Coffee Safari | Malasaña
A famous name & a new find.
The HM Coffee Map
L'Orangerie
Is now closed.
On El Tenedor
Lurking in C/San Joaquin, in what used to be a proper bar (well, one you had to be a bit brave to go into for the first time), the rejigged L'Orangerie has crepes, coffee and cakes on offer. Carrot cake was today's choice, sitting on the counter, beckoning at us. Like cake-keen mariners haunted by a vegetable-based, bakery siren, beached on the stainless steel countertop rocks of its Mediterranean islet, we were drawn towards it. There was a hefty touch of cinnamon topping and while tasty, it might have been yesterday's. It had lost a bit of its natural moisture.
We were soon diverted by the appearance of some undeniably Madriddy coffee, complete with (madroño-less) bear, giving it a Paddington hard stare. Amusing, cleverly done and the sort of thing that gives good Instagram. Multiple milks are on offer, as you'd hope.
L'Orangerie has the added bonus being quieter than many places around, while still offering decent coffee and table space for those in need of l'aptopperie. The soundtrack's eclectic enough, going from Debussy, via L'ed Zep and finishing with a touch of la francaise. As it were.
Coffee 👍👍👍👍
Bakery 👍👍👍
Comfort 👍👍👍
Service 👍👍👍👍
Toma, Calle de la Palma
http://tomacafe.es/
Per person Coffee €2-€3
Probably the best price/quality caffeine combination in Malasaña, Toma's popularity knows no bounds, especially with North American and Asian visitors, to the point where the faithful or curious can often be found queuing outside before opening time. Cafe lattes are smooth and, an important test, perfectly tasty without sweeteners. No bad thing at all, that.
Toma was refurbished in Summer 2018. Presumably worked out by a passing Gallifreyan, an innovative island replaced the counter and somehow manages to make a small space seem noticeably bigger.
It's an unarguable success. The seating's not going to win many comfort awards, though. Wooden benches and high stools around the walls are OK. The mini tables might leave some thinking they're sharing more personal space than they wish, but have a handy shelf underneath - although one customer's decision to bring their own bottle of Font Vella didn't feel quite the done thing. However, while the multi-colour plastic upturned ice bucket stools are surely practical and stackable, they don't look likely to have you lingering long.
Popular, and with an excellent balance of price to quality, it's just a shame the decision seemingly had to be that comfort can't match the coffee.
Coffee 👍👍👍👍👍
Comfort 👍👍👍
Service 👍👍👍
A famous name & a new find.
The HM Coffee Map
L'Orangerie
Is now closed.
On El Tenedor
Lurking in C/San Joaquin, in what used to be a proper bar (well, one you had to be a bit brave to go into for the first time), the rejigged L'Orangerie has crepes, coffee and cakes on offer. Carrot cake was today's choice, sitting on the counter, beckoning at us. Like cake-keen mariners haunted by a vegetable-based, bakery siren, beached on the stainless steel countertop rocks of its Mediterranean islet, we were drawn towards it. There was a hefty touch of cinnamon topping and while tasty, it might have been yesterday's. It had lost a bit of its natural moisture.
L'Orangerie has the added bonus being quieter than many places around, while still offering decent coffee and table space for those in need of l'aptopperie. The soundtrack's eclectic enough, going from Debussy, via L'ed Zep and finishing with a touch of la francaise. As it were.
Coffee 👍👍👍👍
Bakery 👍👍👍
Comfort 👍👍👍
Service 👍👍👍👍
Toma, Calle de la Palma
http://tomacafe.es/
Per person Coffee €2-€3
Probably the best price/quality caffeine combination in Malasaña, Toma's popularity knows no bounds, especially with North American and Asian visitors, to the point where the faithful or curious can often be found queuing outside before opening time. Cafe lattes are smooth and, an important test, perfectly tasty without sweeteners. No bad thing at all, that.
Toma was refurbished in Summer 2018. Presumably worked out by a passing Gallifreyan, an innovative island replaced the counter and somehow manages to make a small space seem noticeably bigger.
It's an unarguable success. The seating's not going to win many comfort awards, though. Wooden benches and high stools around the walls are OK. The mini tables might leave some thinking they're sharing more personal space than they wish, but have a handy shelf underneath - although one customer's decision to bring their own bottle of Font Vella didn't feel quite the done thing. However, while the multi-colour plastic upturned ice bucket stools are surely practical and stackable, they don't look likely to have you lingering long.
Popular, and with an excellent balance of price to quality, it's just a shame the decision seemingly had to be that comfort can't match the coffee.
Comfort 👍👍👍
Service 👍👍👍