(Sing the title, I dare you).
The past 2 weekends, I haven’t had any travel plans. (Or any plans at all for that matter). Instead of sitting and home, watching Netflix and being miserable, I figured I’d take myself into Madrid and have a little wander around the coffee shops. I find coffee shops are a safe haven for solo wanderers. I like the hum and buzz of people around me, but I can feel safe, even though I’m alone. It makes me feel like I’ve actually done something with my day.

Last week I had intended to go to J&J Books and Coffee. It’s a little coffee shop which sells English books, but when I arrived it wasn’t what I expected. It was mad busy and super loud. The ‘book shop’ was a small rack by the door of books that didn’t interest me at all. After 5 minutes of staring at the menu, about a metre from the bar as there were so many people, I left. I refused to be defeated, so headed to maps to direct me to the nearest coffee shop and I ended up in Toma Café.

I got to the till, where the menu is, to find a GRILLED CHEESE, (aka, 4 cheese panini which I’d be craving for so damn long). Toma Café I feel is very much a working cafe. The tables which are opposite the kitchen are best suited to those who have brought their laptop along and are determined to smash some work out. There are some spaces for a more relaxed few hours but, it’s a small space, so they were all taken. All in all though, would definitely go back. Its fairly reasonable, (I ordered a panini and a chai latte for €10.50), and a really cute, chilled atmosphere. Find them in Malasaña on Calle de la Palma, (just off Calle San Bernardo, which is just off Gran Vía). Nearest metro is Noviciado.

Saturday just gone I went to HanSo Café and this time I had company. It’s honestly such an unsuspecting little place. Mi amiga couldn’t find it even though she was standing directly opposite the door! This café, I would say, is definitely a mixture of working brunches and social ones. They have a great menu with vegetarian options, vegans options and a few, (only a few mind), gluten free options. I had the avocado eggs benedict, sin bacon ofc, and it was DIVINE. My friend, who is gluten free, had limited options but was happy with a waffle which looked B E A U T I F U L and a coffee which she said was the best she’d ever drank, so coffee lovers, HanSo is the place for you. I paid €7.90 for food, so a drink on top would have taken it up to about €11. Find them round the corner from Vega, on Calle del Pez. Nearest metro stations being Callao and Gran Vía.

Do yous want me to review all the coffee shops in Madrid? Because I, selflessly, volunteer as tribute.