Best Remote Work Cafes in Spain

This post is updated periodically.

Part of the appeal of being a digital nomad is blending necessary work with mind-blowing adventures. What’s the point in living this lifestyle if you’re not aroused every day from city to city, right?

This could be the reason the Iberian Peninsula is an alluring destination for freelancers, artists, and even people in tech. The area combines today’s pop culture (i.e. multiple Game of Thrones locations) with magnetic historical sites from antiquity. It’s giving a healthy dose of visual stimulants for your TikTok or IG grids.

Spain had a huge influx of international migrants moving in as residents, up 138% from 2021 to 2022. The number of registered employees who started working from home doubled since the pandemic, and Madrid hosts the largest group of them in the country. Spain also introduced a Digital Nomad Visa program recently, making it easier for more eligible expats to live and work in Spain for up to one year.

A surge of remote workers and typically smaller European apartments means competition is high for finding places to work remotely. Below is a list ranking the most ideal coffee shops where you could comfortably set up shop, be productive, and enjoy a meal or two.

The cafes are rated on a 4-point scale and can earn 0 to 1 point for each of these categories:

Food: every cafe's menu is evaluated for tastiness and menu variety.

Work Environment: we assess the available seating, power outlets, and noise levels to guarantee a conducive/spacious layout.

Location: proximity to the city center, public transportation, and local attractions are considered, in case you need a short break.

Wi-Fi Strength: a reliable connection is essential, and we'll rate each cafe's internet service consistency to ensure the least disruption.

Religion Cafe | Madrid, Spain

2.5 overall rating

Food: gets half a point, more because of taste versus variety. The menu is decently priced and has interesting items like Turkish eggs benedict. However, the flavor fell flat, even when the presentation was Instagram-worthy.

Work Environment: a 0.7 score for this category because the cafe is quite compact. You may fight over power outlets or find yourself interrupting other guests’ meals when trying to plug your cords in next to their table. You don’t need to be clinically claustrophobic to feel way too close to your fellow patrons.

Location: the cafe is not a close walking distance from central metro lines. A few bus lines that’ll get you to the city center are approximately eight minutes away by foot. If you have the time you can take the 20-minute walk toward the famous Goya Street. 0.3 total for this category.

Wi-Fi Strength: the cafe gets its highest score in this category. It earns a 1 out of 1 because there was barely any interruption despite being crowded nearly all the time. The network name and password are very clearly painted on the wall so you avoid the awkwardness of trying to find or ask for it.

Slow Cafe | Madrid, Spain

3.1 overall rating

Food: this is the only category where the cafe gets less than 1 point. Expect more traditional Spanish brunch (e.g. prosciutto and olive oil on toast, Spanish omelet) with little fanfare. It’s fine if you just need something to hold you over until you go for a proper lunch break.

Work Environment: probably the most spacious of all the cafes. There’s a long couch near the entrance that fits at least four people with laptops, multiple tables for two in the center, and barstool seating across the windows and walls. Very quiet and calm even during peak hours. 1 out of 1 point.

Location: based in La Latina, you can easily walk to major tourist attractions like Plaza Mayor and Palacio Real de Madrid. The metro line is only a 2-3 minute walk away and allows for easy transfer to other metro lines going to more popular sites. 1 out of 1 point.

Wi-Fi Strength: connection was never an issue, and the baristas are more than happy to give you the network passcode no matter how many times you ask. 1 out of 1 point.

Hanso Cafe | Madrid, Spain

3.6 overall rating

Food: when restaurants label their items with “New York Style” or any other famous American city/cuisine, I get very worried about the quality. But Hanso’s Bacon Egg & Cheese bagel did not disappoint! It’ll never replicate the exact taste of the famous NYC bodega sandwich, but it’s definitely a refined version of it. There are so many other delicious options available on the menu, and the cafe serves specialty coffee and tea drinks to complement them. 1 out of 1 point.

Work Environment: you will struggle to find power outlets, though, which was disappointing for such a spacious cafe with great food/drinks. However, if you bring your own power extension cord you’ll find the perfect seat at a bar stool facing out the window to the street (perfect for people watching and fresh air). The cafe’s playlist will make it hard to concentrate, because all you’ll want to do is sing along to the best R&B, rap and alternative music on rotation. Not bad, in my opinion. 0.6 out of 1 point.

Location: very central location, 1 minute away from the Opera metro station and short walking distance to the major shopping center of Madrid. You can get your errands done in between breaks, and come back to continue working if you’d like. 1 out of 1 point.

Wi-Fi Strength: connection wasn’t an issue, and the password is pretty easy to remember (hansocafehansocafe). 1 out of 1 point.

Gosto Cafe | Madrid, Spain

3.5 overall rating

Food: variety is lacking on the menu, but the food is decent. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the freshly squeezed lemonade with mint. 0.5 out of 1 point.

Work Environment: seating could be more comfortable, but it isn’t the worst. There’s primarily barstool seating facing the wall, with enough power outlets and space between customers. It is conducive for holding work calls and getting into the flow. 1 out of 1 point.

Location: the most central of locations, with the best taco restaurant less than a mile away (more on this restaurant in another post). You’ll have a hard time deciding where to dine or hang out next when you’re off the clock (that’s a good thing). 1 out of 1 point.

Wi-Fi Strength: not a problem, but the hosts could do a better job of displaying the network log-in information. But we won’t punish them for that - 1 out of 1 point!

This list will be updated periodically, so check back in for more options across more cities.