Santa Eulalia — Restaurant in Madrid

The staff here are absolutely lovely—so welcoming and attentive, making sure you feel right at home. As a big fan of pistachios, I went for the pistachio latte with crushed pistachios, and I have to say, it didn’t disappoint. The nutty flavour was spot-on and blended beautifully with the creamy milk. The coffee itself is on the lighter side, but it worked well with the pistachio profile—really enjoyable.

Then came the pistachio chocolate cake, and wow—what a treat! The rich dark chocolate gave it a proper depth without being too sweet, and the chunky biscuit base paired with the smooth pistachio cream was just divine. The caramel topping was the icing on the cake (literally!) and added a lovely touch. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but you can tell the chef has put so much care and effort into crafting it. If you want balance, I’d recommend having it with a black coffee to cut through the richness—perfect pairing.

I also tried the smoked salmon sandwich, which was a lighter option but still packed with flavour. It came with cream cheese, boiled egg, fresh spinach, and a drizzle of olive oil, all served on good-quality sourdough. It felt fresh, healthy, and satisfying—great if you’re after something wholesome.

What really stood out, though, was the older gentleman—who I think is the chef—coming round to check if everything was alright. It was such a lovely, personal touch and really added to the experience.

One small thing: there’s no English menu, but don’t worry—I used ChatGPT to translate it for us. Here’s what it came up with:

Santa Eulalia Brunch

Eggs

Free-range scrambled eggs with Cheddar cheese + bread + fresh crushed tomatoes. €14.90 Free-range scrambled eggs with spinach and Parmesan cheese + bread + fresh crushed tomatoes. €14.90 Free-range scrambled eggs with ham + bread + fresh crushed tomatoes. €14.90 Free-range scrambled eggs with white truffle oil + bread + fresh crushed tomatoes. €14.90 Free-range scrambled eggs with bacon + bread + fresh crushed tomatoes. €14.90 Free-range scrambled eggs with sun-dried tomatoes + Parmesan cheese + bread + fresh crushed tomatoes. €14.90

Small Breads & Sandwiches

Iberian ham shoulder + fried egg + fresh crushed tomatoes. €15.50 Olive oil-marinated tuna + fresh tomato + avocado spread + boiled egg + lettuce leaves. €14.50 Smoked beef sandwich + lettuce leaves + caramelised onions + cream cheese. €15.50

Bruschettas & Salads

Norwegian smoked salmon + toast + cream cheese + boiled egg + pickled gherkins + fresh spinach. €15.50 Tomato and burrata cheese + toast + basil + burrata cheese + fresh tomatoes. €14.50 Poached egg + toast + avocado spread + Parmesan cheese + fresh spinach. €14.50 Burrata cheese salad + smoked salmon + fresh spinach. €15.50 Artichoke salad + poached egg + fresh spinach + Parmesan...

Every vacation day should have a fantastic morning. We found this great start of the day at Boulangerie Pâtisserie Santa Eulalia, close to the Plaza Mayor, in the very centre of Madrid.

José is a pastry chef certified at the prestigious Cordon Bleu school in Paris, with years of experience in the field, providing the place with a perfect mix of „savoir-faire” and „joie de vivre”.

If you are looking for a spot that blends the soft musical notes of classical arias, with modern yet genuine design, where you can be certain of tasting the finest pastries, baked daily with gourmet ingredients served alongside a quality coffee of origin then I warmly recommend that you walk through the doors of this pâtisserie.

I had the pleasure of tasting the impeccably prepared pain au chocolat which combines intense dark chocolate with butter, between a crunchy crust and then a melting interior, leaving you with the feeling of an entire Parisian universe transposed into the heart of Spain. I also tried the „palmier” which has a much crisper texture, but with a perfect structure and a dark chocolate topping to start the day with energy.

The place is beautifully decorated, even having a library that invites you to read for those travelling solo, right next to the ruins protected by a glass-wall, which once again demonstrates the unique character of the place and respect for history and tradition.

I will definitely return with great pleasure to this authentic and family-run pâtisserie every time I come back to the...

“Good Sweets and Coffee, but Disappointing in Other Aspects”

I ventured to visit this café with high expectations, but my experience turned out to be somewhat disappointing. While the sweets had a really nice presentation, and I enjoyed the Sacher cake and the coffee, there were some aspects that didn’t meet my expectations.

When it comes to the food, it’s true that the sweet was tasty, but the price took me unpleasantly by surprise. Paying €8.5 for a sweet that, although good, wasn’t extraordinary, seemed excessive. The same went for the coffee, which cost a little over three euros for a rather small cup. As a lover of discovering unique places, I was willing to pay a bit more, but I expected something more exclusive for that price.

The biggest issue I encountered in this café was its organization. I couldn’t just walk in and sit down immediately as I had to wait to be assigned a table, but there was a lack of available staff to efficiently attend to customers. On occasion, an employee, would show up and respond to my questions curtly. His attitude left a bitter taste.

In summary, this café appears to be different and promising, but in my opinion, it falls short of expectations and doesn’t offer good value for money. If you’re looking for quality sweets and coffee, it might be an option, but be prepared to pay more than you’d expect and endure poor...