A coffee, please! The coffee drinking experience is elevated
Coffee has become a cult subject for many people. Its origin, the type of roast, its colour, its starting and finishing notes are all closely scrutinised. The experience of drinking coffee has been elevated and, for some years now, has gone a step further than just a cup and its contents.
Scattered throughout the city, there is a wide and interesting variety of cafés, capable of satisfying all kinds of tastes and personalities. There is a café for every type of person: tell me what you are like and I’ll tell you which café is yours. From the most sophisticated to the lover of minimalism, from the lover of a mix of cultures to the one who always opts for the most traditional breakfasts, from the lover of hustle and bustle and lively atmospheres to the one who seeks silence for a conversation or to work with his laptop, from the one who seeks the perfect eggs Benedict to the one who needs to accompany his coffee with sweet pieces of artisan pastries.
The city of Madrid has nothing to envy from the coffee culture of international destinations such as New York, Copenhagen or London, where all the references used to come from. Instagrammable” coffee is here to stay and the philosophy of the spaces and their interiors, designed by the studios of the moment, also play a relevant and decisive role in the light act of drinking coffee.
Do you want to discover some of the most interesting spaces in the city? Take note!
Café de la March, an ode to culture
In the bowels of one of Madrid’s most interesting cultural spaces, the Fundación Juan March, we find this small café where calm and silence reign. The interior design, designed by Plantea Estudio, tries to maintain the spirit of the original architecture, with a strong subdued light, a large white marble table (perfect for sharing) and iconic pieces of 20th century design such as the ‘Wassily’ chairs. You can’t leave without trying their delicious carrot cake, blueberry sponge cake, puff pastry with dulce de leche or their perfect midday formula.
It also has a pleasant outdoor terrace, amidst the lush vegetation of the Foundation’s garden, which is an oasis in the middle of the busy and noisy city centre.
Casa Neutrale, a trip to the Mediterranean
This cosy place has become one of the most interesting options for breakfast (or a snack) in the funky neighbourhood of Las Salesas. Speciality coffee, from the Madrid roaster Toma Café, is the star of a menu where you can also find artisan pastries (such as the classic “banana bread” from the Madreamiga bakery), its sourdough loaf toasts with original accompaniments such as pear or figs and a complete and changing selection of sandwiches, for lovers of savoury options.
In its interior design, signed by the renowned DIIR studio, the tones and inspiration in the landscapes and spaces of the Mediterranean are very present. You can also visit them at their second location, with a terrace, in Madrid’s Plaza de Cataluña.
Acid Café, an intimate space
After the success of its first opening, located on the border between the districts of Las Letras and Lavapiés, Acid Café has just landed in the busy Barquillo street, becoming one of the most photogenic and “instagrammed” spaces in the area.
Designed by the Plantea Estudio team, it has managed to turn an old gemstone shop into an intimate, designer space, a perfect fusion of past and future. Their coffee, from the interesting Danish roaster La Cabra Cofee Roasters, becomes the best pairing partner for a delicious range of artisan sweets (made daily with organic flour and organic butter) such as their classic croissant, their pain au chocolat or their exotic Kardamom bullar. They also have a variety of sourdough breads made daily in their bakery.
Golda, the cosmopolitan café
Photographs shot by the filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, pieces of craftsmanship and posters by the artists Juan Gatti hang on the walls of this luminous establishment, located in the Justicia neighbourhood.
This cosmopolitan space, set up by the founders of the successful Fayer restaurant, is the perfect blend of Israeli and Argentinian cuisine. Speciality coffee, smoothies made on the spot, a range of artisan pastries (with healthy options, such as its flourless pistachio tart) or its açai bowls are some of its must-tries. When night falls, Golda transforms into Golfa to offer an interesting menu, this time with a white tablecloth and candlelight. A journey from the urban café to the most sophisticated restaurant.
Dot Café, the revolutions slow down
Located just a few metres from the Matadero cultural complex, in one of Madrid’s most unknown neighbourhoods, Legazpi. This small café full of colour and designer pieces made by artisans has become a real attraction. Breakfast is a mixed sandwich, the classic “bikini” here is eaten on spongy sourdough brioche bread. Its coffee, which comes from Nomad Coffe in Barcelona, and the use of local produce and small producers, are some of the fundamental pillars of its philosophy.
Its unique décor, full of details, is also the perfect excuse to visit this unknown area of Madrid where the revolutions seem to slow down.
Yasemin&Tuncel, between Sweden and Turkey
This quiet restaurant, located in the traditional Chamberí neighbourhood and set up by the couple Yasemin and Tuncel Toprak, has managed to create an original menu that draws on the contrast between the gastronomic cultures of Turkey and Sweden.
A surprising breakfast where you can discover some of the most popular dishes from both destinations. On the sweet menu, prepared daily in their bakery in full view of the customer, we find typically Swedish options such as the ‘Kanelbulle’ (a Scandinavian-style cinnamon roll with almonds, marzipan and cardamom) or their surprising blueberry and blackberry crumble with a butter base. They also have their own roastery on the premises and their speciality coffee comes from producers in countries such as Ethiopia, Brazil and Guatemala.
Gosto Café, for brunch lovers
It has become one of the temples of brunch in Madrid. It has its first establishment in the Las Letras neighbourhood and has just landed in Malasaña.
This project, born from the unstoppable mind of a young Brazilian entrepreneur, is already one of those essential places to have good coffee and enjoy a wide selection of homemade sweets such as their ‘Cimmaron roll’ or their cheesecake with dulce de leche and strawberries.
Its minimalist décor makes it the perfect place for conversation. Another must is the wide variety of toasts, among which we find the classic with avocado, smoked salmon and poached egg or the baba ganoush with roasted aubergine cream. Ask for their cake of the day.
Editor: Álex de la Rosa
Álex is a journalist and a reference in the world of gastronomy, creator of the successful blog “Que no me la den con queso”.