Chanito: specialty coffee a few steps from Las Canteras

Spend a few weeks in Las Palmas and you quickly learn the rule: the city beach, Las Canteras, is the anchor, and all the good stuff happens within walking distance of it. Among the surfboards, laptops and cortados, a proper specialty-coffee scene has grown up in the calm streets behind the promenade — and Chanito is one of those places you almost miss the first time and then keep coming back to.

It is small, unfussy and built around three things: good coffee, a nice breakfast and a room you are happy to sit in for an hour. No hype, no queue around the block — just a solid cup a few steps from the sea. Here is what is worth knowing before your first visit.

What makes Chanito special

Chanito is a café de especialidad — specialty coffee in the real sense: the beans are roasted here in the Canaries and prepared by baristas who know what they are doing. Alongside the espresso classics and filter coffee there is matcha for anyone who fancies a break from the bean, plus a small, carefully chosen breakfast and house-baked treats.

The room is the second reason people linger: a terrace with large windows, plenty of light and that relaxed morning atmosphere you know from the good little cafés of northern Europe — only here it comes with Canary weather and the beach on the doorstep. A place to wake up, to meet someone, or simply to switch off for a while.

Where it is — and how to get there

You will find Chanito at Calle Torres Quevedo 31, in the lively neighbourhood around Las Canteras. From the beach it is only a few minutes on foot, which makes it easy to pair with an early stroll along the promenade or a quick dip before breakfast. You do not need a car — in this part of the city you can walk almost everywhere anyway.

Because the place is small, it is not one for big groups expecting a reserved table. It is ideal for two or three people, or for you alone with a book. If you prefer the calmer moments, come early in the morning or later in the mid-morning lull.

Perfect for digital nomads and breakfast fans

Las Palmas has long been one of Europe's favourite bases for remote work, and places like Chanito are part of the reason why. The vibe fits: well-made coffee, a breakfast that carries you through the morning, and that small, friendly community feeling that turns a café into something more than a caffeine stop.

For the nomad routine it is an ideal before-work stop: a cortado or matcha, something to eat, a moment to breathe — then off to the beach, to a coworking space or back to the flat. As a weekend brunch address it works just as well. Worth knowing: it is a cosy little café, not an open-plan office, so plan it as a pleasant break rather than an all-day desk.

Opening hours & walk-in

Chanito is open on weekdays from Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:00, and at the weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 14:00 — a clear breakfast-and-morning rhythm, not an evening spot. You cannot book: it is walk-in only, so you simply drop by and see whether a seat is free.

Because it is so small, it can fill up briefly at weekend peak times. No drama — a table usually frees up quickly, and the relaxed mood makes up for it. A little patience and some slack in your schedule never hurt.