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I’m so excited to finally share with you a guide to the best coffee shops in my hometown, Madrid! In the last few years, Madrid has undoubtedly become a coffee destination, specifically the neighborhood of Malasaña.
Growing up as a teenager in Madrid in the mid-2000s, Malasaña was never a place you’d hang out. It’s always been associated with La Movida Madrileña, a countercultural movement active in Madrid from the late 70s to the early 80s, following the death of dictator Francisco Franco. Since this time, Malasaña has been linked to young punks, dive-bars and underground rock bands.
Now, it’s experiencing a renaissance with trendy hipster artisanal coffee shops. In 2018, Vogue.com wrote a restaurant guide article and referred to Malasaña as the Williamsburg (Brooklyn) of Madrid.
While I was compiling this post, I talked to a few people who shared with me the resurgence of what is now the trendiest neighborhood in Madrid.
Rosa, employee of Café Angélica, told me that Malasaña is honing in on the coffee. “There are more coffee shops in other neighborhoods in Madrid, but Malasaña is where it’s at,” she said. Another guy, who worked at the Neutrale clothing store, told me that he grew up in Madrid, but he’s always loved hanging out in Malasaña. He said that even the residents have commented on the massive change the neighborhood has undergone; like where there used to be a dilapidated furniture store, now it’s a trendy coffee shop.
During my trip to Madrid, I spent more time walking in this neighborhood than I ever could have anticipated. Talking to people and getting lost in the streets of rainy Madrid while stumbling upon new cafes, restaurants and shops was my favorite part of this trip!
Do you know that feeling when you go back to your hometown after not having lived there for awhile? Not only had I changed, but the city had changed as well. In a way, I felt like I was rediscovering Madrid and seeing it through a new lens.
By the time I go back, I’m sure more coffee shops will have popped up — and I can’t wait to discover them! Most of these coffee shops are in Malasanña, but there are a few places in other neighborhoods.
I also made sure to include other places that aren’t exclusively known for their specialty coffee, but rather their breakfast menu options and cool decor.
Bucólico Cafe
C. de Barbieri, 4, 28004
Wow. The chic country atmosphere really won me over. I loved my experience! This was the first place I hit on my list. Since the seating is very limited and the demand is pretty high, reservations are strongly encouraged through the website here. While I was seated, I noticed someone who walked in and had to wait for a while, even though the place was half-empty. I sat at the communal table with a few other diners.
I went to Bucolico strictly for the Cantonese-style scrambled eggs with Sichuan-pepper spiced oil, which I saw on the Instagram picture below.
Although my pic may not be as good as the one above, it was absolutely delicious. The texture of the egg was so delicate and soft. I’ve never eaten such fluffy eggs before. All the pastries at Bucólico are homemade, and I made sure to also have a cookie along with my breakfast.
Casa Neutrale
C. de Regueros, 13, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Pl. de Cataluña, 2, 28002 Madrid, Spain (new location)
Casa Neutrale was born in 2014 as a fashion brand by Nacho Aragon, a graduate from business administration and management, and his friends Jaime Gil and Rodrigo Fernández. In August 2022, they opened their first coffee shop in Madrid, just a few steps away from their clothing store.
This was one of the most aesthetically pleasing coffee shops in Madrid! I loved the minimalist decor with neutral tones and greenery.
I had a pan con tomate toast and some coffee. The toast is served on sourdough bread with a side of coarse salt, the fresh grated tomato sauce and olive oil. The crust on the bread was too hard for my liking, but the tomato sauce was really fresh and good. I chose pan con tomate because you won’t find that in LA, but their avocado toast served with poached eggs atop is a customer favorite!
After I had my breakfast, I visited the clothing store. They did an amazing job in conveying the ethos of the brand in the coffee shop!
In December 2022, Casa Neutrale opened its second location in Plaza Cataluña. This location is much bigger and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner! You can book your table here, whereas the first location is first-come first-served, and only offers breakfast.
Café Angélica
C. de San Bernardo, 24, 28015
I casually found this place while I was wandering on the streets! It was past noon, so I decided to go back two days later. Walking into Angelica was like traveling through a time machine: vintage shelves, ancient jugs and spice boxes. I sat at the counter, which was great because I was able to talk to Rosa, one of the employees.
If you’re a coffee lover, this place must be on your go-to list. The origin of the coffee changes daily, and they roast their beans in-house with a German Probat — a fine roaster from Germany — also known as the Rolls Royce of coffee roasting machines! Rosa, the employee, said they import the coffee from countries in Africa and South America.
The day I went, the coffee beans were from Brazil. Every sip was so delightful: the strong aroma, the silky mouthfeel, and the boldness of the flavor which leaned towards sweet, encapsulated a one-of-a-kind coffee drinking experience.
Angélica’s excellence and high quality doesn’t stop at coffee, which is why you should have something to eat!
I had the avocado toast, which is topped with Piñones de Pedraja and homemade tomato powder. Delicious is a big understatement.
The pine nuts are harvested in Pedrajas de San Esteban in Valladolid. Not only were these amazing, but I had to ask Rosa about the insanely good extra virgin olive oil, which had a very rich fruity flavor.
She showed me the bottle. The brand was from Mas Tarrés. Rosa also recommended going to “El Super de los pastores”, a grocery store that carries premium products from different farms of Spain.
Be aware that there are only two tables and one countertop, so I would make the effort to go extra early if you want to enjoy your meal right by the window.
Naji Specialty Coffee
Calle del Cardenal Cisneros, 39, 28010
This coffee shop completely surpassed all my expectations! Owner and founder Naji Asali was born in Iraq and visited Spain for the first time when he was a kid. Years later, he moved for love and ended up staying there.
Naji has over 15 years of hospitality experience under his belt, and before he opened his own coffee shop, he knew he wanted to create a place that reflected his personality and the essence of Iraq.
A visit to Naji is not a proper visit without trying his signature pistachio latte, which has earned multiple write-ups and accolades from both English-speaking and Spanish media, as well as a loyal Instagram following, who love watching him create his special lattes.
As I was sitting there, I watched how he meticulously prepared the coffee and ground the pistachio nuts. His attention to detail was unmatched!
I loved the smooth texture and the heavenly nutty flavor of the ground pistachio nuts.
For food, I highly recommend ordering the Iraq toast, which is something you won’t find in Madrid that easily! The toast is served with cheese atop, date cream and tahini sauce. The amalgamation of the date cream and the tahini sauce made for a unique caramel-like flavor, which paired excellently with the queso fresco. I loved it so much!
While I was waiting, I noticed that everyone seemed to make conversation with him like regular customers. It’s also important to note that Naji makes all the orders himself! There was one waiter, but all the food and coffee orders were prepared by Naji, which is why your order may take a little while to prepare. But I promise you the wait is so worth it! The fact that you’re getting your coffee prepared by the owner earns extra points in my book.
Natif Coffee & Kitchen
Calle de Sta. Teresa, 2, Bajo- Local 5, 28004
Natif was founded by Argentinians Juan and Robbie. Initially, the coffee shop was supposed to open in Argentina, but when the pandemic hit, they rearranged their plans and finally ended up settling in Madrid. Juan has a gastronomy background, whereas Robbie has a pastry background.
Before making the permanent move to Madrid, Juan and Robbie lived in Australia and other European cities. Their love of traveling and curiosity for other cultures is what inspired the idea of opening a coffee shop that seamlessly reflected their passion for nature, travel and specialty coffee. The earthy tones of the restaurant made for a cozy and inviting atmosphere. I could have sat there for at least another hour!
Robbie makes beautiful mini cakes, which are displayed at the register area behind a glass counter. They looked so delicate!
I had a matcha latte and sat at the table people-watching. Most of the customers there were non-Spanish speakers. For example, there was a group of Arab girls eating breakfast. Suffice it to say, I think Robbie and Juan achieved their goal of bringing different cultures together in one place.
Gosto Café
C. de la Palma, 47, 28004
C. del León, 30, 28014
In my last week in Madrid, I discovered Gosto Café on Instagram. Enticed by the pictures of their freshly baked goods, I went there the following day and met Jim, a barista from Argentina who had previously lived in Barcelona.
Jim said: “There weren’t that many coffee shops when I moved here, which was 3 years ago. But now it’s crazy”, he said. I had regular coffee with almond milk, and to eat, I had their cinnamon roll, which was their most popular baked good and was incredible. The coffee had a richly smooth texture and a very bold flavor. The picture doesn’t do any justice!
I went to their location in Calle de la Palma, but below is a picture from their other location.
Faraday
C. de San Lucas, 9, 28004
This coffee shop also doubles as a record shop. I ordered a matcha latte and sat in one of the cool mid-century chairs, taking in the space and listening to their soothing, indie music in the background. There’s also a few chairs in the upper loft space, where you can drink your coffee while enjoying a full bird’s-eye view of the entire cafe.
East Crema
Calle del Almte., 10, 28004
C. de Hermosilla, 38, 28001
After a trip to Tokyo in 2016, East Crema’s founder Alberto Velarde fell in love with specialty coffee – so much that he decided to create a coffee shop similar to what he experienced in Japan. In an interview with restauracionnews.com, Alberto said that they used coffee from different countries like Brazil, Burundi (East Africa), Colombia and Ethiopia.
After I had my matcha, I could see how much attention and care they put into their drinks. The matcha was extremely rich in flavor, which I loved, and it paired really well with the warm frothed almond milk. A vivid green color is always a good sign that it’s a high-quality matcha powder!
Alberto is currently in the process of expanding East Crema to more locations across Madrid and the rest of Spain. The location I went to was on Almirante street, which was their first one.
Café Manuela
C. de San Vicente Ferrer, 29, 28004
Named after the famous seamstress, Manuela Malasaña, who was killed by Napoleon’s soldiers and hence the name of the neighborhood, this historic cafe opened in the 1970s.
To this day, it continues to carry the essence of literary cafes, something you don’t see very often anymore. They have a nice collection of board games to play and comfortable banquette seating.
There was a couple next to me. The guy was immersed in his book while the girl was flipping through the newspaper. It was such a relaxed and calming atmosphere! The little details like the red roses, the vintage clock and the photographs added so much warmth to the space! They were also playing indie music.
Because I had been mostly drinking almond matcha lattes and flat whites since I arrived, I wanted to switch things up, so I had their Leche Merengada.
This refreshing drink from Andalucia is very typical during summertime, and it’s made of milk, eggs and topped with cinnamon. In Manuela, they add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I had never had it before and it was so good. The leche merengada itself wasn’t overly sweet, which made my experience of eating the ice cream extra special!
En Bruto
C. de San Lucas, 13, 28004
Located next door to Faraday, you can find En Bruto. This space, meant to be a creative hub, serves as a coffee shop, an artisanal bakery under the name PAM!, an event venue, and a Kombucha fermentation lab called Fermakers. En Bruto also hosts cooking classes.
When I walked in, I mistakenly thought it was a shared coworking space because most people were immersed in their laptops and the noise level was very low. It’s no wonder that En Bruto has also been deemed as one of the best coffee shops for studying and working. If you’re looking for a place where you can work and enjoy a meal undisturbed by loud noises, En Bruto is the perfect place to do so!
GoodNews Coffee
Multiple locations
I came across the GoodNews Coffee stand multiple times on Instagram before my trip to Madrid. Once I was there, I went to the location I saw, which was on Plaza de Santa Barbara, very near my place! The coffee stand is located inside a kiosk and was very easily recognizable thanks to the smiley face. GoodNews was originally created in Barcelona during the pandemic. The mission? Bring good vibes to the neighborhood. According to their website, they first started selling people discounted coffees in exchange for sharing something good that happened to them in the last few days.
I love the logo and the idea behind it!
Lolina Vintage Café
C. del Espíritu Santo, 9, 28004
I had to go there for the vintage ambiance! The place was also super cozy, so much that I lounged in one of the armchairs long after I finished my breakfast. It was great listening to 80s music and watching the customers conversing with the waiter, like the business owner from right across the street who came to pick up his coffee, or the girl who lived next door who walked in with her dog to chat with the waiter while she was having coffee. They have great breakfast deals that include toasts, coffee and orange juice.
Religion Specialty Coffee
Calle de María de Molina, 24, 28006
Both times I went to this place, 2020 and 2022, it was always full to the brim! So just like Bucólico, make sure you book your reservation here if you don’t want to wait for too long. Religion Coffee was named by Big 7 Travel Magazine as “One of the best coffee shops in Europe”. Religion currently offers 12 types coffee from different countries. Their matcha latte was really good. Menu-wise, expect to find all sorts of breakfast options and an incredible wide selection of smoothies. One of them specifically caught my attention while I was waiting for my coffee. It was the Beauty Smoothie, which contained skincare ingredients and took me back to the Hailey Bieber Strawberry smoothie, a viral smoothie that you can get at Erewhon, which is like the Chanel of grocery stores in LA.
La Bicicleta Café
Pl. de San Ildefonso, 9, 28004
Not only was I blown away by their incredible smoked salmon toast with poached eggs and capers, but also by their wide array of coffee options! I’m a sucker for anything that’s gingerbread flavored, so I had to have their gingerbread coffee with almond milk.
La Bicicleta is the complete opposite of what you’ll find at a regular cafeteria in Madrid. Next to me, there was a group of American college students enjoying their avocado toasts, something you’ll find in any cosmopolitan city in the world.
Later I was reading the English Yelp reviews, and a few of them commented on their disappointment, having expected a more traditional Spanish breakfast place. I can understand that people visiting don’t want to have the same type of eating experience they would in their respective countries.
Below is an excerpt from La Bicicleta’s website.
“From Malasaña’s typical uber-hipsters chatting over “gintonics” to the furrow-browed digital nomads huddled around the coworking table, furiously battering their keyboards. Oh, and don’t forget the awkward Tinder dates making small talk over an artisanal beer, or the stylish-Salamanca moms having one too many Spritzs during weekend brunch. What on earth could all of these people have in common? Well, we believe that the cozy atmosphere, seasonal & varied menu, coworking friendliness, and service is what draws our guests in keeps them coming back for more.”
Roots Lamarca
C. de Fernando VI, 10, Local 4, 28004
At Roots Lamarca, you will find tons of plant-based options like superfood smoothies, vegan pastries, customized salads and protein bowls! They also offer a wide selection of specialty coffee drinks and menu options that cater to non-vegans. Roots, which doubles as a restaurant and marketplace, is adjacent to a bookshop and a fancy activewear store that is used for events.
In February 2022, they opened their new business right across the street: Roots Coffee + Bakery.
La Duquesita
C. de Fernando VI, 2, 28004
This is one of the oldest pastry shop in Madrid. In 2015, they revamped the space without losing their signature vintage essence. In 2021, La Duquesita opened a tea room adjacent to the space where guests are finally able to sit and enjoy their delicious pastries! There are two tables in the original space, but it was obviously not enough for people who wanted to stay.
Their signature pastry is the “palmera de hojaldre”. I recommend trying the one without chocolate, as you’ll get a deeper appreciation for the flavor. Palmeras can be found in most pastry shops in Madrid, and they vary a lot by size and texture — some of them are on the harder side for example. But the palmeras at La Duquesita are so deliciously crunchy that you can effortlessly break them apart.
Chocolatería San Ginés
Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5, 28013
It’s not technically a coffee shop, but if you’ve never been to Madrid, you have to try chocolate con churros, a breakfast combination that harkens all the way back to the 1890s. Although I don’t typically like hot chocolate that’s super thick, this is specifically what makes the combination so delectable. Before I realized, I had already dipped and eaten most of the churros! Since Chocolatería San Ginés is open 24 hours a day, it’s also the ideal spot for Spaniards after a long night out in the wee hours in the morning. If you go, I highly recommend eating the chocolate con churros outside for people-watching!
Coffee shops that I missed
There were only so many coffee shops I could go to in a few weeks, but if you’re in Madrid and you’re looking for more options, these are the coffee shops that I had on my list that I missed!
God Café
C. de Galileo, 27, 28015
Instagram: @god__cafe
Acid
Acid Café C. de la Verónica, 9, 28014
Acid Bakehouse Calle de la Magdalena, 27, 28012
Instagram @acid.cafe
Wilko Specialty Coffee
C. de Fernández de los Ríos, 40
Instagram @wilko.coffee
Federal Café
Pl. de las Comendadoras, 9, 28015
Instagram @thefederalcafe
Nomade Café
Calle de los Tres Peces, 22, 28012
Instagram @nomadecafe_madrid
Nommad Café
C. de Alcalá, 107, 28009
Instagram @nommad
