Some breakfasts simply get you out of the door. Others become part of the trip. EatMyTrip is the address to consider when you are hungry enough for the second kind.

Its Gran Vía location takes an international approach to brunch, with dishes such as Turkish eggs with romesco, Benedict-style eggs, bowls, French toast and pancakes that are unlikely to arrive unnoticed.

This is a good fit if your ideal holiday morning involves ordering something you would rarely make at home, adding a flat white and giving yourself time to enjoy both. Specialty coffee is part of the appeal alongside the food.

We would work it into a morning around Gran Vía rather than squeeze it into a tight gap between bookings. Think of breakfast as the first plan of the day.

A city break does not have to mean being in motion all day. Bucólico is the kind of place to consider when you would rather settle into the morning than rush through it.

The concept brings together specialty coffee, international brunch dishes and homemade baking. Natural materials and a country-house-inspired aesthetic give the space a different feel from the busy streets around Gran Vía.

Come for a full breakfast or keep it to coffee and something sweet. Either way, the setting is part of the reason to choose it: this is a stop for people who care about where they sit as much as what they order.

Its Chueca address also gives your morning a direction. Afterwards, you can continue exploring the neighbourhood, wander towards Salesas or make your way back to Gran Vía.

If you check the coffee menu before looking at the food, Geisha is likely to be the name you save first. The appeal here starts with the beans.

Geisha’s roasting approach puts attention on origin, variety and flavour profile, with coffees suited to espresso and filter methods such as V60. That makes it an interesting stop for anyone who enjoys finding out what is behind a particular cup.

Our suggestion is to leave room for a recommendation. Tell the barista whether you prefer chocolatey, fruity or lighter flavours, then ask what they would brew that day. You do not need specialist vocabulary to start the conversation.

Treat this as a coffee-led stop, with something light to eat if it takes your fancy. If your main priority is a large, sit-down brunch, EatMyTrip or Bucólico is the more natural starting point in this selection.

There is a lot to be said for a breakfast that leaves the rest of the day open. A good coffee, a little food and no need to make an event of it.

ALCHEMY fits that mood. This small café puts coffee at the centre of the visit, with espresso drinks, filter options and simple breakfast choices such as toast or something sweet.

Its location is especially useful if your plans take you towards La Latina, Tirso de Molina, Plaza Mayor or the El Rastro area. It gives you a coffee stop on that side of the centre rather than sending you back towards Gran Vía.

Pick it when you want to start well and keep moving. The attraction is the straightforward combination of specialty coffee and a lighter breakfast.

Sometimes the most useful café recommendation is one that fits exactly where you already are. If you are staying near Callao or starting your day on Gran Vía, Despacito is a convenient address to have saved.

The café combines specialty coffee with breakfast, brunch and baking, giving you room to decide how much of the morning you want to spend at the table.

Keep it to a coffee and a pastry if you have plans, or look through the breakfast options if you need something more substantial. The coffee offering includes beans from different origins, so it is worth asking what is available.

This is the practical pick for a central sightseeing day: breakfast first, then back out towards Gran Vía and the surrounding streets without a major detour.