Federal Café

Nestled in the heart of Madrid, Federal Cafe offers a delightful blend of Australian charm and Spanish vibrancy. This cafe is a hidden gem, seamlessly merging indoor and outdoor seating that spills into a picturesque central courtyard. It's an ideal spot, whether you're seeking a quiet morning coffee or a lively evening with friends. Inside, the ground floor exudes a cozy, inviting atmosphere, while downstairs reveals a spacious area accommodating up to 40 guests, complete with pristine, well-maintained restrooms. The service is impeccable, characterized by sharp efficiency and friendly smiles. Federal Cafe's menu is versatile, catering to all hours of the day. Our breakfast experience was a highlight, featuring avocado toast topped with perfectly poached eggs and crispy bacon—absolutely splendid. This cafe is a must-visit for anyone exploring Madrid, offering a warm and welcoming retreat amidst the city's hustle and bustle. Highly recommended!

I don’t know where I have found the recommendations of this place, but it was disappointing. Food looked much better than tested. Cheesecake was weird. The only good were coffee and handsome barista who made it for me 😌

I’ve been to all Federal cafes in Madrid, over the past 5 years, and have been impressed by quality and taste. This time, I don’t feel the same. We ordered 2 plates: tomato provolone rocket croissant and the banana pancakes. The croissant came with a large black bug melted into the cheese, in a very visible location that it’s strange the staff didn’t see it before we did. The provolone had a strange smell, particularly bad, as if it had been sitting out unrefrigerated. The pancakes were sweet and had their delicious flavor, but were notably smaller in portion that previous visits (and as noticeable in photos posted here). Rather than 3 pancakes, it came with two small pancakes. Previously this would be a plate to share, though now I recommend ordering pancakes individually here. The coffee I ordered came after the food, not all uncommon during a Sunday brunch, though also had a green food crusted onto the inside of the glass. Overall, a disappointing experience and not true to previous visits. It took a long time to receive the bill. We will be hopeful for the next meal if we return!

The place was lovely, situated in a quiet area with plenty of shade. The food was super tasty and reasonably priced. I arrived early, and the terrace was empty, but by the time I left, people were queuing to be seated. To make the most of your visit, it's best to arrive early!

The brunch is 11/10! We loved it so much that we came here twice. Service isn’t great but food 100% worth it. The charcoal latte is amaaaazing!

This cafe is overrated and does not live up to the hype. We ordered an avocado sandwich, but it was disappointing in taste. We also ordered pancakes, and unfortunately, found a hair in them. I wouldn’t recommend this place."

Federal is one of the most popular cafés in Madrid, and it's for good reason. The food and coffee are both amazing. We went around 10am on a Saturday and there were tables available. I'd recommend the Banana Pancakes (add some bacon!) and the Iced Latte. The bar seating near the window also makes for a good view for your brunch.

It's one of the favourite cafes where you can start your day and enjoy your breakfast. Their Avocado Toast is amazing, as well as their shakshoka.

Awesome spot! Very spacious, two floors and in a cool neighborhood. The food was tasty and they had some healthy options. Good coffee, different turmeric/other juice and shot options. Good service, really nice place.

Not quite a 3, but closer to a 3 than 4. It was an ok breakfast in a beautiful space. The ladies working were attentive and polite. This is more like a cafe students come to study. Not too much on the menu.

Ordered a smoothie that said apple, strawberry and banana. They were out of apple juice so instead came orange juice. I thought that was even better. But I went in for the sip and the "smoothie" was just orange juice with a chunk of strawberry that didn't get blended and 2 floating banana pieces. Strangest smoothie ever. Even in Spanish, a batido, but nothing had been batido-d. Coffee wasn't bad - go there for that.

Cute cafe with plenty of indoor and outdoor dining. We stopped in while sight seeing and enjoyed a chai latte as well as an Americano. Service was friendly and lots of natural light to watch outside traffic while relaxing.

Started every morning of our week long Madrid stay at Federal so it's safe to say we were devoted fans by the time we bid adieu to the city. Service is a bit slow as expected in Spain but when you're here, no rush! Enjoy the tranquility of it all :) Love the modern brunchy vibes and the delicious food. You won't find anything authentically Spanish here just your usual modern brunch food but it's a great break in between the savory cuisine you're bound to enjoy throughout the day and a yummy coffee to kick off the sightseeing with. I opted for chai tea lattes and vanilla oat lattes the times I went. Stellar place will def be back next time I'm in the city.

After traveling overnight and landing in the early morning, we were looking for a good breakfast. We checked into Hotel Montera and the girl at the desk gave us a short list of places nearby and Federal Café stuck out from the egg bake photos. We walked through Plaza de Sol and sat at a cute outdoor table. We started with a couple flat whites which were delicious and ordered two of the egg bakes to share. One was the bacon and the other was the shakshuka. They were both delicious but I think I liked the shakshuka a little more. It was such a relaxing atmosphere and the perfect spot to rest up after a long day of travel.

To quote a diner, this is more of a European restaurant than a Spanish joint. Astonishingly all of my neighboring tables, be they from Finland, Germany, or Southeast Asia, were speaking to each other in English. That's not a criticism of the atmosphere; it's just an observation. What makes this place not worth the visit is the total lack of seasoning in the entrees. How can cheese, hazelnut crème fraiche, mushrooms, and baked eggs come out so bland? The food is pretty enough and it's in a nice secluded courtyard. But I didn't really enjoy anything I ate. The waiter I had was obviously uncomfortable speaking in English, although the other woman to whom he deferred was.

If you're craving an American-style brunch in Madrid and aren't scared off by a long line, Café Federal is the place to go. So far, I've tried their French toast and their banana pancakes (both were good, but I'd recommend the pancakes). The ambience inside is lively and service is fast. I didn't love the specialty coffee -- it was a bit watered-down for my taste -- but I appreciated the variety on the menu. Would go again!

loved this little cofe! perfect spot for a drink, coffee or a mid-day snack. the service was friendly and i loved the hummus

American style brunch in the Barrio de La latina area. There was a line when we arrived but the plaza this restaurant is located in is so cute yet very quiet and local art vendors had booths set up to display art. It was a good 20 min wait before we were seated. I had the avocado toast with pumpkin seeds and husband got the oven baked eggs with bacon, both delicious and fulfilling. They had the Mumbai chai (Indian tea) which I got very excited to try but it was disappointing and didn't taste much like the name claimed. Not a bad drink, just a different take on it with primarily hot milk and spices and less caffeine. I would skip this next time. We even got a croissant to go. I think they also have several locations in Barcelona, we came across one out there.

This is my number one favorite specialty coffee place in Madrid. I am a huge coffee lover and I search everywhere to find a great place that makes bold, energizing coffee. So to search coffee that has added flavors like vanilla or different oat milk you have to search "specialty coffee" on google. Oat milk is called leche de avena. This place was a short walk from plaza de España and a must go. I arrived at 10am on a weekend and shortly after the entire place was filled up and a line of about 15 people waiting. The coffee is absolutely the best specialty coffee in Europe. Again my opinion but this is after traveling to so many countries & really getting that caffeine boost and flavor I love. I had the cappuccino with leche de avena and my god that was exactly what I was looking for. Perfect amount not too much milk and bold caffeine with a sweet flavor. I can not ever forget about the French toast fruit breakfast with the sweet plantain. It had a strawberry sauce glaze on the bottom with fruits all over. I finished the entire thing so quickly it was that good. Mision has the best delights !!! When I visit Madrid again I 100% will be back again

Great food and great service! Loved the ambiance. Nice outdoor seating in the plaza. Great selection of coffee, juices, egg dishes, pastries and both savory and sweet options. Would definitely go back!

This was my go-to breakfast spot when I Studied abroad in Madrid. Everything on the menu is great but the ambiance is hard to beat and the area is so cute. This is the perfect place to order a savory and a sweet dish to share. Don't forget a cafe con leche ;)

Hands down, one of the best breakfasts I have ever had. Every single dish was delectable and the coffee was delightful. And special shout out to the honey and smoked salmon pancakes. Never in a million years would I have thought that would be a sane combination but it was SO good.

We came to Café Federal for a late breakfast one morning in Madrid. Free wifi is a big plus for those traveling abroad without a data plan. We were seated quickly and there's lot of outdoor seating available. My chai latte was just ok- I wouldn't order it again though. My girlfriend and I shared banana and mascarpone pancakes (very good) and a cauliflower toast (wouldn't order again). It wasn't our favorite place but they did have a lot of other things on the menu that looked good so would be willing to give it another go.

Ventured here after having Spanish breakfast for too many mornings and this place hit the spot! I had the poached farm eggs on sourdough toast topped with smoked salmon and macadamia pesto and O.M.G., I can honestly say it was the best tasting pesto sauce I'd ever come across. Super fresh ingredients made our dishes flavorful and satisfying. Highly recommend if you're looking for a hearty, healthy and fresh breakfast.

When visiting Madrid with my gf, this was a great stop for brunch! There's plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. English menus available for those that don't speak Spanish. I got a cafe con leche which was great but my gf's chai was a bit watery. Our food was great, artfully plated and came out promptly. Prices around 10 euro per plate. A solid place and would come back!

Great breakfast in Madrid. The portions are large though, so you could totally share and have plenty for two. The staff were excellent. Food was delicious and fast. I would definitely eat here again.

Delicious. we came two mornings in a row because it's so delicious! açaí bowl is fantastic and the avocado toast. highly recommend. Friendly staff that speak english and they have an english menu if you need it! wish i lived close.

This place came highly recommended from friends who studied abroad in Madrid, and based on their recommendation, and the fact that there are tons of really positive reviews of this place, I was slightly disappointed with our brunch. The space is really cute and has a Coworking area if you wanna bring your laptop. You can make reservations online, but we went on a weekday and didn't make reservations and were able to be seated immediately as a group of four. everything about breakfast was honestly just slightly underwhelming. the eggs Benedict was fine, but the holidays could've used some additional seasoning. The pancakes were OK. The halloumi shakshuka was probably the most disappointing, they were completely unseasoned and unsalted which is NOT how shakshuka is meant to be. The highlight for me was the fresh juice that we got but honestly the food was so mediocre that I have to take away two stars. I will admit it is totally possible that we just ordered wrong because again lots of people are into this place, but if I was to come back, I would use the coworking space, get a juice, and maybe try something else.

Such a cute little spot, the food was good but there isn't a lot of options. What we ordered was delicious though!

Delicious!!! I had the eggs Benedict. Coffee ... kids had the pancakes and loved them. Place is sharp. Clean. Friendly staff. Spoke English and Spanish.

Worth the wait here! This was one of the places we enjoyed eating while in Madrid. We came here for brunch and I ordered the Morning bacon burger. It definitely tastes better than it looks! It was really good to my surprise. My cousin ordered the Morning hamburger and my aunt ordered an egg dish which came in a skillet. We also ordered the fluffy pancakes to all share. We all enjoyed our brunch and was fully satisfied with the meal here.

Excelente sitio para brunch. Lla huevos benedictos con salmón y la good morning hamburguer ÉPICOS. 10/10

The Shakshuka is amazing and I love their iced vanilla latte. The eggs were very very over cooked in the Shakshuka, which was the only disappointment. Would definitely have it again, though!

Best breakfast/brunch spot I been to in a while! The fluffy banana and praline pancakes are scrumptious, and the best on the menu. The veggie burger is really delicious too. Prices are very reasonable and portions are a good amount. I recommend visiting this cafe if you're in the area. Also WiFi is free and service is quick.

A bit tricky to find. But once you do, you will find this place that it's a nice and relax breakfast/brunch restaurant...the iced coffee with Oatmilk and Vanilla syrup was delicious. For breakfast we picked the shakshouka with chorizo (as pictured)

The morning before we had to leave, we had our last brunch at federal cafe. It was raining that morning, but, it does not seem to phase the people to Spain to eat outside. It all seemed to natural, i love it! We joined the crowd outside. The waitress was so patient with us. We had a group of 12, it couldn't be easy i imagine.. especially because we were foreigners. The avocado toast was one of my faves, but you can't really go wrong with avo toast if you know what i mean. The eggplant was a bit strong on the alcohol ... but i love eggplant. The fritters were okay, and the Benedict's were rich, so that's always good. Overall , i liked it

Friendly staff and nice vibe inside. The green salad and hummus were delicious but their quinoa and sweet potatoes were a bit bland, lacking seasoning and matcha latte had very little taste of matcha. Overall a solid choice to find a relaxing and casual lunch with plenty of healthy choices.

Good place for breakfast. Had the brioche sandwich with ham, cheese and spinach. The bread was soft and they put a lot of spinach on it, which was great. Long black coffee was small and not the greatest I've ever had, but fine. Prices were ok by Madrid standards. Not cheap but not outrageous. Overall a decent place with fresh food.

The service was super slow. We were instructed to sit anywhere we wanted, and waited 5 minutes after being seated and never got a menu. We decided to go to the front and get our own menus. After ordering our food, it took them over half an hour to get the food. It appeared that they were catering towards the people sitting outside and took their presence as priority. My eggs Benedict with smoked salmon was good, but the egg was colder than room temperature. Usually in many restaurants, it should be warm/hot and that was not the case here. I also order homemade fries which were a bit crunch but most were soft and soggy. In addition I ordered a lime chipotle sauce, but was given a spicy mayo sauce. My wife order an egg with spinach, her spinach was half burnt (black). And she didn't finish more than half her dish. When we were ready to leave, we asked for the check and waited more than 5 minutes, nothing!!! We went to the front of the restaurant and demanded our bill so we can leave. A group of 8 followed, I guest they weren't being service correctly as well. I'm not sure how this place is so popularly rated in Google or tripadvisor, but I definitely will not be coming back here. Both the food and service was lacking.

I can't say enough about this place! When I travel, I love trying new places, but after trying the coffee and food here, I came back 3 times during my stay! I loved everything about this place... I looked for an iced vanilla latte throughout my entire Europe trip, and this was THE place to go. Not only did I order one during my meal, but also took one to go every day! I ordered a skillet dish- omelet, spinach, mushrooms, cheese, and a side of toast with peanut butter and jelly. The food was plenty! You can come here to work, but there are assigned tables for computers. There is indoor and outdoor seating in addition to a downstairs area to sit.

Glad we found this nice clean breakfast nook near our hotel. The service was excellent as was the food. Definitely recommended!

Excellent! Great service great food. The pancakes were my favorite. Also had the eggs scramble, very good.

This place was pretty good overall. The food was very good for a light breakfast type of place. The service however was tremendous. The waiters moved fast and were very attentive even though they were busy. Together we ordered 3 different dishes. The egg Benedict with salmon. It was probably the best dish we got. The Hollandaise has sauce is really good and the salmon tasted fresh. We also got the breakfast burger with bacon and egg. Be warned this is not American bacon it not crispy it's actually more like a strip of ham but it was still good. The final fish we ordered was the French toast which was also very good. It came with blueberries which was a nice touch. For drinks we got a cappuccino which was very pretty to look at as for taste it was ok. Overall I would definitely recommend this place for those in the area looking for a breakfast or light lunch.

Federal may be the quintessential brunch spot if I've ever seen it. It's got excellent decor and is exactly the type of hip establishment you'd expect to find in either of the East or West Villages in New York. It's also very affordable and has great food to boot, so consider that a 3/3. I ordered the toasted brioche with shoulder ham and cheddar cheese (5.40€) and added spinach (extra 1.40€). The sandwich was delicious! It was very filling and rich from the brioche, and the cheddar provided a nice, sharp note which was grounded by the spinach. All of the ingredients complemented each other extraordinarily well, and the only downside to the dish was the chalky feeling left on the teeth as a result of the spinach (but that can't be helped). It was super filling and I left completely stuffed by the time I left. The service was also great as well, and all the waiters were very friendly and willing to provide answers and tourist advice upon request. Additionally, and I've never seen this before, but each of the menu items has numbers listed next to them which tells you what allergies the items might affect. There's a key in the menu which tells you what numbers correlate with what allergies. I think that's an excellent idea that should be more widely implemented as it leaves the guesswork out of the equation.

If you want something more than the typical churros and chocolate type of breakfast, this is a good place to be. I have dietary restrictions that prevent me from eating anything with wheat and dairy, so breakfast was a problem during my stay in Madrid. I found Federal Cafe on Yelp. It seemed to have more variety regarding breakfast. It's kind of hidden behind a famous food market. They have tables outside and it's quite pleasant in the morning if you don't mind people smoking at the tables around you. I ordered scrambled eggs with spinach, and it was quite tasty. Everything else that tables around me ordered seemed fresh and well-made. Two stars down for the service, though. The servers seemed overwhelmed and just did the bare minimum. I had to wait a long time to get their attention, and they barely looked at my face. Took the order, brought the food, and disappeared. All the while with a sullen face. No greetings, no asking if the food is good, or checking if I needed anything else. I would've gone there every morning since they offered something rare in terms of breakfast, but I didn't like being treated like a nuisance. Instead, I went to a local place where I was treated with a smile and a "buenos dias" and had tortilla and coffee for breakfast for the rest of my stay there. Offering good food is a huge plus, but customer service is just as important.

Só good amazing food I don't remember much but that's all I can give you right now hope it helps

One of our favorite places to eat in Madrid on our 10 day trip through Spain. We ate their twice because we enjoyed it so. A place where you can sit down and get something other than just pastries for breakfast in Madrid. The egg sandwiches and french toast was delicious!

Came here after reading this was worth a visit while visiting Madrid. Despite the cute outside and inside I would have to say pass. If you're in the area, check it out. If not, don't need it. Staff was nice enough and was able to get us out in the time we asked them. Space us obviously cute and liked how they have designated tables for study and for eating and drinking. There's a downstairs as well. As for the food I just didn't get it. We ordered the egg with mushrooms and spinach with buttered the toast. The mushrooms were fresh and tasty but it could be chopped into thinner pieces making the bite easier/better. The bottom layer of spinach was ridiculously burnt. There was a hazelnut creme fraiche that didn't make sense and didn't go with the dish at all. The toast was the star of this dish. Nice and buttery but not too much and had a nice crunch. We also got a mixed berry and cream on a French baguette. Again. the star of the dish was the baguette itself. The side of caramel didn't make sense with the dish and was straight up caramel. Maybe I mixed soemthing.... ? The fresh squeezed orange juice was delicious.

LOVED this Cafe spot. Honestly the best and strongest Coffee coming from California, trying a few spots. Honestly the Breakfast is pretty good too. The Food is fresh and tasty, on top of the atmosphere.

Cute breakfast spot. The candied pancakes were definitely worth the 20 minute walk from Puerta del Sol. I believe they added lemon ricotta- delicious! French toast- meh..just okay. They have a nice selection of cakes and cookies. They look super tasty, I would have glad imbibed, but my pants were too tight. Next time in Madrid- I'm getting some cake!

Simply in love with Federal Café. It's a must for brunches, the variety of their menu is amazing and one visit is not enough to try all the tasty items. The late menu (starting after 1pm,except for sundays) also offers a great selection. Definitely recommend the chicken and halloumi sandwich. In addition to the great food, Federal has amazing staff that makes each visit a pleasure!

Right next to the San Miguel Market, the Federal is a great place to get a nice big breakfast or brunch. I had the large chai which was divine and banana pancakes with a side of eggs.

Awesome cafe, probably one of my favorites here in Madrid. The food was delicious and the service was extremely prompt. Everything here looked amazing and tasted just the same. It is a busier cafe, but don't worry a seat will show up!

Federal Cafe was a favorite for us - we went twice during our quick stay in Madrid! It's clean and minimalist on the inside, with Australian cafe vibes + perfect for us "basic" girls. The breakfast menu has egg dishes, salads, toasts + more, and all the coffee options your heart could desire. My friend loved her golden latte. We both had the SHAKSHUKA and devoured it. It wasn't too spicy, and the addition of labneh gave it a creamy mouthfeel. Served with toasted and buttered bread, it was the perfect hearty meal to start a day of sightseeing. This is great for those looking for a healthier meal or something more reminiscent of what they may brunch on in America. Definitely check it out!

Delicioso! Me encanto el ambiente y por supuesto la comida y café. Local está solo y nos atendieron fenomenales.

This place is something special. Had this place on my list before I got here and it still exceeded my expectations. The food was amazing, the staff was great, and the location has a nice quaint feel to it. This place became my wife's got to breakfast spot. We ended up here twice mainly because the coffee is by far the best we've ever had. Day 1: We has the Morning bacon burger and the French toast. Both had a Spanish twist on it that we weren't used to being from the U.S. but both were superb. Day 2: We had the pancakes, eggs and bacon and Crossaints with ham. Everything was cooked to perfection.

It's nice to find a place that doesn't have the usual Spanish tapas. My husband and I have been all over Spain for the past month and although I like having tapas, you get tired of them quickly. Yes this is a more American inspired place, but the food is just delicious. We've already been here twice and they still have the best cafe con leche (I order with leche de avena). If you want a filling and delicious breakfast, come here and you won't regret it.