Cafe Acuarela

Open since 1999 at the start of Calle Gravina, Cafe Acuarela is best known for its architecture: a small, rounded corner building with big windows that gives it the look of a doll's house from outside. Inside, dim lighting, velvet seating and baroque-leaning decor create an intimate, almost theatrical atmosphere that has made it a favourite for first dates in the LGBTQ+ community. It works well for a quiet coffee by day and a candlelit cocktail by night, a gentler counterpoint to the louder clubs surrounding Plaza de Chueca.