Madrid — Malasana / Universidad

Toma Cafe

classicneighborhood
Inside Toma Cafe, orange chairs and terrazzo floor beneath a framed photograph on the wall

Photo: Toma Cafe, Used with permission

Widely credited as the shop that started Madrid's specialty coffee scene, Toma Cafe has grown from a single Malasana storefront into three locations across the neighborhood without losing the unpretentious, no-frills character that built its reputation in the first place. It roasts its own single-origin beans on-site — Brazil, Rwanda, and Peru have all shown up on the board — and sells bagged coffee at the counter alongside a neighborhood bike-delivery service that's more practical than glamorous.

The flagship on Calle de la Palma set the template that the newer Chamberi branches have largely followed: simple room, serious coffee, no attempt to dress it up as anything more. A dedicated Madrid pet-friendly directory lists the Toma Cafe terrace as dog-welcoming, with house-made treats reportedly on offer — indoor policy at the original isn't separately confirmed, so terrace seating is the safer bet if you're bringing one along.