The way people consume coffee is changing. In Barcelona, specialty coffee shops have been popping up at an astonishing pace. These days, paying €4 or €5 for a coffee is no longer unusual.
Fortunately, there are still authentic places that have managed to preserve their character and neighborhood atmosphere, such as the iconic Cafés Caracas located next to Mercat de la Llibertat, just a short walk from my home. Every now and then, especially during these warm summer days, I make a quick stop there for an iced cortado.
The coffee is good, the prices are very reasonable, and the atmosphere still feels genuinely local—something that is becoming increasingly rare.
Cafés Caracas is one of Barcelona’s most well-known coffee companies, with a long-standing family tradition. Founded in the 1950s by Pere Sabaté and Dolors Simón, it took its name from the city of Caracas, which at the time was associated with high-quality coffee. Over the years, what began as a small coffee shop grew into a network of cafés and its own roasting facilities across Barcelona.
Today, you can find more than 40 Cafés Caracas locations throughout the city, continuing to serve generations of locals while staying true to their roots.
My favorite: Café Caracas – Carrer del Cigne, 18 Barcelona
