Café Originale - Specialty Coffee — Restaurant in Bilbao

During our recent three-day stay in Bilbao, Café Originale - Specialty Coffee quickly became a favorite, leading us to visit twice. The café exudes a calm, minimalistic vibe, complemented by warm touches and a welcoming atmosphere. The owner is kind, speaks fluent English, and offers an English menu—a thoughtful touch not always found in the city.

The coffee is excellent. Our V60 brew was aromatic and well-balanced, while the flat white impressed with its creamy texture and precise preparation. On the food side, the house-made Basque cheesecake was a standout: creamy, rich, and truly memorable. Unfortunately, it was sold out during our second visit, but the fresh pastries and lunch options more than made up for it.

Café Originale is perfect for those seeking quality coffee and a relaxing spot in the heart of Bilbao. We’ll definitely be back—hopefully, to catch that...

I never usually post reviews but Café Originale is a gem. The coffee is exceptional and the atmosphere is perfect, but what made it truly special is the service, specifically from a waiter named Antoine.

We were sitting in a quiet corner, clearly a little worn out from a long day of sightseeing. Antoine noticed, and instead of just taking our order, he brought over two small glasses of water "on the house from the Bilbao sunshine." Later, when I was indecisive, he didn't just list options, he asked what I usually like and confidently recommended a perfect pastry I'd never have chosen myself.

His attitude is a rare mix of perceptive, genuinely kind, and subtly witty. He pays attention in a way that feels personal, not programmed. He turned a simple coffee break into a memorable experience. Thanks, Antoine! You’re a credit...

Deutsch:

Ich war in diesem Café, weil es sehr gute Bewertungen hat. Jedoch muss ich sagen, dass die Damen nicht freundlich waren, was definitiv nicht der sonst üblichen Gastfreundschaft der Basken entspricht. Es soll modern und hip sein, aber sie wussten nicht, was ein „Manchado“ ist. Ich habe es fünfmal erklärt und letztendlich einen Latte Macchiato bekommen.

Zudem wurde ich nicht gefragt, welche Marmelade ich möchte. Modern sieht anders aus.

Dass Laptops verboten sind, kann ich nachvollziehen, aber es entspricht nicht dem natürlichen Flow der heutigen Gesellschaft.

Zum Preis äußere ich mich nicht, da das jedem selbst überlassen sein sollte.

Ich kann diese Lokalität jedoch definitiv nicht empfehlen.

Englisch

I visited this café because it has very good reviews. However, I must say that the staff were not friendly, which definitely does not reflect the usual hospitality of the Basques. It is supposed to be modern and hip, but they didn’t know what a “Manchado” is. I explained it five times and ended up with a Latte Macchiato.

In addition, I wasn’t asked which type of jam I wanted. Modern looks different.

I can understand that laptops are not allowed, but this doesn’t match the natural flow of today’s society.

I won’t comment on the prices, as that’s up to each individual.

However, I definitely cannot recommend this place.

Español

Visité este café porque tiene muy buenas reseñas. Sin embargo, debo decir que el personal no fue amable, lo cual definitivamente no refleja la hospitalidad típica de los vascos. Supuestamente es moderno y con estilo, pero no sabían qué es un “Manchado”. Lo expliqué cinco veces y al final terminé con un Latte Macchiato.

Además, no me preguntaron qué tipo de mermelada quería. Moderno es otra cosa.

Puedo entender que no se permitan ordenadores portátiles, pero esto no va acorde con el flujo natural de la sociedad actual.

No voy a comentar sobre los precios, ya que eso depende de cada persona.

Sin embargo, definitivamente no puedo...