There could be many reasons why you are looking for a cafe to work in Madrid. Maybe you just moved to Madrid and don’t have a place yet. Or, you have a place and you have not set up the wi-fi and you just need a place to tide you over. Or if you are like me and can work from wherever, you just want a change of scenery and a good coffee.
Whatever the reason, there are so many cafes to work from in Madrid, almost on every corner. You can never really walk to far in the center of Madrid without coming across a cool coffee shop that lets you sit there with your laptop.
I can work from home, or the office, and a lot of times at lunch we will all go out together, then finish of the day working in one of the many cafes around the center. I have done my best to give you a number of options so you can find one that suits your own taste and needs.
These are the best cafes to work in madrid
La Bicicleta Madrid
La Bicicleta Cafe Madrid
La Bicicleta was born out of the idea to provide a place for cyclists to get together, and you can see this in the décor of the shop. There are various bikes hanging up on the exposed brick walls of the café. It’s like the place has been decorated to inspire creativity with some type of art work in every corner.
Over time the Café became morepopular with the locals, so they decided to create a dedicated corner just for those who want a Café to work in Madrid, and the people showed up.
It’s a quiet place in the earlier hours of a day, a great little spot in the city to get some work done, have a coffee, maybe a bite to eat. Towards the evening it does get pretty busy though, but you can close the laptop at this point and join in on the fun
Location – Plaza de San Ildefonso, 9 | 28004, Madrid (metro: Tribunal)
Pum Pum Cafe Lavapies
Pum Pum Café was one of the most popular cafes to work in Madrid during the lockdown. They were open for most of the duration and there were people working and socializing all day long. Weekends are very busy, but on a weekday you will always find a spot.
You will find people working here from all over the world in all types of work. It brings together a lot of different types of people so it’s a great place to work, but also to meet new people in Madrid.
The décor is pretty cool with the old school desks that have compartments to put your papers, but the downside is they can be a little small. But if it’s just you and your laptop then it’s a perfect little café to work in Madrid.
Location – C. de Tribulete, 6, 28012 Madrid (Metro Lavapies)
Delic Cafe Madrid
So I may use work as an excuse to just to come here to have one of their toasties cause they are amazing! But it´s also a really cool café to work in Madrid.
Delic has been a part of Madrid for over 20 years and is well loved by locals and travelers alike. You can sit at any of the tables, but I prefer to sit at one of the breakfast bar type tables along the wall.
I always try and have at least a couple of coffees or something to eat to support the business too. So if you need to get a quick coupe hours of work in before you set off to enjoy the day, this is another great option for cafe’s to work from in Madrid.
Location – Cost.ª de San Andrés, 14, 28005 Madrid (Metro La Latina)
Dot Cafe Bar
This one is very close to Madrid Rio, so after you finish your work you can take a stroll along the river. There is so much natural light, and there are large tables with loads of chairs so you are likely to find a space no matter the time of day.
A great place to get a good breakfast, but also one of my favorite cafes to work from in Madrid. The location is excellent if you are going to carry your day on in the city afterwards.
- Location – c/ Eugenio Sellés, 6 | 28045, Madrid (Metro Lagazpi)
- Tel: 912 12 15 13
- Hours: Wed-Mon 8am/8pm, Closed Tuesdays
Toma Cafe
Some people consider the espresso here to be the best in Madrid, but you will have to put that to the test yourself. But you don’t need to be a coffee snob to come here, you can order a simple flat white, pop out the laptop and off you go.
Toma Café is in the Quevedo neighborhood, and a really good café to work in Madrid, but also to read because they have huge windows letting in loads of light. It can also get pretty lively in the evenings so come at different times and see what you prefer.
- Location – c/ Santa Feliciana 5 | 28010, Madrid (Metro Iglesia)
- Tel: 910 55 98 02
- Hours: Wed-Fri 8am/9pm, Sat-Sun 9am/9pm
La Casa Encendida
La Casa Encendida is a cultural and exhibition center in Lavapies opened in 2012. You can see all types of exhibitions here like music, art, photography. Check the programming to see what’s on. But we are here for the Café today.
If you are looking for a café to work in Madrid and need plenty of light, the café here has that in abundance with the almost floor to ceiling windows. All the windows have chairs and tables and plenty of sockets for all your gadgets.
- Location – c/ Doña Urraca, 18 | 28011, Madrid (Metro Embajadores)
- Tel: 910 55 98 02
- Hours: Mon-Fri 10am/7.30pm
Federal Café
Federal Café is located very close to the Conde Duque Center and my favorite café to work in Madrid with a terrace, ideal for the days where it’s not too hot with a little sunshine. But if you sit inside, the huge windows will also give you enough natural light.
It’s very spacious and you won’t feel all squished up even when it gets busy. They also have a lot of amazing food here and when you are done working, they have beer on tap too so you don’t really need to leave here until bed time to be fair.
- Location – Plaza de las Comendadoras, 9 | 28015 Madrid (Metro Noviciado)
- Tel: 915 32 84 24
- Hours: Mon-Sat 9am/11pm, Sun 9am/5pm
La China Mandarina
You might notice that a lot of these cafe’s are in the trendy areas like Malasaña and Lavapies. It`s not by accident, this is where all the socializing happens and the area is just a hub for creativity so it’s a great place to work and socialize.
If you get to La China early in the morning, you are likely to find groups working around the big tables and individuals off to the side with their coffee and laptops out. I always go for places with a lot of natural light. The rustic décor is really cool, and it’s a pet friendly café.
- Location – Plaza de Cascorro, 17 | 28005, Madrid (Metro La Latina)
- Tel: 91 028 25 41
- Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri 1pm/12am, Sat-Sun 12pm/1am, Tue – Closed
Tipos Infames
Tipos Infames is a bookstore/wine bar. It is independently ran and owned and one of the quieter places you can go to work in Madrid. The store itself specializes in independent literary narrative books.
It seems like a small space from outside, but there is a bookshop, a cafeteria and even an exhibition hall. If you don’t want the buzz of a café around you, this is a great place to come and work from in Madrid.
- Location – C/ San Joaquín, 3 | 28004 Madrid
- Tel: 915 22 89 39
- Hours: Mon-Sat 11am/9pm
Urraca Coffee
Urraca Cafe is right by the Madrid Rio in Puerta del Angel. The area has been getting busier over the years with the addition of a many bars and restaurants and a general revamp. It is fast becoming one of the hippest parts of Madrid.
It’s modern and comfortable, and a really great café to work in Madrid because of the location. You can have your breakfast, get a little work in, an afternoon beer maybe. Then in a few minutes you can be walking along the river taking in the best sites Madrid has to offer.
- Location – c/ Doña Urraca, 18 | 28011, Madrid (metro: Puerta del Ángel)
- Tel: 914 79 14 65
- Hours: Mon-Thu 8am/11pm, Fri-Sat 8am/11pm, Sun 8am/7pm
La Merendona
If you have a sweet tooth, it can be both good and bad for you to visit La Merendona because they have some of the best sweet treats in Madrid. The chocolate fudge cake is the one that I always remember. It’s not too sweet, the perfect balance and all around yummy.
If you can peel your eyes away from the cakes, it’s also a really great café to work in Madrid. The people that come here are really cool, the staff are very nice, loads of natural light. I can’t say enough good about this place, but you will need to try it out for yourself to see why all the fuss.
- Location – C/ General Pardiñas, 3 | 28001 Madrid (metro: Prínicpe de Vergara)
- Tel: 917 64 71 61
- Hours: Mon-Fri 4pm/8.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am/2pm then 4pm/8.30pm.
Little Big Cafe
Little Big Cafe is a small but trendy bar located in Chamberi. It’s not a very big café, but the layout with small table and chairs by the window, the black-boards they have up with the menu’s and the friendly staff make it a great little café to work from in Madrid.
For such a small place, they have quite an extensive menu too. Breakfasts, desserts, cakes, smoothies, toasties and so much more. If you are more towards the west of Madrid, you should really check this place out.
- Location -C. de Fernández de los Ríos, 61, 28015 Madrid (Metro Moncloa)
- Tel: 915 49 77 99
- Hours: Mon-Fri 10am/8pm, Sat-Sun 10am/7pm
Monkee Koffee
Monkey Coffee is a coffee shop that is mostly known for its sweet treats and coffee, as well as being a great café to work in Madrid. The large table that runs along the middle fits nearly 20 people and you still have some elbow room.
The staff here are extremely friendly and you always end up having a conversation with them while you are ordering. Get a little studying or work in then enjoy the rest of your afternoon socializing with some really interesting people.
But, you can also grab a solo seat by the window if you need to concentrate and turn that paper in. There’s a space for everyone here.
- Location -C. de Vallehermoso, 112, 28003 Madrid
- Tel: 613 00 18 38
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am/7.30pm, Sat-Sun 9am/7.30pm.
Hola Coffee
Hola Coffee take their coffee very seriously. Not in a snobbish kind of way, just that they serve some of the best coffee in Madrid. It’s located in the busy Lavapies neighborhood, but they have enough cafe’s in this area for everyone to find a space.
If you need a café work in Madrid, or if you just want to come here to sample the amazing coffee, you should pay them a visit. They also have a second location right by Plaza de España called Mision café if you find yourself close by.
- Location -Calle del Dr. Fourquet, 33, 28012 Madrid
- Tel: 910 56 82 63
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am/8pm, Sat-Sun- 9am/8pm
Nomade Café
As the name suggests, Nomad Café is designed to have a relaxed atmosphere so you feel welcome as soon as you step in. It’s also tucked away in a little backstreet in Anton Martin, so a perfect little escape if you are a little introverted.
It has a very bohemian type pf feel to it with all the books on the shelves, the music in the background always playing and all the cool people that come and go you can strike up interesting conversations with.
It is also pretty cheap when it comes to their food and drinks, so another reason its a very popular café to work in Madrid.
- Location – C. de Alcalá, 107, 28009 Madrid
- Tel: 912 897 004
- Hours: Mon-Sun 9am/8pm
FAQ’s
Can I reserve a space at the cafes?
The cafes mostly operate on a first come first serve basis, but you can reserve a table if you are going to have brunch and work at the same time.
Are the cafe’s suitable for working in groups?
Depending on the size of the café, it will be okay to go as a group. Just be sure to check the size of the place before you go.
Can I order food and drinks while working?
Of course, and I would actually encourage you to do so to make sure these independent spaces stay open for us.
Do you have to pay to use the Wi-Fi?
In all of the places I have been and mentioned here, the Wi-Fi is free.
Conclusion
So, as you can see there are many options to choose from when looking for a café to work in Madrid. Maybe you don-t need to work and just need the wi-fi because you are on holiday and don’t want to pay the excruciating tariff.
All of these spots I mention are very friendly and welcoming, have good food, good coffee, a lot of light and great staff. You should have a great experience no matter which one you choose, and you can be as social or quiet as you choose to be. There is something to suit everyone.
I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments, and also if you have found any other spots worth checking out, I would love to add them to my list of cafes to work in Madrid.