Starbucks

It’s a Starbucks just like the USA but that’s why I went. The place is huge and great for people watching. I was staying at the hotel next door and wanted a cookie and a frap before bed. I went about 7 on a Monday and got a nice seat by the window. Downside, for sure no free wifi. I didn’t stay Iong because of that.

The place is beautifully located with enormous windows facing outwards for the casual people-​peeper right in a really busy intersection. There’s a little terraza outside which is also really nice in summer, but the place is completely PACKED, and I mean always. Sometimes it takes forever to get a table, inside or out, because people tend to stay long.
Anywho, the amount of people makes the place at times, extremely dirty. There’s a huge number of trays on tables, spilled coffee on the floors and thrown napkins all over. And when people try to help, myself included, to just put trays a little closer to the actual bar they take a really long time in dealing with it.
The bathrooms are what they are and I would say they leave a lot to wish for.
Prices are really high, in comparison to other coffee places, but in line with the rest of the Starbucks’s in Madrid.
Why did we go, you might ask? It happens to be a favourite spot for my better half and we wanted to try the new «toastie», which really is just a fancy name for a grilled cheese. We ended up splitting two because they felt like eating air. Definitely not worth almost € 4.
If you are a Starbucks afficionado, have patience with trash and slow internet and are willing to pay a lil’ more for worse coffee, this is a good place for you to study.

Un Starbucks amplio, luminoso, de dos plantas y con abundantes sillones en los que relajarse mientras se disfruta algunas de las bebidas típicas (y algo caras) de la cadena.
La amplia terraza exterior es una buena opción en verano.
Recordad presentar vuestra tarjeta del Club Vips para conseguir puntos y solicitar la clave del WiFi.

Buen sitio, en navidad buen ambiente para tomar un café calentito. Sillones muy comodos y a un precio razonable. Lo recomiendo.

Mi lugar favorito. Espacioso, infalible para ir con gente que conoces poco, muy acogedor, diseño muy agradable a la vista y muy cómodo. Desde luego si voy a un lugar, voy porque lo disfruto. Porque estoy a gusto y ese lugar es uno de esos. Me encanta sentarme ahí y observar a las gente y los coches pasando por la Princesa con esas paredes de cristal tan grandes que tiene. No tiene precio… Me encanta.

In my last few weeks in Madrid I looked for a comfortable place to work and study in the afternoons. I don’t really drink coffee so I can’t review it here, but the tea and chocolate as well as the food is standard Starbucks quality. The staff is friendly and English to a certain amount when my Spanish isn’t enough.
Why I only give 3 stars is simple, compared to the US where Wifi in most Starbucks is fast and free at all times, here it’s ok but not really fast and you only get access for 45min (90in with a VIPs membership card) and you have to ask for it.
Also I really miss the benefits of my Starbucks card getting me free refills over the day.
So the –2 stars are not specific to this one Starbucks but more or less in every Starbucks in Spain. (maybe some have faster connections)