Last updated September 2022
As the name suggests, this is one of my favourite cafés in Salamanca. It is very possibly the favourite! It is hard to think of anything negative about it, it is comfortable with a warm atmosphere and the food is delicious. In addition to all this, the service is excellent and it is a place where I was able to spend many happy hours all alone. As someone who has travelled a lot on my own, I have become very much aware of when cafés and restaurants are places that someone can comfortably go alone and so, I am including this as a question in my practical information at the end.
The dining experience is very relaxed from beginning to end. The name, Mandala, comes from the spiritual symbol of the same name so even before entering you know what kind of atmosphere to expect. It is comfortable and relaxed, aided by large amounts of wood, warm colours and plants. You go in, sit wherever you like and the attentive staff are with you shortly afterwards to take your order. Soon after this they bring you both your food and the bill so that when you feel like leaving, you merely have to take the bill and go up to the counter. Easy! The only hard part is choosing what to have! There are a number of menus on every table, one devoted to hot chocolates, one to tea, one to food etc. It might take a little while to look through them all and it is always a good idea to check out the food on display at the counter, especially the cakes! They all look amazing!
I have tried coffee, tea, hot chocolate (chocolate caliente), a sandwich, a cake, churros and their Menu del Día (Menu of the Day) and I have been impressed with it all! In Spain, people usually eat a big meal in the middle of the day, similar to what we in Ireland eat as our dinner in the evening. The Menu del Día offers this typically Spanish lunch experience. The menu includes a starter (primero plato) and main course (segundo plato) and usually also includes bread, water, a glass of wine or a beer, and dessert or a coffee. Most restaurants in Salamanca offer their own Menu of the Day but I really like Mandala‘s and their menu is €12.90 which is very good value for such delicious food. There is a lot of choice on the menu and they offer a number of vegetarian options.
There are even more reasons to love Mandala! It is in a great location, very close to a number of the most important tourist attractions, namely, the University of Salamanca (Universidad de Salamanca) and the Old and New Cathedrals (Las Catedrales Vieja y Nueva). I will be writing about these sights and many others very soon! And as if this wasn’t enough, it is open every day of the week and opens early and closes late, meaning that you can enjoy their food and service for even longer.
I hope that this post will entice you to visit Mandala while you are in Salamanca! If it does then please let me know!
Address:
Calle Serranos 9 – 11, 37008, Salamanca
Opening times:
Monday to Thursday: 08:15 – 22:00
Friday: 08:15 – 00:00
Saturday: 09:30 -00:00
Sunday: Closed
Website:
Social media:
Wi-Fi:
Yes. Password protected, ask one of the waitresses.
Toilets:
Yes, they are downstairs.
Price:
Very reasonable.
Table service?
Yes but you go to the counter to pay.
Is it somewhere I can comfortably go alone?
Yes!
