Mandrake

Beautiful cafe. But the service was SLOW. The staff was nice but probably they were short staffed. We waited for 45 mins for coffee and croissant. We came at 10:45 am on weekdays, but sadly only two food items on the menu were available. I don’t recommend if you are here for sightseeing. If you need a place to read or work, it’s suitable. EDIT: We waited for an hour, and asked the staff when the other two items would come out. Only at that moment he asked us what kind of egg we wanted, and what meat we wanted. I was surprised he didn’t ask us when we ordered the food! Then I realized he actually never took the order at the very beginning because he told us one of the items were just sold out. I was shocked, what? We made the order AN HOUR AGO, and you didn’t let us know it’s sold out???? The staff just disappeared into the kitchen and his colleagues clarified the situation with me. I appreciate that. Part of the reason why this happened was the language barrier, but I was still surprised they saw us sit there and wait for an hour and didn’t notice something went wrong.

If you’re lucky enough to discover Mandrake, it feels like stepping into another world. It’s located on a busy street, yet once inside you find complete serenity. The staff were so lovely,I forgot my charger and they kindly shared theirs with me. The coffee shop is connected to a bookstore, so you can buy books or simply read peacefully. A true hidden gem.

Even though they were short-staffed for the holiday, the service was impressively fast and genuinely friendly. Everyone was welcoming and made the experience feel easy and enjoyable despite how busy it was. I had the cappuccino and the quiche, and both were absolutely delicious—perfectly made and comforting. You can really tell the quality and care that goes into everything, especially since all of their pastries are fresh. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down, enjoy your food, and come back again.

Beautiful cafe in the middle of centro historico. The espresso was amazing and the chilquiles verde con chamorro was phenomenal. Service was very polite and they even gave us a free double espresso on the house! Highly recommend. Will be back. Thank you!

We came here while staying at the Airbnb right next door and let me tell you, this place definitely flies below the radar when it should be soaring. The latte was literal perfection, and the huevos tatemados sealed the deal. If you’re in Centro Storico, don’t miss out!