Café Schallert: Austrian Coffee House Culture in Poble Sec

Café Schallert feels a little bit like a secret. You’ll find it inside Hotel Brummell in Poble Sec, in an area where you might not necessarily expect to find one of Barcelona’s most beautiful new cafés. Unless someone has told you about it, you could easily walk past without realizing what’s inside.

And what’s inside is gorgeous.

The space reflects owner Christian Schallert’s Austrian roots and his family history. His parents opened the original Café Schallert in Höchst, Austria, in 1976, and he grew up surrounded by coffeehouse culture. This new Barcelona version brings that story into the world of Brummell, with the kind of design you’d expect from them: warm, beautiful, and full of personality.

Cafe Schallert, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

One of my favorite things is the large communal table in the back, with the Viscontea cocoon lamp hanging over it. The whole space is full of beautiful details, from vintage photographs of the original Café Schallert to carefully chosen furniture, lighting and materials.

There’s also a large window looking directly into the bakery, so you can see what’s being made while you sit there. I love it! It makes the whole place feel more alive, and it makes it impossible not to order a pastry when you can literally watch them coming together.

Apple strudel at Cafe Schallert, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

The pastry selection is a really good reason to come. There’s a strong Austrian thread, of course, with apple strudel, Sachertorte and bretzels, but also a wider range of pastries and seasonal creations that keep things interesting.

The strudel comes from the family recipe book, which gives the place a lovely sense of continuity, while the Sachertorte can even be ordered for home delivery in its own wooden box.

Cafe Schallert, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

Coffee is also taken seriously, with beans from local roaster Three Marks Coffee. There’s good matcha too, hot chocolate with cream, plus a few more playful drinks you won’t necessarily find elsewhere.

Cafe Schallert, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

The all-day menu goes beyond pastries and coffee, with small plates and dishes inspired by Brummell’s other destinations. I especially like that the Austrian references don’t stop at the sweet side of things. There’s Schnitzel too, which makes the café feel more like a real all-day place than simply somewhere for coffee and cake.

The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is calm and inviting. For me that’s important, because the idea behind Café Schallert is very much rooted in traditional coffeehouse culture: somewhere to meet, talk, read, or just sit without feeling that you’re in a hurry.

That makes it feel especially right for Poble Sec. It’s polished, but not stiff. Beautiful, but not intimidating. And because of where it is, there’s still that lovely feeling of having found somewhere slightly under the radar.

Hotel Brummell, Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 174, Barcelona (Poble Sec).