choco Tea” (cocoa peel, cinnamon, vanilla and carob) or “Romance Indio” (green tea with peach and mango). Attention to their beers and ecological wines, simply amazing.
5. Café del jardín (c/ San Mateo, 13)
The Museum of Romanticism hides a tearoom that will leave you speechless. If you have been looking for a place to be in harmony with nature while enjoying a steaming tea, the Coffee Garden will conquer you without any doubt. Gourmet coffees as “Cajamarca” which is Peru coffee with hints of fruit; or “organic” which honey. They also have savory recipes like their veggie burgers, homemade quiches or ecological gazpacho. Surprising!
6. El Jardín Secreto (c/ Conde Duque, 2)
Having a coffee can become an exciting adventure. Entering to the Secret Garden means to traveling to a magical world where nothing is what it seems. Each corner is special and each table is different. The decor emulates a garden of a fairy tale, with floral curtains hanging from the ceiling, unicorns decorating the walls and stairs whose steps send messages of peace, joy and love. The menu has not waste, sweet as suggestive as the “chocolate orgasm” or “Love at First Bite”. If you’re not very greedy and like most finger food, the Secret Garden offers dishes such as porcini risotto, shrimp and scallops or flower salad Britain. They also have cocktails … Can you ask for more?
7. El Jardín de Salvador Bachiller (c/ Montera, 37)
Salvador Bachiller shop located in Montera, 37 hides a secret that will make you to yelling it with all your might once discovered: a beautiful garden in the bustle of Madrid. The Garden of Salvador Bachiller is decorated with rustic furniture and is filled with fresh flowers and plants. The good news is that you can enjoy it both in summer and winter, since they have stoves that keep the space warm. It has a wide variety of teas and coffees and have desserts like dulce de leche waffle and banana, chocolate temptation or Sachertorte. And not only that: there are daily menu offering breakfast and a cocktail menu.
8. La infinito (c/ Tres Peces, 22)
La Infinito means books, comfy seats and a cozy environment. It’s the perfect place to start your day with a healthy and yummy breakfast of bread, cereal, yogurt, juices and sweet treats. They even have soy milk also in case you don’t drink regular milk. It’s only a matter of how hungry you are! It’s also a second-hand book store.
9. Le Café Belle Bombón (c/ Huertas 69)
Once you know this place you are going to take your breakfast every day! As you get in you will see a lot of tempting sweets: muffins, carrot cake, sacher cake, strudel… and a very good offer of salty fresh snacks. In my opinion their coffee is amazing! Creamy and subtle. It is true that it is a bit small but the quality of their product invites anyone to come and sit.
10. Martina Cocina (Plaza del Cascorro, 11)
Natural flowers, industrial deco and inspiring music, definitely one of our favorite places in La Latina! Healthy and yummy cuisine served with fresh juices, and of course, a tasty, natural, creamy coffee. You will become a super bocadillos fan! Its cereal bread it’s incredible!
11. Café Gijón (Paseo de Recoletos, 21)
Still charming after all these years, this is Madrid’s definitive literary café, open since 1888. It still holds poetry ‘tertulias’ (roundtable discussions) on Monday nights, and publishes a magazine filled with doodles and thoughts from visiting writers. A pianist tinkles the ivories to a packed terrace in summer, while in winter it’s heaving inside. Look out for the aged Alfonso, who has been selling cigarettes, matches and lottery tickets, just inside the entrance, for over 30 years.
12. Café Barbieri (c/ Ave María 42)
This coffee is one of the oldest in Lavapies: High ceilings, velvet, antique tables, big windows, peeling walls, mirrors … It’s perfect for reading or writing, is something that transports you to another era: From the smell to the gloomy light. They have a variety of coffees, teas, smoothies, chocolate and cakes. It is also a spacious room with a very bohemian. Prices are higher than average in the neighborhood, but worth it. What I would recommend is that you visit one day do not be in a hurry, you are going to read the paper or a book, because the service is not as fast and efficient I’ve seen, but is forgiven simply because the charm having the place.
13. Yambala (c/ Coloreros, 4)
Right next to the Chocolateria San Gines, one of the most touristy cafes in all of Madrid, this little place is easily overlooked or walked past by most visitors. Just a really nice, cozy, unassuming and relaxing spot for a drink or light meal, great world music, Middle Eastern ambiance, lots of yummy teas, creatives coffees, such a terrific and unique find for the Sol neighborhood!
14. La ciudad invisible (c/ Costanilla de los Angeles, 7)
It’s a cozy, warm and comfortable cafe where you can have a drink with friends, have one of their delicious salads and tapas of the world, or their pies and home made shakes. It is a library with guide books to buy, and others used for consultation and loan. One of my favorites for clear my mind after work.
An unforgettable trip 