My May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn wanted to hang out in a Madrid literary cafe

When I was recently in Madrid, I couldn’t pass over the chance to take my latest novel, May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn, to visit this famed Madrid literary café, the Gran Café de Gijón.

This café was opened in 1888, by Gumersindo Gómez, an Austrian-born Spaniard from northern Spain. This café became an important literary café and gathering place for Spanish authors and intellectuals.

Ernest Hemingway is also said to have spent time here while in Madrid.

It was also a favored place for writers and artists – known as the Generation of ’36 – and celebrities like Ava Gardner, Orson Welles and Truman Capote.

Among Spanish authors, there were also regular literary meetings, called tertulias, for poets, authors and youth literary movements alike.

Its a great place to enjoy a coffee or a meal – and be sure to bring along a great book!