Three Unexpected Coffee Gems in Downtown Puerto Vallarta

Attention Starbucks passengers! Three up-and-coming coffeehouses located in Puerto Vallarta’s El Centro neighborhood may very well be the unique and charming fix you need.

Please, don’t get us wrong, it’s not that we don’t like Starbucks or other remarkable coffee shops in the city. In fact, we love discovering every pleasant coffee-related experience in the bay. It is just that, lately, we’ve come across some outstanding, lesser-known cafés located El Centro that we think are worth mentioning. Next time you walk along the Malecón or hang out with friends in Olas Altas, make sure to consider one of these venues:

Café Madero

While wandering along Rodolfo Gomez street in colonia Emiliano Zapata, we came across a sandwich board on the ground displaying a clear, simple suggestion:  “First, Coffee”

It made total sense to us, so we stepped inside this unique, tiny coffee shop featuring gorgeous wooden finishes, beautiful furniture and fresh flowers, all in a clean and simple neutral color-based interior design that made us fall in love with the place.

Paninis, salads and the most common coffee drinks are the specialities of the establishment, as well as their spring special smoothies: Green Apple, Blueberry, Pineapple Coconut and Strawberry Coconut.

Café Madero has a quiet, relaxing ambience, perfect for a day of work outside the office or to spend the afternoon reading. Find more information about it on their Facebook Page.

Integration with nature is quite lovely at the place

Are you looking for a refreshing drink for your afternoon stroll?

106 Rodolfo Gomez St, Emiliano Zapata.

Café 133

Steps aways from Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon, on Pipila Street, you can find Café 133, a brand new vintage coffeeshop offering traditional Café de Olla—a Mexican drink prepared with piloncillo and cinnamon as ingredients—along with the well-known range of coffee styles, from refreshing Frappuccino to punchy Espresso.  

This tiny but comfortable spot offers a retro atmosphere accented by rustic furniture and bold colors, and it features an interesting gallery of old Vallarta pictures of the Malecon, Gringo Gulch and El Centro neighborhoods. A Mexican, bohemian feel is also present at the place delivered by Frida Kahlo-related photographs and art.

Aside from a variety of cold and hot beverages, Café 133 serves breakfast, including hot cakes, molletes, chilaquiles and scrambled/fried eggs. And for those lazy Sunday mornings, they offer home delivery service in El Centro area at (322) 223-0552.

Find more about Café 133 on their Facebook Page.

Café 133 is located at the same spot as the former Café La Molienda.

Coffee + Chocolate, sweet combination.

Visiting the place feels like being at an old El Centro house.

Caffé del Mar

Italian Cappuccino is the speciality at Caffé del Mar, a coffee shop-gallery located half a block from Los Muertos Beach in Colonia Emiliano Zapata. The venue features a spacious, well-lit room and an open-air area with tables and umbrellas to enjoy your coffee with a touch of sea breeze.

The coffee served here can be described as a special blend of two arabica beans from Chiapas and Veracruz, with accents of mahogany and vanilla—and it tastes just as delicious as it sounds! Homemade cakes are also featured on the menu and are becoming quite famous among regulars—reserve a slice of carrot cake while it’s still warm!

Aside from being a connoisseur’s coffee gem, Caffé del Mar exhibits the works of renowned artisan-sculptor Rodo Padilla: a complete collection of ceramic and bronze pieces representing people of old Mexico, with a distinctive touch of humor expressed by the unproportional shapes of their bodies. These art pieces imbue the place with a charming ambience, and are also available for purchase.

Caffé del Mar is located at 146 Basilio Badillo St. You can find more information about the coffee-gallery here.

The pieces by Rodo Padilla have been recognized by the international press, such as The Miami Herald and Harper’s Bazaar magazine

Coffee with a sunset view is possible at Caffé del Mar.

Enjoy!