The Best Coffee in Oaxaca: 10 Cute Cafes for Your Caffeine Fix!

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Hands down, one of the best things about Oaxaca City is all of the incredible cafes and coffee spots. They line the neighborhoods with their colorful exteriors and iron windows that look into cozy and plush lounges, filled with warm air and animated conversations. Seriously, move over France, Oaxaca is COMING for your cafe culture crown. So if you’re looking for the BEST coffee in Oaxaca (City), you’ve got a lot of options.

Which…is a good and an overwhelming thing, I suppose.

With at least two cafes on practically every block, if you’re someone with decision anxiety while traveling, don’t worry. Me too. Which is why I drank like 17 cups of caffeine a day (I was there five days) trying to find the best coffee in Oaxaca.

It worked out for you, because now I can write this post!

It didn’t work out so well for my digestive system.

But whatever. That’s the cost of blogging, am I right?

I’m going to be grouping these best coffee in Oaxaca suggestions by neighborhood, so hopefully it will make it easier to pick one while you’re out and about!

That said, y’all better not laugh at my map drawing skills.

Centro

Centro, as the name suggests, is where all the action happens. Just a bit off from Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman (the landmark where I basically oriented myself), el Centro is where you’ll find all the great Mercados and great street food. And, as it has it, some of the best coffee in Oaxaca. El Centro is typically divided into two halfs, the northern half, Santo Domingo (Templo de Santo Domingo), and the southern half, Zocalo (Catedral Metropolitana de Oaxaca).

Yes, my two markers for Centro were both churches. When you visit, you’ll see what I mean.

If you’re a tourist, or it’s your first time visiting Oaxaca, you’ll probably be spending most of your time here since there’s so much to see and do – and drink! I mean, MOST of the best coffee in Oaxaca that I encountered was specifically on the Santo Domingo side of Centro. But, I mean, it’s also the most touristy, so that makes sense.

Santo Domingo

Cafebre (8am-9pm)

If you’re a remote worker, this is the cafe for you. With plenty of seating in the courtyard, strong WiFi, and background music perfect at just the right volume, you can practically live here off their in-house roasted beans and tasty bites.

Black Coffee Gallery (8am-11pm)

This was actually the FIRST café I visited, and luck was in my favorite with it having some of the best coffee in Oaxaca. It is located in a large indoor courtyard shared with a handful of shops (like Ay Guey!), The seating area is very comfortable and plush, and is my pick for a late night chat with friends or to unwind from a long day.

Boulenc (8:30am-11pm)

An excellent spot for breakfast, with super hip décor and even a good amount of vegan/vegetarian options and substitutions. Buut, that does mean it’s usually very busy. If you go, promise me you’ll get the bread. It’s seriously the best in the entire country. And, of course, some of the best coffee in Oaxaca.

Zocalo

Muss Café (8am-8pm)

A surprisingly low-key café, especially for being in Centro, so it’s a great place to read or work (great WiFi!) in you need a quiet atmosphere. The building is absolutely gorgeous and the staff was extremely friendly and welcoming.

Jazz Coffee (8am-4pm)

Although I’m not personally a fan of expresso, Jazz Coffee has the best expresso and best coffee in Oaxaca. And it’s strong too! They have a very spacious courtyard as well.

Café Rústiko (1pm-8pm)

I love their bright and energetic design, and my pick for an afternoon pick-me-up before continuing on with your day’s adventures. They have amazing hot chocolate; though I personally don’t like chocolate so I got a chai – IT WAS AMAZING.

Jalatlaco

Arguably one of the “coolest” parts of city, it’s no wonder that they brew some of the best coffee in Oaxaca. When I visited Oaxaca, I stayed in Peñasco neighborhood (more on that later) but my friends who were also visiting at the same time stayed in Jalatlaco. So I spent a lot of time over there as well. And good thing too because NO JOKE, the neighborhood is packed to the brim with hip galleries and edgy lil cafes and whatnot.

It’s more residential and definitely has a more “local” vibe than Centro, but because it still has a lot of things going on, it’s not what I would consider a “slow quiet” neighborhood.

¡AY CHINTETE! (7am-10pm)

This place is so freaking CUTE. It’s pretty small, so keep that in mind, but honestly the incredibly friendly and welcoming staff will easily keep you coming back. The have AMAZING tacos, seriously I know it’s a café but ORDER THEM, and they have some of the best coffee in Oaxaca (locally sourced too!)

Cafeto & Baristas (8am-6pm)

Another small café (seems to be the theme in Jalatlaco), and just as amazing. Again, locally sourced products, and they can prepare your drink in a ton of different ways. If you’re a coffee aficionado, you’ll want to hit up this space. They also have a few options for milk/dairy options!

BoOom Coffee (9am-6pm)

It might not appeal to everyone, but if you are a comic or superhero lover, this is the spot for you. Super small, but with fun drinks both named and inspired by different comic book and anime characters.

Love Coffee (8am-8pm)

Another small place with a very brief menu. However, what they lack in variety they MORE than make up for in quality, both with their tasty small bites and some of the best coffee in Oaxaca. THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE A GOOD CUPPA OKAY? The owners are extremely sweet and the baristas can do super adorable foam art.

La Noria

Just a bit south of Centro, La Noria is a quieter neighborhood, but just a short walk away from most activities. I didn’t do too much exploring here, but it still has all of the great restaurants, shops, and of course cafes, as the other more popular neighborhoods….but without all of the crowds. Surprisingly, even here I managed to run into some of the best coffee in Oaxaca just by chance!

Shiniyucu (hours vary)

This small café cart might be a bit hard to find a first, but you’ll find it in a courtyard with a shared seating area. It’s a very low-key place and perfect for grabbing the best coffee in Oaxaca to go.

ME Brew Bar & Coffé Art (9am-9pm)

I just want to start off by saying you will FALL IN LOVE with the owner. Eduardo introduces himself to his guests, and there is delicate intention behind every detail of this café. There is such refreshing and peaceful energy here – and it’s not only from the drinks!

Reforma

The Reforma neighborhood is a bit further out from the city center, but still only about a twenty minute walk from Centro. It almost might feel out of place to travelers, since in general it is a bit more modern than the rest of historic Centro where you’ll spend most of your time, but I personally loved it because it has a TON of chic boutiques, innovative restaurants, and…well, a lot of cafes.

Since it was farther away from where my hotel was, I really only spent half an afternoon here, but even then I managed to chug down some of the best coffee in Oaxaca. So you can imagine how buzzed I was feeling after back to back cups haha.

PAN : AM (8am-9:30pm)

This small café also serves a great breakfast along with some of the best coffee in Oaxaca, so if you wake up hungry, this is the spot to go. The seating is in an outdoor courtyard, so I love this café for an early afternoon sip, after the morning brunch rush is over.

Café Brújula (7:30am-10pm)

There are actually a few across the city (one of the most popular cafes in all of Centro in fact), but my favorite is the one in Reforma. It is a little less busy than the others, but maintains the same great taste. Plus, their baristas can do latte art and the coffee is locally grown in Oaxaca.

Mondo Cafe (9am-7pm)

If you want a break from all the fantastic Mexican chocolate drinks and the best coffee in Oaxaca, head over to Mondo Cafe. While they still have some pretty amazing brews, they are also one of the best chai places in the entire city. And y’all know I love a good chai. Their chai selection is impressive AND delicious, plus their bright décor, mouth-watering cakes, and speedy WiFi makes it an excellent place to work and relax.

Xochimilco

Pronounced  so-chi-MIL-ko, Xochimilco is the oldest neighborhood in Oaxaca City, and with that title comes a lot of respect. Similar to Reforma, it won’t feel like you’re in Oaxaca at all, but instead of being transported to some modern urban neighborhood, you’ll step into a neighborhood embodying the history of traditional Oaxaca culture. And that includes weaving. But you won’t just be stopping to watch the looms, as the cafes in these blocks hold their own against some of the best coffee in Oaxaca.

Filemón (8am-4pm)

It literally DOES NOT get more farm-to-cup than this. You can taste the quality in every sip, and the cool vibe is just the cherry on top. It is also a great place to get breakfast in the morning!

Siempre Café (8am-9:30pm)

The pastries here are literally so delicious that it makes me want to CRY. And when you pair that with the locally sourced coffee and in-home baked bread?? DIVINE. (They also have a gluten-free cake option! I didn’t try it, but they looked REALLY good).

Petit Cafe (8am-9pm)

Where my vegetarians and vegans at?? This family-run cafe has the cutest little courtyard, with plenty of dairy-alternatives for your favorite brew. Their vegetarian dishes pair well with any drink, and if you go later on in the day, it’s the perfect cozy spot to hang out with friends.

Antique Café (9:30am-6pm)

So, this is one I actually missed out on because I went to go shopping for rugs while my friends rested their feet and drank coffee, but they said it had excellent cappuccinos and the owners were really friendly!

Speaking of textiles, if you really want to get into some authentic Zapotec textiles, you gotta head to Teotitlan de Valle! It’s only a short ride out of Oaxaca City and you’ll get better prices on those iconic Oaxacan rugs!

Peñasco

And last, but certainly not least, the quaint neighborhood of Peñasco. This is actually where I stayed, in the fabulous Hotel con Corazon (HIGHLY recommend). Other than other hotel guests, I literally didn’t see ANY other tourists in this area, and it’s very residential – especially considering it is only a ten minute walk to Centro. Since I stayed here and mostly hydrated with they hotel breakfast, I admittedly didn’t try many cafes in the area. I KNOW, counterintuitive right? But I did try a few and I can confirm that they also have the best coffee in Oaxaca!

Cactus café (9am-7:30pm)

Okay, I might be a little biased because I love cactus, but the décor here is so cute and fun. It was never too busy or crowded, so it’s a nice midday café stop. Plus, their horchata is incredible.

Café Caracol Purple (9am-8pm)

One of my friends recommended this place to me before I left because they TRULY have some of the best coffee in Oaxaca. They bought MERCH it was that good. Every drink is their specialty, from their lattes (with dope art) to their cocoa, to their freaking drip coffee. It’s a quiet spot with not too much foot traffic, so it’s a good spot to work or read.

Best Coffee in Oaxaca: Conclusion

And although there are…a TON more amazing places to get your caffiene fix in the city, these are my personal recommendations for the best coffee in Oaxaca. Something else you might have noticed is how late these cafes stay open, compared to some other countries in the world that stop the roasters by lunch time. As a night owl, I really appreciated the late night cafe culture found in Oaxaca, and it easily made it one of my favorite cities in Mexico.

Well, that AND all of the great food, rich culture, and beautiful scenery. But I’ll save all of that for another blog post.

I hope you enjoyed reading! Have any of you ever been to Oaxaca? What did you think of the coffee?

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