11 Best Cafes in Barcelona for Specialty Coffee & Seating
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While Barcelona has no shortage of cafes, we found it tricky to find a place where we could sit down and enjoy a specialty cup.
The city is packed with hole-in-the-wall cafes for take-away only or larger cafes for brunch. Neither is really our thing.
So during our last housesit in the Gràcia neighborhood, we set out to find the best sit-down coffee shops in Barcelona that serve excellent coffee.
And we weren’t disappointed!
While we had some of the best cups at Brew Coffee, Warung Cafe and SlowMov, we also got transported back to our time in Guatemala and Colombia, where we learned all about coffee on farms.
At La Mala Cafe, you can choose from different beans sourced directly from Guatemalan farms, while Parcelona gets all of its coffee straight from Colombia.
But every cafe on this list had to meet our coffee criteria first:
- Sit-down friendly – Must have decent seating and proper ceramic cups. Because specialty coffee deserves better than a paper takeaway cup!
- High-quality beans – We look for high-grade, preferably single-origin beans that aren’t over-roasted. Light to medium roast is our favorite.
- Ethically sourced – We prefer cafes that have a direct relationship with farmers so they get paid fairly for their hard work. Not every cafe on our list has direct contact, but many do.
So if you are a coffee lover (or snob 🙃) like us, we highly recommend visiting one or all of them!
We also noted which cafes are laptop-friendly if you’re looking for somewhere to work, something we always do as digital nomads.
Except to pay around €2.80 for a specialty cup in Barcelona. We often shared an Americano or batch brew because they are potent!
1. Brew Coffee
- Excellent coffee, service & cheesecake!
- Seating: Indoor + outdoor
- Laptop-friendly: Yes
- Instagram: Brew Coffee
- Address: Carrer de Roger de Flor, 102, Eixample (Google Maps)
We discovered Brew Coffee while walking through town.
It caught our eye because it has a fairly large indoor and outdoor seating area and some delicious-looking cheesecake! 🍰
We don’t often buy cakes at cafes, but we are glad we did this time.
It’s a Basque-style burnt cheesecake, so it’s super creamy and soft. I usually like my cheesecake more solid, but this one was perfectly done.
We got an Americano with it, which was slightly acidic but with a strong fruity, berry flavour. It was my favourite cup of coffee in all of Barcelona!
Brew Coffee nailed everything, in my opinion. The staff is friendly, and there is enough seating for working and relaxing.
Before or after, I recommend wandering through Ciutadella Park, one of the best free things to do in Barcelona nearby.
2. Ambar Specialty Coffee
- Rotating beans from different roasters
- Seating: Indoor
- Laptop-friendly: Yes
- Instagram: Ambar Specialty Coffee
- Address: Carrer de Provença, 341, Eixample (Google Maps)
I immediately liked Ambar when we first walked in because it has a spacious and bright interior.
There is plenty of seating, and it was nice and quiet despite the roadworks that were happening right outside.
It’s in Eixample, so it’s a perfect spot to refuel after visiting the Sagrada Familia. It’s rare to find a specialty cafe with much space to sit around there.
The staff were super friendly and made an excellent cup of coffee.
We ordered an Americano, and it had a nice fruity, almost sweet flavour with no bitterness at all.
Apparently they rotate through receiving beans from different roasters. So you can dry different beans at different times of year.
Ambar does all the simple things right, and it is a nice, relaxing cafe that I could visit every day if I lived nearby.
3. Warung Cafe
- Chill vibes and a chocolatey batch brew
- Seating: Indoor + outdoor
- Laptop-friendly: No
- Instagram: Warung Cafe
- Address: Carrer de Sardenya, 116, Sant Marti (Google Maps)
Warung Cafe had one of my favourite seating areas of any cafe we visited in Barcelona.
It was a sunny day, and there was a nice breeze coming through the open doors that looked out onto a nice green, leafy street.
Plus, there was great music playing and friendly staff. That is all you really need for a great cafe, but it can be surprisingly hard to find in Barcelona!
The coffee at Warung Cafe was also great. We got a batch brew, and it had some nice chocolatey and fruity notes.
Even though the tables are large enough to work at, I noticed a sign saying that it’s not a co-working space. So be mindful of that if you want to do some work.
4. Amauta Coffee Bar
- Best single-origin coffee in Gràcia!
- Seating: Indoor + outdoor
- Laptop-friendly: No
- Website: Amauta Coffee
- Address: Travessera de Gràcia, 90, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi (Google Maps)
Amauta Coffee Bar is an awesome cafe that really goes the extra mile to make sure they source the highest quality and most ethical beans.
The cafe was started by a Barcelona local who first became passionate about coffee while living in Peru.
He started a cafe in Lima, sourcing beans directly from local farmers. It got recognized as the best cafe in all of Peru!
After this success, he decided to start a cafe in Barcelona while still sourcing beans directly from Peruvian farmers.
That’s why you will notice most of the beans they use are from Peru. 🇵🇪🦙
We had an Americano and it was very good. Zero bitterness and a slight earthiness, which I really enjoyed.
We also enjoyed the atmosphere inside. There are a few small tables to sit at, but considering the limited space in Barcelona, quite a few people can sit down.
There are also a few small tables to sit at outside, making it an awesome place to enjoy a coffee outside on a sunny day.
5. La Mala
- Speciality coffee from Guatemala
- Seating: Indoor + outdoor
- Laptop-friendly: No
- Website: La Mala
- Address: Carrer de Floridablanca, 119, Eixample (Google Maps)
Guatemala was surprisingly one of our favourite countries to visit for coffee, and La Mala only serves Guatemalan coffee, so we had to visit.
And as soon as we arrived at La Mala, we knew we had made a good choice.
Both of the girls working there were super smiley, and a great playlist from Guatemala was playing, which you can add to your Spotify account via a QR code on the table.
The seating area inside La Mala is quite small but enough for a few people to sit comfortably.
There was even someone on their laptop, although I wouldn’t recommend spending long as it is a small space.
We ordered an Americano, and I liked that it had the nice golden-brown colour of a medium roast.
Many of the coffees we have tried in Barcelona tend to be a bit darker roast, so it was nice to try a lighter one.
I really enjoyed the coffee. It had just a slight bit of acidity with a nice fruitiness and zero bitterness. It reminded me of the amazing coffees we had in Antigua. 🌋🇬🇹
La Mala could easily be my go-to coffee shop if I lived in the neighbourhood because of the great coffee, friendly staff, and super chill music.
I recommend combining a visit with the nearby contemporary art museums MACBA and CCCB, which you can visit for free on certain days of the month!
6. Nook Coffee
- Little, super cozy neighborhood cafe
- Seating: Indoor
- Laptop-friendly: No
- Instagram: Nook Coffee
- Address: 13 bis, Carrer de Marià Cubí, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi (Google Maps)
Nook Coffee lives up to its name because it’s a tiny little space. But it’s cozy inside, and they serve excellent coffee.
We tried the batch brew and it was super fruity, which we love. In fact, so fruity that it almost tasted like a fruit tea! 🍓
What we really liked about Nook was how friendly the staff were. They greeted everyone with a smile, and it made the small space feel very inviting.
Surprisingly, they also serve food, as the table next to us was eating breakfast. So if you want to grab a bite to eat, it looks like a good spot too.
I would like to return soon to try out their espresso, as I am sure that tastes great too.
7. SlowMov
- Know all the farmers personally
- Seating: Indoor + outdoor
- Laptop-friendly: No
- Website: SlowMov
- Address: Carrer de Neptú, 36, Gràcia (Google Maps)
The first time we arrived at SlowMov, we didn’t go inside because there was big and loud construction nearby. But we were glad that we decided to return.
Both times we arrived, the cafe was packed, and that is because they are serious about their coffee.
The owners have visited all of the farms that they source their beans from. So they have a long-term relationship and know that the beans are great quality.
The seating area is not huge inside, but there are several tables, with some large enough for groups as well.
I have to admit the service was not the friendliest, although maybe the staff was just a little stressed because it was so busy.
But the coffee was definitely high quality!
We got an Americano and a filter coffee. The Americano was quite acidic but had no bitterness, and the filter coffee was nice and fruity.
There was a lively atmosphere inside, and it was a great place to just enjoy a coffee and have a chat.
8. INDO Specialty Coffee & Brunch
- Excellent coffee & healthy food in El Born
- Seating: Indoor
- Laptop-friendly: No
- Website: INDO Specialty Coffee
- Address: Carrer del General Álvarez de Castro, 5, Loc 1, Ciutat Vella (Google Maps)
INDO is a chill little spot in the middle of El Born with fantastic specialty coffee.
El Born is a maze of narrow alleyways that block out light, so it can feel quite dark in some spots.
But INDO is nice and bright inside, and they really made use of the small space they have.
The owners focus on high-quality beans and healthy food. We didn’t try any of the food, but it looks good!
We had an Americano, and it was very good. Slightly acidic with no bitterness and a slight caramel, chocolatey flavour.
Where INDO wins is having the best tableware. They have custom-made cups and saucers that are beautifully made!
They were also playing great, super chill music. Overall, I think Indo is one of the best cafes to stop and relax in while you are exploring El Born.
For example, the Picasso and the World Cultures Museum are just a few minutes away, which I highly recommend visiting. You can get into both museums for free!
9. The Miners Coffee
- Best cafe to work online
- Seating: Indoor
- Laptop-friendly: Yes!
- Website: The Miners
- Address: They have a few locations in Barcelona, but we went to Rambla del Poblenou, 27, Sant Marti (Google Maps)
We have been to The Miners Cafe in Prague, where we crowned it one of the best cafes in Prague.
So we already knew it would be a solid choice when we saw they had a location in Barcelona.
And it didn’t disappoint!
Like the one in Prague, it’s a very popular place to work online, with many outlets and people behind laptops speaking English.
But at the same time, it still felt like a nice place to enjoy a specialty coffee rather than just being a giant co-working space.
We had an Americano, which was a very solid cup of coffee, quite acidic and a bit fruity.
So if you are a digital nomad in Barcelona, I highly recommend coming here!
The location in Poblenau is right on a beautiful leafy avenue and just a few minutes walk from the beach, where we went afterwards.
10. Maktub Specialty Coffee
- Modern cafe close to the Sagrada Familia
- Seating: Indoor
- Laptop-friendly: Yes (a dedicated table)
- Instagram: Maktub Coffee
- Address: Av. Diagonal, 298, Eixample (Google Maps)
Maktub is a sleek, modern cafe close to the Sagrada Familia. We were glad to visit on a hot day because there is air conditioning and a nice indoor seating area.
It is right on Avenida Diagonal with nice views of the palm tree-lined street outside.
We ordered a large Americano, and it was massive! I literally felt like drinking out of a fishbowl, which made us laugh (and happy).
Even though it was large, it did not lack in flavour.
It was quite acidic with a slight fruitiness and no hint of bitterness, which is what I like and seems to be a theme in Barcelona!
The staff wasn’t as friendly as in other places, but apart from that it’s a super solid cafe.
We walked to the second-hand flea market El Encants afterwards, which is just a few blocks away, and one of Barcelona’s best free attractions I recommend visiting.
11. Parcelona Cafe
- Neighborhood cafe with Colombian beans
- Seating: Indoor + outdoor
- Laptop-friendly: Yes
- Instagram: Parcelona Cafe
- Address: Carrer de Bilbao, 68, Sant Marti (Google Maps)
We were a little apprehensive when we arrived at Parcelona Cafe in Poblenau. At first, it did not look like a cafe we would like, based purely on how it was decorated.
But I really enjoyed our visit, particularly because of how friendly the staff was.
We first fell in love with Colombian coffee during a visit to a coffee farm in Medellin, and we really felt that Colombian friendliness from the staff here.
Our server was smiley and super helpful, which is something that can be missing from other cafes in Barcelona.
We ordered a filter coffee, and although I thought the beans were a little over-roasted, man, was it strong and cheap!
Both of us were buzzing afterwards, and we only shared a €1.70 cup!
I recommend going to Parcelona for a friendly local cafe experience. It is not your typical specialty cafe, but that is one reason I liked it.
And the decoration is spot on, as we have seen it in many cafes in Medellin!
It will also not be full of foreigners on laptops if that is something you want to avoid.
What To Do After Your Coffee
I hope you enjoy your time visiting all the best specialty coffee shops in Barcelona. We for sure did!
The list is not complete, but since we return every summer for a housesit in Barcelona, we will keep adding our latest coffee finds.
If you are looking for more fun things to do beyond sipping coffee, check out our favorite free Barcelona activities packed with local spots and street festivals.
You especially need to see a correfoc (fire runs) and the famous castellers building a human tower!
Plus, many of the cafes on this list are easy to combine with a visit to our favorite free Barcelona museums, which are so worth seeing.
Better to save the ticket money for another cup or two of specialty coffee. 😉 Enjoy!
READ ALSO
- Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Barcelona
- Best Areas & Places to Stay in Barcelona
- Explore Barcelona’s Best Neighborhood Gràcia
BARCELONA TRAVEL CHECKLIST
These are the exact sites we use whenever we stay in Barcelona. For more, check out our Slow Travel Resources.
✔ TrustedHousesitters – How we stay in Barcelona for free by pet sitting! Use code TRUSTED15 for 15% off your membership.
✔ Saily – The eSIM we use for mobile data in Spain. It’s set up in minutes and includes free NordVPN security. Use code NOMADS9597 for $5 off!
✔ Wise – The free travel debit card we use for all our daily payments and ATM withdrawals in Spain. It lets us hold and convert euros at the real exchange rate without hidden bank or markup fees.
✔ SafetyWing – The travel health insurance we use for all our trips, including Spain. It’s super easy to start or cancel and only costs us about $2/day. Click the pink camera on their homepage and use code NOMADSBEYOND for 2 months of free electronics coverage!
✔ AllTrails – Did you know there’s lots of nature around Barcelona? We always find local trails and hikes on AllTrails – it’s free!
✔ GuruWalk – Our go-to site for free walking tours in Barcelona. We find it the best way to explore a city and get cool local insights from a guide. So if it’s your first visit, make sure to join one.
