There is no shortage of places to head to for a tasty start to the day in Cádiz. Read on for Culture Trip’s picks of the city’s best breakfast and brunch spots, and discover the best places to begin a day of sightseeing.
Located right in the centre of old Cádiz, the Italian-themed Mama Lila Café Bistrot is popular for its chilled ambience, excellent value and friendly staff. As you might expect, its coffee is highly rated (especially the cappuccinos), as are the cakes and desserts, making it a perfect breakfast or brunch spot for travellers with a sweet tooth.
Situated just around the corner from Mama Lila is La Fábrica, a funkily decorated little café that offers a set breakfast of coffee, fresh orange juice and bread with ham or cheese for under three euros. Locals and visitors alike also love the American pancakes (available with a good selection of toppings) and the Tarta Gallega – a traditional Spanish cake made from cookies.
El Lucero del Muelle looks out over the enormous cruise liners coming and going in Cádiz port. It’s popular amongst locals for its modern approach to tapas, but the kitchen also does a great Spanish breakfast/brunch. Try the churros dipped in chocolate or the simple yet tasty tostada with tomatoes and olive oil (plus jamon if you’re extra-hungry).
La Marina is an institution in old Cádiz and a favourite amongst locals for its amazing homemade churros. If you’re after a typically Spanish brunch, then, come here about 11am and join the gaditanos (as the residents of Cádiz are known) to enjoy these deep-fried, doughy snacks dipped in thick melted chocolate and accompanied by La Marina’s excellent coffee.
Situated on the lovely Plaza Candelaria, Café Royalty offers the most ornate and lavish setting in Cádiz for breakfast or brunch. Dating from 1912, it was exquisitely restored in 2008 and is now the only historically preserved romantic café in Andalusia. The star breakfast/brunch dish is, without doubt, the American-style pancakes with blueberries, banana and chocolate.
If you’re looking for a breakfast or brunch to take away and enjoy on the beach or in the beautiful Genoves Park, Pan de Aida is unbeatable. Situated just up the road from Cádiz‘s main food market, its two owners, Aida and Jill, create a delicious batch of artisan breads, gourmet sandwiches and sweet treats from scratch every day. To guarantee quality, they use only the best and freshest of local ingredients.
Preferring to describe itself as a ‘space where you can find a wide variety of products’ instead of (merely) a café, La Vaca Atada is the brainchild of Argentine entrepreneur and foodie Javier Senese. It offers a range of pan-Mediterranean and Spanish dishes for breakfast or brunch, including pastries, wraps (the salmon wrap makes for an excellent start to the day), tostadas and bocadillos.