Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Breakfast
Average price per person: 15€
Environment: 9/10
Food: 8.5/10
Service: 8.5/10
Other: Gluten-free, Pet- friendly
Website: N/A – Instagram
La Materia Cafe opened its doors in 2025 and it specializes in mate, honoring its founder’s Latin American roots. While I have visited Latin America, I was never particularly interested in the mate experience. However, I found myself one weekend near La Materia and I decided to visit and try its mate.
Following that, I have been there several times, mostly on weekends.
Location / Environment
Located in Malasaña, La Materia cafe is in a neighborhood with a lot of competition with various coffee and breakfast spots. The space follows a clean, modern aesthetic: neutral tones, natural materials, and large windows that let in plenty of light. Seating is limited, which reinforces its intimate feel
The atmosphere is calm and respectful — laptops are common during and conversations are low-key.
Service is friendly and professional, particularly if the owner is there. I got a proper lesson on the best way to enjoy mate and the differences during my first visit there.
La Materia – Menu
The menu is concise and focused on mate. There are also coffee options as well as beverages. The food menu includes items from various countries in South America. Some examples include delicious cheese balls called Chipa or alfajores, a traditional confectionery that reminds you of a cookie sandwich. All of its products are 100% gluten free.
Since January 2026, there is a brunch menu on weekends as well.
La Materia – Food
In terms of savory dishes, I recently tried the croissant Olympico during a weekend brunch. A buttery hot croissant filled with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, hard-boiled egg, and mayo. It was simple, but I really enjoyed it. In the daily menu, there is also a regular sandwich version with bread for this dish.
Apart from the mate, which I regularly get, I always go for the alfasalchi, a version of alfajor from Uruguay. It’s made of two cookies with dulce de leche in the middle and dark chocolate coating all around. Very delicious if you have a sweet tooth.
We also tried the cinnamon roll and it was quite tasty as well.
Conclusion
La Materia Café does exactly what it sets out to do: serve a few high-quality dishes and drinks in a calm, thoughtfully designed space. It won’t excite diners looking for elaborate brunch plates or Instagram-driven concepts, but it succeeds as a reliable and comfortable place for anyone in need of a quiet break and that’s why I highly recommend it. Moreover, it actively supports the Latin American community by offering discounts to its members.
Visit: January 2026