Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Hidden just off the busy shopping street, Fuencarral, Jhambala is a secret trove of food, teas and chill-out lounging. Pulling their inspiration from Buddhism, the decor is tranquil, the food tasty and the music relaxing.

During the day it’s nice to stop and have a tea from their extensive menu, a salad or one of their exquisite desserts. On a nice day, enjoy the terrace outside. At night the mood turns more festive with exotic cocktails and eclectic dishes.

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Jhambala | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish/Arabic)
Pérez Galdós 3 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915222061
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Taking a page from the success of the Mercado de San Miguel, this newly remodelled old market, el Mercado de San Anton, now has a traditional market on the ground floor, restaurant stands and shops on the middle floor, and a restaurant and lounging terrace on the top floor. There is also an art exhibition area, but the real plus is the variety of food: you can get anything from mini burgers (offered in a range of different meats – try the “buey” – ox meat!) to sushi, enjoy a tea on the terrace, or shop for fresh produce or meat. It’s a lovely feeling to see everything displayed with so much colour and freshness.

The restaurant gets overwhelmed at lunchtime on the weekends, so you might want to grab a bite from the second level and enjoy it on the terrace. We enjoyed some tapas from La Casa de Bacaloa stand, but those mini burgers keep calling me back!

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El Mercado de San Anton | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Restaurants (Intern.) | Mini burger € 2.00
Augusto Figueroa 24 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34913300730
Market Mon – Sat 10:00 – 22:00 | Shops, restaurant 10:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by E.G.G.

Since I can remember Pepe Botella has been serving the wide range of people who visit the popular Plaza del 2 de mayo. And it has looked almost the same ever since.

You can’t have a meal in this old tavern, but instead you can have a cocktail, beer or cake. It has wifi as well.

Pepe Botella is quite large and divided in several places with marble tables and wooden chairs and some comfortable red velvet sofas, all faintly lightened.

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Pepe Botella | Bars, Coffee & tea | Beer € 2.30
San Andres 12 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915224309
10:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by A. Collet

Chocolate lovers will have a place to go to have the Spanish hot chocolate, much thicker than in other countries…but so tasty!

The establishment uses only the finest cacao available, a mind-boggling selection of sweetmeats is categorized into “collections”: “flowers and herbs,” “liquors and digestives,” “gastronomic innovations,” and “spices of the Americas” to name just a few.

Aside from the coffee you have a store that sells all kinds of products made out of the best chocolate you can find… People who suffer from diabetes can also enjoy some sugar-free products as well. They have new varieties of chocolates which have weird flavours!

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Cacao Sampaka | Coffee & tea | Hot chocolate € 4.00
C/ Orellana, 4 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34913195840
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 14:00 & 15:30 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Elia Garcia

La Rochella Café is a central, warm and bright Colombian café. Here you can find specialities from that country, from a beer (3 euros) to edible stuff like Sancocho, Tamales or Arepas (14 euros) and, of course, coffees with a tropical touch (4 euros).

The place has two different rooms. The entrance, dominated by a long bar; and the space at the back, separated by a wall with arches. It’s full of little tables with candles on them at night. I never have dinner in La Rochela, because I’ve always gone to see and listen to the storytellers (many of them are South-American people) while having a drink.

All the Thursdays there is a session at the back. It’s very familiar and friendly, because there is no stage and the room is quite small, so the storytellers are very near and let the spectators participate.

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La Rochela Café | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Colombian) | Dishes € 14
Manuela Malasaña, 31 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34914464138
Tue – Fri 17:00 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 13:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by E.G.G.

Café Manuela is a very nice place, whatever the weather conditions are. I especially like it when there is no chance to sit outside, because there is a great collection of board games waiting for you inside! Trivial, Sodokus, Cluedo, Risk and so on.

They have originals natural juices (I recommend the one with apple and strawberry) for 3,50 euros, milkshakes (4 euros), cakes (4 euros) chocolates, special coffees, ice creams and cocktails. I always order a croissant filling with jam, cheese, natural tomato and oregano.

Café Manuela has an intellectual air, like old cafes where men of letters met. The cream color of the walls, the antique-style bar, chairs, lamps, mirrors, as well as the high ceilings make it very attractive. Some plants make it even more comfortable.

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Café Manuela | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Cocktails € 4.00
San Vicente Ferrer 29 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915317037
16:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by J&J Books and Coffee

Madrid’s best second-hand English bookstore also has beer, coffee, quiz nights, snacks and great company.

J&J Books and Coffee is a well-known local haven for expats to collapse into friendly English conversations (Spanish is also spoken!) and to buy second-hand books. Wednesday and Thursday nights are “intercambio” nights to chat alternatively in Spanish and English, while Friday night turns into the rowdiest collection of intellectuals competing at trivia.

During the day the upstairs bar ranges from mellow to lively for coffee drinkers and book perusers, while the downstairs is full of thousands of books.

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J&J Books and Coffee | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping | Coffee € 1.25
Espiritu Santo, 47 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915218576
Mon – Thu & Sat 11:00 – 00:00, Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sun 16:00 – 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

The busy Cafe Comercial is just off the Bilbao metro stop and by Madrid standards, huge.

You can feel the history of the cafe that has been around since 1887 – it was a meeting place for literary and artistic gatherings after the civil war (1939) and the second floor is still home to the Cafe Comercial Chess Club.

On nice days, they put tables out on the sidewalk. They have an extensive snack menu with sandwiches, and sliced ham and cheese, not to mention the variety of beverages to choose from. The prices vary from outdoor terrace to bar to tables.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Café Comercial | Bars, Coffee & tea | Sandwiches € 2.50
Glorieta Bilbao 7 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915215655
Mon 07:30 – 00:00, Tue – Thu 07:30 – 01:00, Fri 07:30 – 02:00, Sat 08:30 – 02:00, Sun 09:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid