This isn’t London, but British tea-room style tea shops have their place in the crowd of specialty cafeterias that have flourished in Madrid. Now that minimalism has colonized most of the new openings, we are grateful for the romantic and vintage air that survives in these spaces that, although they are not exclusively dedicated to tea, they do preserve that spirit.
1. Salon des Fleurs
If the coquettestyle, with its pink bows and lace, had an official physical space in Madrid, it would be the Salon des Fleurs. The charm of this space is that it straddles the line between a flower shop and a tea shop. You can enjoy a coffee or tea, accompany it with one of their sandwiches or sweets (made by themselves in their workshop) and take a walk around the store, where you will find everything from flowers and plants to decoration accessories or stationery.
106 Guzmán el Bueno Street (Chamberí)
2. Sucre Tea Room
Away from minimalist trends, Sucre is full of Art Nouveau references and vintage decor vintage that make it even more appealing to order a tea with a cloud of milk accompanied by a croissant or a homemade cake. This tea shop, where hanging lamps abound and tea is served in Sargadelos cups, is ideal for extending an afternoon tea party breakfast or even have a snack, since they are open until 7:45 pm.
📍 Calle de Casado del Alisal, 16 (Downtown)
3. Teapots
The translation of this site’s name is literally teapot, so there’s no way to go wrong. There is only one possible chin chin here: that of the teacups. From this small place with a terrace, which is in the vicinity of the plaza Mayor the tranquility of this pedestrian street so central is surprising, which together with its specialization in Japanese tea and its more modern aesthetics differentiates it from the rest.
📍 Calle de Postas, 26 (Downtown)
4. La Duquesita
La Duquesita is a pastry institution in Madrid that has also been able to reinvent itself over the years with a modern tea room in the adjoining premises. Its artisanal sweets have been part of the city since 1914, although now at the helm of its recipes is Oriol Balaguer, who, among other awards, has been named Best Pastry Chef by the International Academy of Gastronomy 2018. I had tea and coffee here, and they also serve all kinds of delicious chocolate and wafers from Madrid, a traditional classic that is falling into oblivion.
fernando VI Street, 2 (Salesas)
5. Bloom
When talking about bucolic spaces and charming in Madrid, ‘Bloom’, in the neighborhood of Argüelles, is a must for anyone who likes flowers. This Instagrammable space has decor so meticulously manicured and ornate that it is reminiscent of the rococo style of early tea rooms. On the upper floor there is a covered terrace, while on the lower floor there is a large space with tables, a glassed-in reserved area with a stained-glass window and a gazebo.
In addition to its famous brunch, here they serve afternoon tea almost like London, with an assortment of sweet and savory treats served on three-tiered platters and accompanying the tea with a Bellini cocktail.
📍 Calle Alberto Aguilera, 54 (Argüelles)