Searching for the best cafés in Madrid? Discover 11 must-visit specialty coffee spots loved by locals—plus tips on what to order.
I’m a big coffee drinker—the kind who plans weekends around the perfect pour-over. Since moving to Madrid, I’ve made it my personal mission to hunt down the city’s best specialty cafés.
Madrid may be known for its traditional cafés and cortados at the bar, but there’s a thriving specialty scene here if you know where to look. After months of taste-testing, note-taking, and way too much caffeine, I’ve narrowed it down to 11 best spots.
Let’s jump right in!
☕️ 7 Best cafés in Madrid that I’ve visited
Here’s the full list of the 7 cafés featured in this guide. You can scroll through or click on any name below to jump straight to that section.
- Four Coffee
- Etual Café
- [B]-bar Specialty Coffee & Brunch
- Sood
- ÖSS Kaffe Madrid
- Syra Coffee (chain)
- ALCHEMY Specialty Coffee
1. Four
Let’s kick things off with my most-visited spot in Madrid: Four Coffee. They serve excellent specialty coffee made from seasonally sourced beans.
That said, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I come here just as much for the brunch, which is excellent. The menu is built around fresh, local, seasonal ingredients, and it’s truly delicious.
☕ What to order:
- Flat white or an espresso
- Grilled cheese sandwich with house-made chimichurri, fermented red cabbage, and caramelized onion
- A glass of natural wine
📍 Address: C. de Calderón de la Barca, 28013 Madrid, Spain
💡 Insider tip: If you’re a digital nomad or someone who works from home and wants a change of scenery, Four has a long table at the back of the café where you can do some work while enjoying your coffee.
2. Etual Café
Tucked away in the Letras neighborhood, Etual Café is warm, welcoming, and full of personality. They serve excellent coffee using beans from Barcelona-based roasters Nomad Coffee, and the atmosphere feels like a cozy neighborhood kitchen with great music and friendly faces.
It’s also super pet-friendly—you’re just as likely to see a pup in the window as a local regular with their morning cortado.
☕ What to order:
- Cortado
- Iced matcha with oat milk
- Sweet potato toast with feta spread, mint, and pistachio
📍 Address: Calle de la Alameda 8, 28014 Madrid, Spain
3. [B]-bar Specialty Coffee & Brunch
[B]-bar is more than just a café—it’s a creative space with specialty coffee, personalized brunches, and a side of purpose. With its bright, welcoming vibe and focus on community, this spot in Salamanca feels like a café-meets-studio where ideas flow as easily as flat whites.
They serve great espresso drinks and host a rotating menu of seasonal flavors (lavender latte in the summer? Yes, please).
☕ What to order:
- Espresso orange
- Espresso tonic
- Ukrainian syrniki pancakes
📍 Address: C. de la Fuente del Berro, 15, 28009 Madrid, Spain
4. Sood Coffee
Another favorite of mine is Sood Coffee, located near Retiro Park. It’s a calm, beautifully designed space that really leans into slow coffee culture. They take their brewing seriously—hand-brewing single-origin beans to highlight delicate flavor notes, often served in custom ceramics made just for them.
It’s one of those places where you come for a coffee but end up staying longer than planned.
☕ What to order:
- Espresso
- Iced latte
- A pastry or seasonal toast
📍 Address: Calle de Menorca, 22, 28009 Madrid, Spain
5. ÖSS Kaffe
Another standout on the list is ÖSS Kaffe, a specialty café with locations in both Madrid and Barcelona. I’ve only been to their Madrid spot, so I can’t comment on the Barcelona branch. But anyway, the café is tucked into a stylish corner of the Chamberí neighborhood and brings a Scandinavian-inspired vibe along with a deep respect for the craft of coffee.
☕ What to order:
- Flat white or espresso
- Seasonal filter coffee from rotating roasters
- A fresh pastry or homemade cookie
📍 Address: Calle de Manuel Cortina, 1, 28010 Madrid, Spain
6. Syra Coffee
If you’re walking the city and simply need a quality coffee on the go, Syra Coffee is a great option. With multiple locations across Madrid, they make it easy to grab consistently good espresso or filter coffee without hunting for a hidden gem.
Beans are roasted weekly in Barcelona and sourced directly from small producers around the world, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and transparency.
☕ What to order:
- Flat white or espresso
- Filter coffee made with their latest seasonal single-origin
- Cold brew (if the weather calls for it)
📍 Address: Various locations across Madrid. Find one near you here.
7. ALCHEMY Specialty Coffee
Last but not least, ALCHEMY is a solid go-to for great coffee and a calm, easy vibe. They serve up quality brews using beans from Dabov and other trusted roasters. You shouldn’t skip their brunch menu, though. It’s also really good!
☕ What to order:
- V60 or batch brew
- Vitality bowl with seasonal fruit
- Eggs Benedict or avocado toast
📍 Address: C. de San Millán, 4, Centro, 28012 Madrid
☕️ 4 Honourable mentions (Reddit-approved)
Curious what other specialty coffee lovers in Madrid are raving about? I combed through Reddit threads on r/espresso and r/Madrid—and these are some of the most frequently recommended hidden gems and local favorites:
FAQs
What’s the average price of a specialty coffee in Madrid?
Expect to pay around €2.50 to €4.50 for drinks like flat whites, pour-overs, or matcha lattes. Brunch dishes typically range from €7 to €13 depending on the café.
Are Madrid’s specialty cafés laptop-friendly for remote work?
Most are, but it’s always best to check with the staff first. Some cafés have specific tables or time slots where laptop use is allowed, while others may post signs or stickers indicating that laptops aren’t permitted in certain areas. For example, Four Coffee offers a long communal table that’s great for getting work done. Just be mindful of each café’s policies and respect the space, especially during busy hours.
Is tipping expected at cafés in Madrid?
Tipping isn’t mandatory in Madrid, but it’s always appreciated, especially if you’ve had great service. Leaving a small coin or rounding up your bill is a nice gesture at cafés and coffee shops.
Ready to explore Madrid’s best specialty coffee spots?
I’ve spent a lot of time sipping my way through Madrid, and these are the spots that stuck with me. Each one has its own personality, but they all serve great coffee made with care. Make sure to check them out!
¡Hasta luego! 👋🏻
sloly travel | travel slower. discover deeper. 
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