From my list of saved places in Madrid, there's one bakery here — Alma Nomad Fabrica, which used to sit in the where to eat guide. The other five I added on the advice of travel and coffee guides: three specialty coffee shops, a French bakery and a famous churrería. Every one is checked on Google: still open, rated 4.2 or higher. The descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews, and I'll add my own notes as I visit.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 1 € ≈ $1.12.
In short
- The best roaster: Hola Coffee near the Reina Sofía — flat white and a cinnamon roll.
- Brunch: Misión Café in Malasaña — book at weekends.
- Pastries: Santa Eulalia near Ópera, or Alma Nomad Fabrica if you don't mind a metro ride.
- Churros and chocolate: San Ginés by Sol, open around the clock.
- Early starts: Toma Café and Hola Coffee open at 8:00.
Specialty coffee
Toma Café
Malasaña · specialty coffee · 1–10 € (≈$1–11) · daily 8:00–20:00
Google Maps · website · C. de la Palma, 49
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 3,500+): one of the cafés that started specialty coffee in Madrid, roasting its own beans. Reviewers praise single-origin espressos without a trace of bitterness, the cinnamon rolls and a chai latte with a shot of espresso; there are gluten-free and vegan pastries. The staff are friendly and happy to talk about the beans. Downsides: laptops aren't really welcome, the coffee isn't served very hot, and one review called the Turkish eggs the worst in town.
Hola Coffee
Lavapiés · specialty coffee · 1–10 € (≈$1–11) · Mon–Fri 8:00–20:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–20:00
Google Maps · website · Calle del Dr. Fourquet, 33
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 1,100+): Madrid's best-known roaster, founded by a Spanish barista champion and a roasting championship runner-up. A small café with a takeaway window a couple of blocks from the Reina Sofía. Reviewers praise the flat white, latte, filter coffee, croissants, the cinnamon roll and the salted chocolate cookie; the staff are welcoming and happy to speak English. Not much seating inside.
Misión Café
Malasaña · café and bakery · 1–10 € (≈$1–11) · Mon–Fri 8:30–20:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–20:00
Google Maps · website · C. de los Reyes, 5
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 3,000+): a café from the founders of Hola Coffee in a bright industrial space, with its own bakery. Reviewers praise the balanced coffee, the pastries, the tomato, ricotta and anchovy toast, the porridge and the juices. Book for brunch — it gets packed. Downsides: there's no music, and it's so quiet that talking feels awkward; some found the eggs Benedict undercooked.
Pastries and churros
Santa Eulalia
Ópera · French bakery · Tue–Fri 8:30–20:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–20:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · website · C. del Espejo, 12
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 2,400+): chef Trabanco's bakery on a quiet street near Ópera — brick walls, books and plants, like a little Parisian café. Reviewers praise the pistachio pain au chocolat, hazelnut buns, cakes and bread, and there's a brunch with eggs. Downsides: some found the cappuccino weak, and the coffee counter area could be tidier.
Chocolatería San Ginés
Sol · churrería since 1894 · open daily, 24 hours
Google Maps · website · Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 73,000+): churros and thick porras with dense hot chocolate since 1894 — a Madrid classic, including after a night in the bars. It's roomier inside than it looks from the street, with a terrace too; the churros are fried in front of you, and the queue moves fast. Opinions split: some praise light, non-greasy churros and fair prices, others call it overhyped — the churros themselves are bland, and the chocolate carries it.
Alma Nomad Fabrica
Ciudad Lineal · bakery & breakfast · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · Tue–Sat 9:00–15:00, closed Sun–Mon
Google Maps · website · Calle de los Urquiza, 17
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 950+): the Alma bakery's production site away from the centre, a bright industrial space with long wooden tables and an open kitchen where you watch the baking. People take the metro out here for the pastries: pistachio-raspberry bostock, danishes, chocolate-nut cookies, avocado toast. The downside is one queue and one till for everyone, with waits of up to half an hour at weekends and holidays.
One last thing
Check the days: Santa Eulalia is closed on Mondays, and Alma Nomad Fabrica on Sundays and Mondays. The specialty cafés open every day until eight in the evening, and San Ginés never closes — you can go for churros after the bars.
More on Madrid: where to eat, bars, what to see.