This cozy and inviting cafe wins my vote for hidden gem for both its ambiance and excellent quality of food and drinks.
This attractive and inviting cafe is tucked onto the side of the main road through Marfil, an old ‘Colonia’ (neighbourhood village) just ten minutes from downtown Guanajuato City.
It features a huge tree growing up through the roof of the main dining area. This, along with the glass walls that are open to the elements near the top, lend a feeling of being on a cozy and comfortable patio despite being well indoors.
While you might first come here to experience the unique ambiance, you will keep coming back for the exceptionally tasty pastries, high quality coffees, specialty drinks, and main course meals, especially the breakfast menu.
This is one of the few restaurants where you can find both traditional dishes, such as chilaquiles, and fusion dishes, such as this serene ham, peaches and spinach sandwich.
The paqueta is a good deal, with a small fruit salad,cookie and a drink to round out your meal choice for Xx pesos more.
My favourites are the pastries, such as the ‘nest’ of flakey pastry filled with sweet guayava(passion fruit) purée and cream cheese.
They serve a variety of specialty drinks that you don’t see on me yes in other cafes: blue matcha, purple taro in steamed milk and pink chai made of hot milk with beet powder and many chai -like spices.
Delicious.
The most popular dishes are still the traditional chilaquiles. The second most popular is ‘El Oso’, a satisfying sandwich on a bun that is like a lighter and airier version of a sub bun, sprinkled with sesame seeds.it has a kind of Mexican cheese on it called ‘panela’, which is similar to feta or very mild halloumi cheese.
It’s worth the trip from the city centre, and it’s on a major bus route, with driving past the stop in front buses every 15 minutes. It’s also one of the few restaurants with some parking available on the street beside,and across the street in a parking lot shared by many restaurants in the Los Santos strip.
I recommend coming for brunch and making an afternoon if it. You can take a leisurely stroll down the hill, taking a short walk on the pathway beside La Presa,a tranquil small reservoir.It’s surrounded by wilderness and home to ducks, birds and geckos, and sometimes white cranes.