No hands, no training wheels and caffeinated
** DRINK COFFEE (Madrid) **
C/La Palma, 49 - 917025620
In the Madrid neighborhood of Malasaña you will find Toma Café, a small place with an exquisite café where bicycles are more than welcome. “At Toma Café we believe that there is nothing more stimulating for the body and mind than starting the day with a good coffee and a bike ride”, says Santi Rigoni, one of the owners of the establishment. In 2011, this Independent Cafeteria (as they define themselves) came up with the idea of promoting coffee to go. However, its patrons can't resist sipping coffee inside, where a city bike hangs from the ceiling next to the bar, or a handlebar serves as a knob on the front door. And the best of all: bikes can enter. “Madrid is not prepared for cyclists and finding safe places to leave the bike is complicated, that's why, even if the place is small, we always let the bicycle in”, Santi tells us. The coffee menu is a pleasure for the five senses : his Marzocco GB5 machine prepares everything from the classic Ristretto to the most sophisticated Caramel Macchiato.
Welcome bike!
**THE CYCLIST (Barcelona) **
C/Mozart, 18 - 933685302
A bicycle hanging on the wall, tables made of wheels, old bike posters and numerous cycling motifs welcome us to Bar El ciclista, a cocktail bar located in the Gracia neighborhood in Barcelona. A thematic corner frequented by fans of two wheels and good music. The place, decorated with recycled furniture and old bicycles , is designed as a new cultural space where small concerts and monologues . A place where you can drink from a coffee to a Gin and tonic while you enjoy a quiet chat or live music.
**LOOK MUM, NO HANDS! (London) **
49 Old Street, 020 7253 1025
If there is a reference coffee shop in London where bicycles are the main protagonists, that is Look Mum, not hands! (Look mom, no hands!). Become a meeting point for urban cyclists, this place located in Islington, one of the liveliest neighborhoods in the city, opened its doors in 2010. Since then, its owners Sam and Nik promote the love of two wheels as part of a lifestyle. Therefore, in addition to a cafeteria, Look Mum, no hands! offers a bike repair shop and organizes several workshops every month. It is a real pleasure to taste one of their famous muffins sitting on cushions with cycling prints, wheels that hang from the ceiling and designer bikes that seem to be looking out the window.
Interior of the Look mum, no hands!
**VELOCITE COFFEE (Lisbon) **
_Av. Duke of Ávila, 120 A +351 213 545 252 _
It has only been open for a month and has already seduced the most demanding urban cyclists, such as those from Lisbon Cycle Chic. Velocité Café is, in addition to a cafeteria, a workshop and a bicycle shop with the most chic accessories and the most exclusive designer bikes. Located in one of the most attractive places in Lisbon, this café offers a 10% discount on your letter to all customers who arrive pedaling . Its owners are Maria Joao Baeta and Juan Camolas, two friends passionate about two wheels who decided to start the business after seeing how little by little the bicycle was gaining space in Lisbon. In its menu we can find from fast food to elaborate dishes.
Velocité Café Bar
**LOCK 7 (London) **
129 Pritchards Road, +44 (0) 207 739 3042
Another London cycle cafe, recognizable by the large number of bicycles parked at its door, is Lock 7, a workshop café opened in 2007 in Hackney, one of the city's trendiest neighbourhoods. It was a trip to Copenhagen that encouraged the owners of this place to bet on two wheels . With a repair shop and a comprehensive bike and accessories store, Lock 7 has done its bit for the bicycle renaissance in this part of London. From its menu, the homemade cakes and fruit smoothies stand out. A cozy refuge for cyclists who want to make a stop along the way.
Lock 7 Cycle Cafe
**BIANCHI CAFE CYCLES (Stockholm) **
Norrlandsgatan 20, 08-611 21 00
The best Italian espresso combined with exclusive Bianchi bikes. This is what we found at Bianchi Café Cycles, in the heart of Stockholm. It is a project by businessman Salvatore Grimaldi that was born with the idea of bringing together the best of Italy under one roof. Purpose accomplished: this glamorous venue with bicycles hanging above the tables offers the best coffee in the area together with a varied menu of delicatessen and Italian antipasti . Next to the café, a signature shop and repair shop offer Swedish cyclists the opportunity to tune up their bikes.
The best of Italy under one roof.
**KEIRIN CYCLE CULTURE CAFÉ (Berlin) **
Oberbaumstraße 5, +49 30 84857666
Looking for the origin of the first Cycle Café in Europe, we came across Keirin Cycle Culture Café, in the German capital. In April 2004, Gary and Mortimer opened this cafe specializing in great espresso and stylish vintage bikes. The idea of these two young men who worked as bicycle messengers was to create a new concept of service around cycling, art, design and good coffee . And above all promote the bicycle as a means of transport. Your place is like a museum dedicated to two wheels : bikes hanging on the walls, championship clothing, posters, illustrations, comics and objects related to cycling, some of which are over a hundred years old. Outside, a graffiti mural featuring bicycles easily identifies the entrance to the café.
The pioneering Cycle Café in Europe.