€€€€
CaféCentroWifi
Cafe de Oriente on Plaza de Oriente in Madrid faces the Palacio Real, with the chocolate con churros tradition, a fin-de-siecle dining room and a terrace.
DrinkCafe con leche
TipOpen daily 09:30-24:00. The terrace (12 tables) faces the palace; the inside is wood-panelled and full of red velvet.
€€€€
CaféCentroWork-friendlyWifi
Cafe Gijon on Paseo de Recoletos in Madrid is the 1888-founded literary cafe that hosted the post-civil-war tertulia (literary discussion circle) of Cela.
DrinkCafe con leche
TipOpen daily 07:30-01:30. The breakfast set runs 6 euros; the terrace under the trees is the seat to book in summer.
€€€€
CaféMalasanaWork-friendlyWifi
Cafe de Ruiz in Madrid's Malasana is the wood-panelled neighbourhood cafe since 1981, with the cake counter, daily-changing brunch and the marble tables.
DrinkCafe con leche
TipOpen Mon-Sat 09:00-22:00. The weekend brunch (12 to 16 euros) runs from 11:00; walk-in only, no reservations.
€€€€
CaféMalasana
Bianchi Kiosko Caffe in Madrid's Malasana is the Italian-Spanish corner cafe pouring proper Bianchi-roasted espresso, with a four-stool counter.
DrinkCappuccino
TipOpen Tue-Sun 09:00-20:00; closed Monday. The cornetto with espresso runs 3.50 euros; standing room at the counter.
€€€€
CaféMalasanaWork-friendlyWifi
Ojala in Madrid's Malasana is the daytime cafe and evening cocktail bar with the famous beach-sand basement (Ojala Beach), serving brunch upstairs.
DrinkBrunch coffee
TipOpen daily 09:30-24:00. The basement Ojala Beach with sand floor is the room locals send first-time visitors to see.
€€€€
CaféMalasanaWork-friendlyWifi
La Bicicleta Cafe on Plaza de San Ildefonso in Madrid's Malasana is the laptop-and-flat-white coworking cafe since 2009, with a sofa-strewn back room.
DrinkFlat white
TipOpen daily 09:00-24:00. The back-room sofas are the laptop seats; the front terrace is for the social crowd.