Santiago de Compostela is a city in the region of Galicia, Spain, filled with culture and beautiful architecture. Take in all its beauty from the comfort of a cozy chair in one of the city’s best cafés featured in this list.
La flor is a cute, kitsch café where odd bits of antiques decorate the walls with trendy music in the background. Delicious food is prepared in a Gallican world-fusion style, serving up everything from traditional Galician tapas to Mexican dishes. A wide selection of teas and quality coffee make this a perfect spot for an afternoon pick-me-up, and their range of gin & tonics makes it worthwhile to hang around into the evening.
With chairs so comfortable you may never want to leave, Café Tertulia has that welcoming vibe that just lures you in. And if you’re an expat missing home, this is the place to come for nostalgia, as they serve both American and English style breakfasts. Buttery, soft pastries and typical café con leche are served throughout the day, although the breakfast here is the star of the show.
O mundial serves excellent coffee, freshly baked cakes and a variety of meals from all over the globe. The menu represents a brilliant mix of cultures and cuisines and it’s veggie-friendly too, offering a large selection of meat-free mains. Try a sandwich with your coffee and have a chat with the friendly staff, it will make you feel at home in the Galician capital.
Café Venecia is a sophisticated bar-café whose décor draws its inspiration from the beautiful city of Venice, carnival masks hanging on the wall and all. This is perhaps the most famous café in the city, and its popularity is well earned, their Italian coffee machine produces coffee of incredible quality. You’ll also receive a free tapas to nibble on for every drink you order, a great incentive to hang around while you sample what they have to offer.
Located in a modern part of town among other popular coffee shops and bars, Fraiche serves up great coffee alongside a wide array of crepes, the perfect place to sit back and relax while you take a break from sightseeing. As well as crepes, Fraiche offer a great value set lunch every day, so if you’re hankering after a more substantial meal this is a great option.
Bicoca is slightly hidden away, but seek out this café located by the entrance to the old town and you will be glad you did. The café serves delicious coffee, a wide variety of teas and they also offer some excellent brunch options every Sunday. If brunch doesn’t take your fancy, there’s also some wonderful Gallician tapas available.
If you’re a fan of all things floral, El Romero is the place for you. All coffee is served in cute floral cups and the décor rings much to the same tune. For those with a sweet tooth, the cake tapas is a great idea for trying a bit of everything. They also serve some absolutely divine mini cupcakes, almost too pretty to eat. For the warmer days there’s a lovely patio where you can sit back and relax while you sip one of their many teas and coffees on offer.
If you’re looking to try some local sweet treats look no further than Cafe Iacobus, whose quality pastries and homemade churros fill the street with the aroma of freshly baked (or fried, as is the case with churros) goods. They have several locations in the city, and it’s been said that this is the best place to try tarta de Santiago, the deliciously moist almond cake typical from the region.
Head to Tosta e Tostiña if you like cake, or cupcakes, to be more specific. And who doesn’t like cupcakes? This sweet little spot will satisfy your sugary cravings with some brilliant specials, including a delectably rich chocolate Guinness cake. If you don’t fancy something sweet you can just opt for a cup of their quality coffee or choose one of their many herbal teas.
A traditional Spanish café, SCQ has the advantage of being spacious, making this a truly chilled place to spend time. A great place to bring your laptop to work, this café’s comfy chairs, their tasty coffee and general relaxed vibe make it the perfect place to laze the afternoon away.
