Ministy of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Breakfast – All day
Average price per person: 15€
Environment: 9/10
Food: 9/10
Service: 9.5/10
Other: Gluten-free options, Solo dining, Pet-friendly
Website:N/A – Instagram
Watts Cantina is becoming a staple in La Latina neighborhood. Mostly famous for its pancakes (rightly so), Watts is an all-day “cafe-breakfast-wine bar” space. People come here to enjoy breakfast, one of the specialty coffees or a glass of wine in a modern setup.
We visited during a Sunday for breakfast. Since they don’t make any reservations we arrived a little before 10 am, which is the opening time on the weekend. By 10, there were already 4-5 small groups queuing for a table.
Update: I visited again in April 2025 but tried the same things as last time. Below the updated menu. My opinion hasn’t changed and for me Watts is still one of the best places for breakfast/brunch in Madrid.
Location/Environment
Watts Cantina is located right next to Plaza de los Carros. The design of the space is simple and elegant and there is a central “barra” dominating the area. It is mostly used for preparing beverages and you can also find some of the fresh pastries during the weekend.
There is also a sitting area at the “barra” and this is where the DJ decks are (for Friday and Saturday nights).
The floor has a bold green color, but the rest of the area has simple white and wood tones on the walls and tables. At the back part, you can see most of the kitchen which is visible behind a glass wall.
Menu
The menu includes different breakfast items, such as sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and the famous pancakes. The sandwich options change during the year and include variations of grilled cheese, pork, or beef.
Apart from in-house made desserts, there are dishes of the day served for lunch during weekdays. On the weekends, you can also find their pastries, such as croissants and pain au chocolat.
Service
The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Without being pretentious, they ensure you feel comfortable and have everything you need during your time at Watts Cantina. You get the feeling that everyone likes each other here.
This attitude gives you a true neighborhood and community vibe that makes you want to become a regular at this great spot. Kudos to everyone on the team.
Watts Cantina – Food
Although I am not a fan of coffee, my friends told me that the quality at Watts Cantina is excellent. Also points for the attention to the presentation. If you are not a coffee fan, there are other options such as juices, tea, or even a mimosa instead.
There is a reason that the pancakes are its most famous dish. They are served with either bacon, eggs and maple syrup or just butter and maple syrup. I opted for the former and they were fantastic.
Fluffy while still thick and not overly sweet. The bacon was perfectly crispy and the sunny side up egg had a nice runny yolk. Great-quality maple syrup was the final element of this beautifully executed dish. I rarely order pancakes when I go out, but if every restaurant made them so well, I would probably be a bigger fan.
The yogurt was topped with granola, marmalade and peanut butter. Combined with raspberries and strawberries, it was a healthy and balanced option while it remained very flavorful.
The roast beef sandwich is another great option. Very tender and juicy beef in a potato bun with salty capers mayo and pickled onions. A great sandwich for any time of the day.
The breakfast burrito was very tasty. The filling included bacon, cheese, eggs and vegetables. The spicy mayo on the side was the perfect condiment.
I highly recommend the chocolate and tahini cookie with salt. The cookie was a soft and chewy mix with big chunks of melting chocolate inside. You can taste the tahini which was a good combo with the chocolate. The contrast with the salt created a very pleasing bite.
The croissant was very buttery and airy. It has a fluffy texture and you can also get some marmalade or peanut butter on the side to fully enjoy it.
The pain au chocolat was also great. Very good consistency and great quality chocolate in the filling. You can easily compare it to one made in an authentic French bakery.
Conclusion
If you visit Watts Cantina, you will certainly want to become a regular. Friendly staff, good quality ingredients and well-thought and executed recipes. Take those and combine them with a place you can hang out during different hours of the day and you have a winning combination.
If you decide to go on the weekend for breakfast, arrive a bit early or be prepared to wait in the queue.
Visit: May 2024, April 2025
[…] they are similar in terms of the concept, Watts Cantina remains the leader in its category out of the all day cafes I tried this […]