Who doesn’t love a good slice of cake and cup of coffee? Wandering the streets of Barcelona exploring the sights can leave you peckish… so why not stop off at one of these fantastic cafés for afternoon tea?
Café Cosmo
Located just off Plaça Universitat in Eixample, Cosmo is a unique destination for someone looking for something a little arty and interesting. Exhibiting the latest local art alongside serving delicious food and a vast array of hot drinks, Cosmo has it all. With spacious wooden tables ideal for having a morning coffee with your girlfriends, to smaller tables for more intimate dates, it caters for everyone. You will always find it bustling with people, from families entertaining their children and students on study breaks, to tourists popping in for a coffee and adults on their lunch breaks, the atmosphere is lively and energetic. The hot drinks menu is endless, including the classic café con leches and cappuccinos, various types of normal and herbal teas, dreamy vanilla chai lattes (highly recommendable!) and green tea lattes; the list goes on. Pairing this with one of the delicious cakes on offer will definitely satisfy any mid-afternoon cravings. From luscious red velvet, gorgeous coffee and walnut cake and scrumptious carrot cake, to delectable chocolate chip cookies and mouth-watering brownies, the bakery at Cosmo is the best of the best.
Café Cometa
Cosmo’s sister café, located just off Ronda Sant Pau, offers exactly the same delicious treats in a different location. Smaller than Cosmo, but with two floors, Cometa boasts a vibrant and friendly atmosphere. With outdoor seating permanently in the sunshine, head here for a sunny afternoon tea to keep the spirits up and brighten any mood.
Federal Café
With two branches, one in the lively Sant Antoni and one in the heart of the bustling gothic quarter, Federal is an Australian café renowned for its innovative approach to food, coffee and healthy eating, based on a unique blend of English, European and Asian cultures. The branch in the Gothic Quarter is bigger, more spacious, with an open plan table system, friendly staff, and impeccable service. The Sant Antoni branch is smaller, but with different levels, providing a more intimate setting, including the sunshine-flooded roof terrace, highly enjoyable throughout the summer months. Federal boasts the best café con leche I have found so far in Barcelona – it’s smooth, rich but not overwhelming, and poured with milk frothed to the perfect temperature. For non-dairy fans, a choice of nut and vegan milks are also on offer. The enticing selection of tasty cakes on offer makes Federal a winner for a comforting coffee and cake at any time of day. Ranging from the classic carrot cake, cupcakes, cookies and moreish brownies to more unique recipes such as pear and amaretto slices, and the delightful gluten-free apricot, pistachio and almond cake, the selection is irresistible.
Brunch and Cake
Located just up the road from the idyllic Café Cosmo, Brunch and Cake is the perfect location to spend a sunny lazy afternoon. Under the well-established Cup & Cake umbrella, a collection of shops scattered throughout Barcelona boasting spacious, open plan interiors, natural light, delicious brunch, coffee and cakes, Brunch and Cake offers any passer-by a delicious coffee and cake at any time of the day. Well-known for their enchanting menu filled with an exceptional selection of food, be prepared to be spoilt for choice. Coffee lovers will be satisfied with their delightful café con leches, americanos and cappuccinos; paired alongside their incomparable homemade nutty banana bread or coconut bread you will never leave unsatisfied. Make sure to also check out their all-day brunch menu, one of the best that this city has to offer…
Cup and Cake
Head over to Cup and Cake, the sister shop of Brunch and Cake, to delve into their vast selection of irresistible cupcakes on offer. The menu is extensive and exclusive, ranging from the most popular choice of Red Velvet, to classic chocolate flavours such as Oreo, Kinder, Nutella, to more delicate choices such as Tiramisu, Crema Catalana and Greek yoghurt, and introducing the new Vanilla Latte and Carrot cake. By far the most exciting and enticing selection of cupcakes you’ll find in the centre, Cup and Cake is well worth the visit.
Lukumás
Lukumás, named after the Greek word for ‘donut’, is a lively and bustling café in the heart of El Raval. Renowned for its wonderful selection of bagels, donuts and cakes, Lukumás is the ideal destination for the classic Spanish ‘merienda’, ‘afternoon snack’. The carrot cake served here is highly irresistible, and paired with a classic organic café con leche, makes the perfect teatime treat. Lukumás specialises in donuts, both sugar-glazed and filled, and does not disappoint. Nestled in the edgy neighbourhood of El Raval, between Universitat and Saint Antoni, Lukumás attracts all kinds of people, from families, students and tourists, to workers on their lunch breaks and children keen to try the delectable array of treats on offer, there’s something for everyone.
Satan’s coffee corner
Satan’s coffee corner, situated in the bustling gothic quarter, is a distinctive little coffee shop offering an enchanting selection of drinks, food and cakes. A unique and characteristic space, originally once just a take away shop but now fully catered for drinking-in, offers seasonal coffee from around the world, from locations such as Ethiopia, Colombia, Morocco and Jamaica. The aroma and flavour of their coffee served is different yet addictive, made special by the combination of aromatic beans, advanced machines and skilled baristas. A coffee stop here is not one to be missed.
Photo Credits, Instagram: @katyahoile, @hannahwhitfield, & @emma_sellers
