Coffee, Coffee Coffee, The Best Coffee Shops in Madrid
- Estefania
- May 6
- 6 min read
Food Diaries - Madrid, Spain
I don't know if I would consider myself a coffee snob, but I do love my coffee, and it is my favorite way to start my day, no matter where I may be traveling. Being back in Madrid, I couldn't help but dive back into the cafe culture consisting of slow mornings (or afternoons, let's be honest) surrounded by good company. I spent a lot of time in cafes, some of which I specifically chose to be able to focus on my coursework.
I also do remote work, so I pride myself on finding coffee shops where I can work and get some of my creative juices flowing free of distractions.
Here are my absolute favorite coffee shops I have been fortunate enough to stumble across and love taking my friends to. Each has its own unique vibe and palette when it comes to the coffee, and they are in no particular order. You can't go wrong!
Osom Cafe
There are a few locations of this cafe across Madrid, my favorite is in Malasaña. It's massive and a great place to get your work done. There’s a massive table in the back where remote workers, university students, and so many more come together and work in each other’s presence.
They have a vibrant menu as well, which makes it a great place to get a bite to eat. One particular menu item that stands out to me is their tarta de zanahoria (carrot cake). Absolutely mouth-watering, very moist, and perfectly complemented with their cream cheese frosting. Oh, and did I mention delicious! On another note, if you want something a little lighter, I recommend their superfoods yogurt bowl, the perfect blend of sweetness from the berries and more filling than you imagine. A friend and I shared the tarta and yogurt bowl, paired with a cappuccino, and we were perfectly full.
Etaul Cafe
This cafe is located near the museum district, only a five-minute walk from the Prado and Reina Sofia. It's quaint and a little tiny, but the food and coffee would have me coming back. You are able to work in this cafe on weekdays at certain stations, but be courteous and always ask if it's okay before getting situated.
Their quiche of the day or avocado toast are great options to indulge in if you’re a bit more hungry. I went here with a friend and we also had a lovely yap session. Should you visit this cafe, you will notice that at the entrance is the most adorable display of souvenirs to take home, including hats, totes, and even postcards.
Note, there is an even more adorable postcard shop next door, and it's where I picked up a few for myself.
Toma Cafe
This cafe is very renowned here in Madrid and for good reason. This is one of my favorite coffee shops to visit. There are a few locations, but I specifically love going to the location near Trafalgar. There’s usually very upbeat music playing; however ambiance of the location in Chueca is equally as lively but better for conversation in my opinion. I have never tried to work here, so I can't really say if they are or are not laptop-friendly but I have journaled.
A perfect itinerary for a weekday afternoon would include a cappuccino from here while getting some work done, and afterwards popping over to Alma’s and indulging in their banana bread before sitting on the square and enjoying some sun or a good book.
This cafe will have some of the best coffee in the city, and fun fact places like Watt’s Cantina which is known for their famous pancakes, have a partnership with Toma and strictly serve their products. I don’t know what it is about the espresso and how it blends amazingly with the perfectly frothed milk, but it’s definitely a place to check out.
Hanso Cafe
Located in the Opera district, this place was introduced to me by a friend I met in my first month in Spain, and it has become a second home and a convenient place to grab a coffee. The environment feels very industrial but welcoming.
It has a variety of Asian-inspired dishes as well as classics. Some of my staples that constantly have me coming back are their Bacon Cheese and Egg Bagel, and a healthier alternative that I took a risk on was their Strawberry and Poached Egg salad, weird combo for sure, but it impressed. You also can’t go wrong with having one of their pastries because they are truly delicious.
A bit bigger than most of the other places on this list, and gets very busy and crowded by both locals and foreigners during peak times, but don't all good coffee shops? This cafe is laptop-friendly but only at the high table, shouldn’t be a problem during nonpeak hours but if you’re there during a rush, good luck.
As I mentioned, this cafe has a very special place in my heart, and I think it’ll be the one I miss the most simply for the nostalgia associated with it. I hope you love it as much as I did.
Brutal Specialty Coffee
This coffee shop I found on the Co-Fi app, it's a not-too-updated app that helps remote workers like me find places to get work done. It allows me to have a change of scenery from time to time and not feel overwhelmed within the four walls of my bedroom. While I don't mind getting work done at home, something about being somewhere new just increases productivity for me.
Now, to discuss Brutal, I love the ambiance. It feels so chic and modern, top that with their most adorable custom neon signs, and I am sold. Offwhite walls and rounded tables that are made of a material I can only describe as what you would probably see in a museum. I’d spent hours here usually on Tuesdays since my usual cafe would be closed. It honestly is one of the few cafes that remind me of something I would see back home, which I’m sure is one of the reasons I keep going back.
It's located not too far from Sol but far enough that it's not overrun by tourists. Throughout the day, you see and hear the diversity of people who are all just trying to get their work done. A switch just flips within me while I’m here, and I am instantly locked in to get work done.
The coffee is one of the most adorable when it comes to the latte art. I genuinely think they add cocoa powder to create the gradient effect on top, but I can't taste is so I can't really say for sure. It's an enjoyable coffee experience, and their food options are perfect and fairly inexpensive to pair with your cappuccino. They also have snacks and bites for people who are conscious of their protein intake, which I think is so great.
Brutal is also connected to a shop, so after you’ve enjoyed your cup of Joe, you can cut through to see if there’s a graphic tee that catches your attention.
Profugos Coffee
I debated including this one, but remembering my experience that I had, I knew some of you would greatly appreciate this spot. Profugos is located near the Universidad district off the San Bernardo metro stop.
Firstly, it is so affordable, this is probably where I spent the least amount for my cappuccino and had the greatest reward, which is the length of my time in a cafe. The owner is the sweetest older gentleman who is working on his own personal stuff alongside you in his little desk area. There’s a very limited menu in terms of pastries, but I never mind that as I am usually popping into cafes for coffee only.
A cappuccino will run you 2.80, which was a steal! I was able to knock out two hours of work while in there. I also loved the setup downstairs. Upstairs is cute and quaint and very welcoming, don't get me wrong. Downstairs takes the cake! There are these very comfy-looking make-shift couches, you could probably spend hours here. They also have a high table down there where you can do work standing up if that’s your cup of tea.
If you’re in a pinch financially, I would recommend this spot, but regardless, I would recommend it simply for the vibes and the service.
I’m sure there are many more cafes I missed, but these are the ones that left an impression and that I enjoyed revisiting while I was in Madrid. They are all unique, and no one has the same experience as the other. Should you find yourself in Madrid, I would recommend any one of these to travelers and friends.
Sending best wishes and safe travels through one of my favorite cities,
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