Roaming around cobbled streets, ticking off iconic landmarks, discovering the best restaurants... city breaks are thirsty work! That’s why we’ve rounded up the best coffee spots for your next sipping spree.

Tailor Made Coffee Roasters, Athens
As capitals go, Athens is as packed with history as it is with cafés and bars. This popular pick, in the centre of the city, boasts all the latest brewing tech. Whether you’re after a cup of the house blend or you fancy trying one of their guest coffees from Colombia or Ethiopia, you won’t be short of choice. It also sells fabulous pastries, and they have their own micro-roastery upstairs.

Café Central, Vienna
Coffeehouse culture is alive and thriving in Vienna and there are few places better to embrace it than Café Central. Housed in a grand, 19th-century building with vaulted ceilings, it’s an iconic venue for good reason. It was once the meeting point where Freud, Trotsky and other thinkers cooked up and debated their ideas. Nowadays, smartly dressed waiters serve coffee and decadent cakes.

Swallow - Speciality Coffee, Alicante
Most Spaniards start their morning with a café con leche. Do as the locals do and make a beeline for Swallow - Speciality Coffee. Beyond the beverages, you’ll be impressed by the chic furnishings. It also sells house plants! An Instagram-worthy venue? You bet...

SO Coffee Roasters, Porto
This chain has a few different locations across Porto, so pull up a pew at the closest and get your caffeine fix. They prioritise sustainability, paying a premium to ensure fairness to farmers. Not sure what you’re in the mood for? The friendly staff are happy to offer recommendations!

Kaffemisjonen, Bergen
If supporting independent cafés is something you’re passionate about, then look no further than Kaffemisjonen. They champion Norwegian coffee roasters, while also highlighting a selection of international brands. Got a sweet tooth? The famous carrot cake is the perfect cuppa companion.

Caffè Gilli, Florence
Italy’s coffee culture is unequalled, and each city has developed its own style. In Florence, Caffè Gilli’s a household name with over 270 years of history. Perched on the corner of Piazza della Repubblica, you’ll find tourists and locals alike crowded around the long marble bar, enjoying their morning espresso together.

Ten Belles, Paris
Parisian cafés are all about people watching and taking a break from the hustle and bustle. High-quality, socially responsible house blends are Ten Belles’ bread and butter and there are three cafés to choose from across the city. All their coffee is roasted just outside Paris in Bonneuil-sur-Marne. The in-house pastry team will ensure you leave feeling full too.
Posted: 26th Sept 2024. Updated: 26th Sept 2024.