Best Cafes in Oaxaca for Pastries, Strong Coffee, and Breakfast (My Personal Go-To Picks)

A few cafe picks from a long-time local

As you may or may not know, I have been living in Oaxaca since 1999. And even though I am not one to be out and about around town all the time, I have tasted a lot of what the cafes here offer. Over the years, a few places have earned a spot on my personal short list, not because they are trendy, but because they consistently hit the mark for what I want in that moment.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive guide, and it is definitely not a ranking. It is more like the directions I would give a friend: if you want the best bread and pastries, go here. If you want coffee that is strong and a bit bitter, go there. If you prefer something fruitier and more refined, there is another option. And if what you want is a full experience, ambience plus food, there is one spot I keep coming back to.

For fresh bread and pastries: Boulenc

You know those places that you try to avoid because if you pass them you cannot resist going in and getting some unbelievably delicious indulgence? Well, this is Boulenc. Oaxaca has plenty of places that make fresh sweet bread and pastries, plus your regular sourdough loaves, but Boulenc is on another level, at least in my opinion.

The taste, the variety, the freshness, and the gourmetness (is this a word?) is definitely out of this world. I highly recommend it, but only if you are not watching your weight, because you might just leave with a bag full of carbohydrate goodies to last you the week.

• Boulenc (Centro): Calle de Porfirio Díaz #207, Centro Histórico, Oaxaca
• Boulenc (Jalatlaco): 5 de Mayo 205 B, Barrio de Jalatlaco, Oaxaca de Juárez

They are open every day but Tuesdays, at least last I checked, and as with all popular spots in Oaxaca, schedules can shift. If you go to the Jalatlaco one, ask for Mari, who is the most delightful person you will meet in Oaxaca. Tell her Arion sent you.

For the tastiest strong coffee: Nuevo Mundo Cafe

Now, if you are talking about the best coffee, my go-to place is Nuevo Mundo Cafe. But a warning: I like my coffee strong and a bit bitter (dark roast), and Nuevo Mundo does it right. For me it is like stepping outside at dawn when the air is cool and crisp. One sip and you remember you are here, on Earth, alive, happy.

• Nuevo Mundo Cafe: Abasolo street (between García Vigil and Porfirio Díaz), Oaxaca

My friend Juan, the owner of Nuevo Mundo, does everything from the toasting to the grinding right in house. And if I had any addiction tendencies, it would be the smell of their freshly ground house blend. I truly look like a fool walking out of there with the bag of coffee pressed against my face and breathing deeply.

You don’t like your coffee to hit you in the gut?

Do you prefer your coffee more fruity and a bit more refined? Then you can visit one of the many cafes my other friend Kyle owns called La Brújula. Also great coffee, just a different direction from the darker profile I usually go for at Nuevo Mundo. It is a good option when you want something that leans lighter and more nuanced. Did I mention that they’ve won international awards for their coffee too? Well, they have.

Since there are several locations, it is easy to fit La Brújula into whatever part of the city you find yourself in. That convenience matters in Oaxaca, where a good cup is often just a few blocks away, and the right stop can shape the rest of your morning.

• La Brújula: Macedonio Alcalá 104, Centro, Oaxaca
• La Brújula: Miguel Hidalgo 907, Centro, Oaxaca
• La Brújula: Calzada Porfirio Díaz 233, Los Mangales, Oaxaca de Juárez
• La Brújula: Macedonio Alcalá 407, Plaza Santo Domingo, Centro Histórico, Oaxaca

For ambience and food: Muss Cafe at Casa Antonieta

Last but not least, the Muss cafe in Casa Antonieta is where you want to go if what you are looking for is ambience and food. If you are just going in and out, they have a downstairs, street-level part of the cafe that can feel kind of claustrophobic, especially since it is pretty much constantly full and small in size. It works if you are keeping it quick, but it is not the part that makes this place special to me.

If you go all the way upstairs through this gorgeous colonial arch-filled atrium, you will reach Amá cafe, which seems to be a part of or at least associated with the Muss cafe (I do not really understand why they have another name for it). It is a gorgeous terrace on top of Casa Antonieta with lots of plants hanging everywhere, cantera pillars and arches, and lots of diffuse sunlight that creates this etheric-looking illumination without the heat.

And do not get me started with the food. Delicious in all respects. My favorite is the French toast, which comes out like a plate ready for Instagram and tastes even better. If you want to eat breakfast, look no further than here.

• Casa Antonieta: Avenida Hidalgo 911, Colonia Centro, Oaxaca

Anyway, that is my short list, the places I keep going back to for what they do best. If you end up checking any of these out, I hope they treat you well and you find your own favorite corner, your own perfect cup, or that one pastry you keep thinking about later. And if you have a spot you swear by, I am always curious to hear it about it. Contact me at contact@montealbanoaxaca.com