Cafe Kantoi - San Sebastian

If you love you coffee you can't give this place a miss. This place just draws you back in day after day. I had breakfast here for the majority of my stay in San Sebastian. The coffee being the main reason (especially the Long Black) but also the quality of patisserie shouldn't be underrated.

An adorable place exist in the actual old town! Civilized place to get a great espresso. Can even get it with a side of ice,nice because it’s still pretty hot here in September. Barista knows what he’s doing, each espresso shot is freshly ground on the spot and then made. He also spork very good English. Great designs with the Leche. Only pastry as snacks in case you are looking for something savory to eat. Brisk business in the little joint.

I was walking along the street in San Sebastián and had just bought a pastry in a bakery. Then I passed this cafe, and felt like a tea, so I entered, bought the tea, and deposited change in the tip jar. I was about to drink my beverage when the woman behind the bar raised her voice from across the room and intoned “it is forbidden to eat food from outside here,” pointing at the bag from the bakery that I had set on the table. Never mind that I wasn’t eating from the bag. Or that another patron also had a bag from the same bakery on her table, which went unremarked. Had I known that I would enter this place for tea and that they also sold pastries I would of course have simply bought both there. But I was clearly a visitor to the city and had elected to reward this cafe with my business, having already bought a pastry elsewhere— although again, I WAS NOT EATING IT. The attempt to shame me over an “illegal” €1 croissant after I had already given this cafe business and *tipped the staff* was ridiculous and petty. Staff here ought to use common sense when interacting with customers, and express some gratitude for their patronage. Meanwhile I do recommend the bakery next door, where service was polite and grateful. Tea is a commodity— it can be had many places. Be nicer if you want people to buy it from you.

Para desayunar en San Sebastián esta es una de las mejores opciones. Bizcocho, magdalenas y minis (pulgas) de jamón y queso están exquisitos. Los dueños, Aitor y Luz, son un encanto.

¡Me encanta kantoi! La comida es muy buena, y la gente también.