Fortunately for us coffee lovers, Barcelona has some of the best cafeterias in Spain. A short walk will lead you to coffee shops serving some of the best espressos in Barcelona. The Catalan capital is famous for its world-class gastronomy, a quality filtering into the Barcelona café culture.
Coffee is a vital part of the lives of Barcelona residents and visitors, whether grabbing coffee to go, socialising, or needing high-speed Wi-Fi. It is essential to find a great café.
So, here is a guide to 12 cool cafeterias in Barcelona.
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12 cool cafeterias in Barcelona you don’t want to miss
Barcelona is brimming with passion and creativity, two essential qualities in serving the perfect espresso or Cortado. So, if it’s a lazy, relaxing cup of coffee on an Autumn evening, an espresso on the go, or a bite to eat, we’ve checked out and found 12 of the best coffee shops in Barcelona.
Federal Cafe
Federal Cafe has three of the best coffee shops in Barcelona. The first is near the iconic La Rambla. The second is in bustling Sant Antoni, and the third is in Poblenou, a hub for hipsters and start-ups.
Federal Cafe takes inspiration from the same-named sleepy town in New South Wales. A place where all there is to do is sit back, drink good coffee and dream. Federal cafes provide plenty of space for chilling, working, or studying. The coffee shops are incredibly laptop friendly, with quiet out-the-way seating and free Wi-Fi.
The Barcelona cafés also have great lounging chairs and rooftop terraces to relax and enjoy freshly roasted coffee.
Breakfasts and brunches are popular, with favourite choices including,
- Avocado toast for €9.80
- French toast for €8.90
- A morning hamburger at €10.50
- An espresso is €1.70
- A cortado is €1.90
The Federal Cafes are open Monday to Sunday, 09.00 to 16.00.
Espai Joliu
Previously a cabinet shop, Espai Joliu is a concept store that retained the decor as its former self, symbolic of Poblenou’s former industrial past. The unique Barcelona coffee shop has a rustic, arty feel and offers a space to enjoy specialty coffee. Books, plants, and local ceramics created by local artists are all for retail sale and make a great Barcelona souvenir. They provide a small laptop area, but mostly the plant concept store is a place for unwinding.
Espcai Joliu serves some of the best coffee, pastries, and a few extras, such as avocado toast.
Espai Joliu is open
- Monday: 09:00 – 17:00
- Tuesday: 09:00 – 16:00
- Wednesday to Friday: 09:00 – 17:00
- Saturday: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm.
- Sunday 10:00 – 17:30
Nomad Coffee Lab
Nomad Coffee started as a coffee cart in London after founder Jordi Mestre learnt his Barista skills in the city. Jordi went on to successfully compete at several Barista championships before opening one of the best coffee shops in Barcelona. He now has two locations in Barcelona.
They roast their own coffee beans and experiment in their Barcelona coffee lab to achieve amazing coffee, including their popular Cold Brew.
Nomad Coffee is a hidden cafe tucked away in a side street of Barcelona that attracts serious coffee lovers. They have built a reputation for being one of the best coffee shops in Barcelona.
They focus on good coffee, so don’t expect croissants and cakes.
Nomad Coffee Lab is open Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 6 pm.
If you want to experience Nomad’s coffee at home, they have an online shop selling specialty coffee and a coffee machine. They also sell courses, so you can learn how to brew quality coffee at home.
Morrow Coffee
Morrow Coffee hit the Barcelona cafe scene in 2017. Professional and friendly baristas serve specialty coffee from the beans they roast. It attracts locals and tourists who love their good coffee, and en route to Spotify Camp Nou, the café is in the perfect location near Barcelona city center for a caffeine fix.
Due to their highly-regarded reputation as one of the best coffee shops in Barcelona, Morrow gets busy, so you might have to queue. They seem worth the wait for excellent coffee and delicious sandwiches.
They have a webshop where they sell a variety of coffee beans and filters.
Their opening hours are 8.30 am to 5 pm, except for Saturday and Sundays, when they open at 9 am.
ART i SA
Two sisters opened the specialty coffee shop Art i Sa in 2009. They share a passion for food, love Barcelona and are keen travellers. They wanted to provide somewhere for like-minded people to take time out and relax. Their café is in the famous Gothic quarter, a few steps from La Rambla.
They serve organic coffee and eggs and are introducing vegan options. Their breakfast menu and home made cakes taste great and include,
- Homemade croissant and ham for €3.80
- Banana Bread €3.80
- Cappuccino €2.50
- Matcha latte €3.50
The opening hours are,
- Sunday to Thursday, 9 am to 11 pm
- Friday, Saturday, 9 am to 12 am
Three Marks Coffee
Three friends called Mark founded The Three Marks in 2018. The specialty coffee shop in Poblenou, Barcelona, roasts its own beans and serves seasonal coffees. The cafe is compact, modern, and minimalist, with a cool and classy vibe, with a popular outside sitting area to watch the world go by. The clientele combines workers busy on laptops, locals and tourists enjoying the local vibes.
The staff at the café are skilled at what they do in making the best coffees. They serve cold brew coffee priced at €4.00 for a small and €4.50 for a large.
They also serve nitro cold brew for added smoothness and velvetiness at €4.50.
Three Marks Coffee serves a small selection of food. However, it is all about serving the best coffee at Marks Coffee. It is one of the best coffee shops in Barcelona.
They sell coffee bean bags, Aeropress, cold drip coffee bags and accessories.
The café in Barcelona is open,
- Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 5.30 pm
- Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 7 pm
Little Fern
Little Fern is one of the best coffee shops in Barcelona, with a laid-back atmosphere and friendly service. They serve a high-quality breakfast menu inspired by New Zealand and worldwide cuisine. The popular cafe produces delicious healthy food and vegan options, including,
- Kimchi pancakes for €12.50.
- New Zealand-style fritters for €11.50
- Turkish Eggs are available at €9.90
- Flat white for €3.00 and €3.50
It is a bustling little cafe, so expect to queue at peak times. However, waiting times tend to be short, and a shady area exists to stay under.
The opening hours for Little Fern cafe are, Monday to Sunday, 09.00 to 16.00. The kitchens close at 15.30.
Skye Coffee Co.
If you are a huge fan of delicious coffee and vintage vans, this cool espresso bar is a must-visit. The 1972 Citroën HY van sits inside the Espacio 88, a large event warehouse in Barcelona. It makes for a buzzing, trendy hangout to plan the day’s good ideas, whether work, catching up or sightseeing.
The café sells specialty coffee at its best, in the simplest form, without creams, syrups, or spices. You can buy an espresso, V60, or with milk. The speciality coffee varies due to seasonal changes, and their leading supplier is Spanish.
They sell a few pastries to enjoy with your coffee, porridge, and chia pudding to kickstart your energy.
Skye is one of those amazing places for coffee lovers. They don’t mess around with it. There is free wifi, so perfect for networking and brainstorming for digital nomads and businesses to have the best coffee in a good cafe.
Skye Coffee are a regular at the Independent Barcelona Coffee Festival, which they co-founded and host. They also feature in the Barista Magazine Online.
Their opening hours are, Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 1.30 pm.
Café Cometa
Café Cometa is a charming café in the Sant Antoni district in Barcelona. It is small and cosy, with an outside eating area, good vibes and a popular lunch menu.
Lunches include a variety of salads and open sandwiches, such as salmon, goat’s cheese, and chicken.
They serve delicious cakes. The chocolate croissant is a gooey treat, and they have some of the best coffee in Barcelona.
The quirky café opens daily at 9 am and closes at 10 pm, Monday to Wednesday, and 11 pm, Thursday to Sunday.
El Bosc de Les Fades
One of my favourite places on this list is a magical fairytale setting which makes this café in Barcelona one of the most unique. It is part of the Barcelona wax museum and is a fantastic place to escape the bustling of La Rambla and step into a fantasy world.
As you walk through the café, El Bosc de les Fades, disguised as a darkly-lit forest, you will discover waterfalls and fairies. There are several rooms in the bar, and in the largest, a thunderstorm occurs, and the room goes dark. However, don’t worry, you don’t get wet.
The café serves good coffee, hot chocolate, and a range of cocktails. The food served is a range of burgers, sandwiches, and fries, with some hot tapas.
Due to the Barcelona cafe’s magical theme and location, close to the Gothic quarter and El Born, the café is popular with tourists during the day, particularly families with children.
The opening hours of the café are Monday to Sunday, 10.30 am to 00.30 am.
Lato Café
Lato Café is one of the best cafés in Barcelona. It has a Peruvian style with fun and quirky llama decor, and the fantastic food has a hint of Peru. They have an excellent reputation for a warm, friendly welcome and great coffee.
- The scrambled eggs come with plantain, pork, and cheese for €9.50
- A vegan option is the Vegan Party. Waffles piled with vegetables and avocado for €12.00
- The café serves great Matcha lattes at €3.60 and a flat white for €2.70.
Lato Cafés opening hours are 10.00 am to 15.30 daily, although they are closed Tuesdays.
Coffee Casa
Philipp, the founder of the café, found inspiration from San Francisco speciality cafés and decided to set up his own venture in the elegant El Born area in the old town of Barcelona.
They are highly reviewed as one of the best cafés in Barcelona, serving a range of speciality coffee, filter coffee, chai latte, and matcha latte.
The café is popular with tourists visiting the Picasso museum and locals popping in on their coffee break.
Coffee Casa‘s opening hours are 8.00 am to 9.00 pm, seven days a week.
FAQs
What coffee is popular in Barcelona?
Renowned for its coffee culture, the locals of Barcelona drink a lot of espresso-based coffee. Five versions of these espresso-based coffees consistently top the list as the most popular. Their popularity ranking can change with the seasons, so this list is not in order.
1. Café Solo is an espresso shot on its own.
2. A Cortado is a 50/50 espresso shot and steamed milk.
3. Café con leche is 50/50 espresso and scalded milk giving a very different texture to a cortado.
4. Americano is espresso and water.
5. Café con hielo is an espresso served with a separate glass of ice and is a favourite summer drink.
Does Barcelona have iced coffee?
Cafe con hielo is an iced coffee. An espresso shot is made in the usual way and served alongside a glass of ice. You prepare your espresso shot to your taste with sugar and or milk before pouring over ice to drink. Not to be confused with the American version of iced coffee that uses brewed coffee instead of espresso.
What is the traditional coffee in Barcelona?
Café con leche is the most commonly ordered coffee in Barcelona. It is usually enjoyed at breakfast as the quantity of milk is too much following a meal.
What does a coffee shop mean in Barcelona?
A coffee shop in Barcelona can refer to a private members-only coffee shop where it is legal to buy and smoke cannabis. People must be over 21, and strict rules exist on how much an individual can purchase and consume. To become a member is also tightly regulated, and a member needs a Spanish residential address.
These coffee shops are very different from the vast majority you see everywhere in the city, where you walk into and order a coffee.
Final thoughts
Barcelona delivers in cafés serving some of the best coffee in Spain. The Catalan capital is a vibrant cosmopolitan city attracting highly-skilled baristas from around the world. Numerous avid travellers experience speciality coffee globally, returning to Barcelona with their findings to open unique independent cafés. Barcelona is becoming home to some of the best coffee shops in Spain.
If you want to visit more fascinating places in Spain, check out