The 5x Best Cafes San Cristobal de las Casas Has To Offer
Chiapas is known as the coffee region in Mexico. These 5 cafes San Cristobal de las Casas has to offer are seriously some of the best cups of coffee you’ll try.
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Ashley Metcalfe
June 19, 2024
Love coffee?
Enjoy sitting in cafes?
If you said yes to both of those – get excited!
The cafes San Cristobal de las Casas has to offer are some of the best in Mexico. It makes sense since Chiapas is one of (if not the most) coffee-producing states in Mexico. Many tourists (local and international) and digital nomads visit this Pueblo Magico (magic town) just to taste the coffee, walk the cobblestone streets and enjoy the fresh weather.
When you’re in a colonial town proud of its coffee culture, you’ve got to try at least one of the popular San Cristobal de las Casas cafes. We are huge coffee lovers (hopefully not snobs) and we were excited to be in a town that probably loved coffee even more than us.
If you’re overwhelmed by the amount of San Cristobal coffee shops to choose from…
…I’ve got you! Here’s a list of the 5 best cafes in San Cristobal de las Casas that you need to try.
Best Cafes in San Cristobal de las Casas You Can’t Miss
We spent 2.5 wonderful months living in San Cristobal de las Casas as digital nomads. We enjoyed walking the narrow cobblestone streets, hearing the indigenous language around us, drinking the best coffee and eating at the best restaurants San Cristobal de las Casas has to offer.
We tried and tested every single one on this list for you and we hope you enjoy the cafes San Cristobal de las Casas has to offer just like we did. As digital nomads in San Cristobal de las Casas, we were keen to check out the cafe scene and enjoy some quality Mexican coffee!
These are the best cafes we found.
1. Cafeologia San Cristobal de las Casas
One of the best cafes San Cristobal de las Casas has to offer is Cafeologia!
This aesthetically pleasing San Cristobal coffee shop is located on the famous Real de Guadalupe walking street. We had trouble finding this cafe at first (and eventually gave up) but we tried the next day and found it! It’s easy to get confused because it’s also part of a hotel, Casa Cafeologo but the pin on Google Maps seemed to be wrong as well. Simply put the hotel name into Google Maps instead and it should lead you to the right place. I’ve included a photo below so you know what to look for.
Cafeologia’s baristas put a lot of care into each coffee cup and you can taste it. Matthew enjoyed his cappuccinos here without fail and I always had a tasty cold brew. The beans are locally sourced and you can also buy bags of coffee beans to take home with you! They only have a few pastry selections but that’s all they need – every pastry tasted great! We highly recommend the popular cinnamon roll (if they haven’t already sold out).
The seating is very cute and comfortable. However, they have stickers on the table stating you can only stay a maximum of 1 hour. We stayed longer and they didn’t kick us out so it could be that it’s loosely followed. Apart from this, this is a great digital nomad cafe option to work from.
If you don’t go to any other cafe in San Cristobal de las Casas – at least visit Cafeologia once!
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 8.30am to 7pm; Saturday, 8.30am to 4pm; Sunday, 8.30am to 5pm
2. Libre Cafe
A local cafe filled with pride for their coffee.
This San Cristobal coffee shop is located on the further end of Real de Guadalupe. Libre Cafe is very simple, rustic and clearly all about the coffee. Matthew found Libre Cafe randomly one day and he loved the taste of the coffee here! We knew immediately this was a local hidden gem because we went on a free walking tour and they also took us to this exact cafe for a tasting.
You can buy bags of coffee beans here and it’s a whole experience that makes you feel like you’re in front of some real coffee connoisseurs. First, you select the type of bean you want, then you choose the strength and then they ask you what kind of coffee machine you have. I didn’t know buying a bag of coffee could get so specific!
The cafe is very rustic with wooden chairs and tables so it’s not the most comfortable place to stay for a long time. But there were plugs and wifi available so if you wanted to – you could work from this cafe.
This cafe in San Cristobal de las Casas is worth a try! Walk over and have a taste of the excellent Chiapan coffee.
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 1pm to 8pm
3. Frontera Artisan Food and Coffee
Frontera Cafe is a local favorite brunch cafe in San Cristobal de las Casas!
This popular coffee and breakfast spot is known for its tasty bagel sandwiches and delicious coffee beans that are locally sourced in the Chiapas region. On crisp mornings, a coffee from Frontera on the patio is exactly what we wanted. Within their cafe are also some other restaurants where you can buy pox or pastries.
We loved going to Frontera Cafe because it has this beautiful garden area that’s just so peaceful to sit in. The cafe is a little quirky and the staff don’t mind if you sit there for a while. We can’t recommend it for work because it does get very busy and the wifi was sooo slow sometimes!
Not a fan of coffee? Frontera Cafe has one of the best hot chocolates in San Cristobal de las Casas – another thing this region is known for!
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 8am to 9pm; Sunday, 8am to 6pm
4. Amor Negro Cafe
Amore Negro Cafe is a serious coffee-loving cafe nestled in a beautiful setting!
This was the cafe we visited that first morning in San Cristobal de las Casas. We walked into the Esquina San Agustin Plaza and we were amazed at how beautiful the entire building was. Amor Negro Cafe is located on the second floor of the building and has an amazing view of the entire plaza.
We tried the coffee and it was pretty strong. If you like a strong coffee taste – this is a great cafe in San Cristobal de las Casas to go! They had huge coffee machines and made their cups of coffee well every time.
The staff weren’t very friendly and we didn’t quite feel welcome to open a laptop here so we can’t recommend it for digital nomads. Amor Negro cafe is best for relaxing and enjoying a decent cup of coffee once you’ve finished walking up and down Real de Guadalupe.
Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday, 8am to 10pm; Friday – Saturday, 8am to 11pm
5. Oh la la Pastelería
A French patisserie in a small, mountain town in Mexico? Oh yes!
Oh la la Pasteleria is a popular coffee, pastry and brunch spot that all tourists and locals visit regularly. The lines can get pretty long but if you’re craving some decent pastries and coffee – this is a great cafe in San Cristobal de las Casas.
There are 2 locations in San Cristobal: Centro Histórico and Real de Guadalupe. The one in Zona Centro is the best because this is the location where they bake all the goods fresh! While the coffee is not the best here – it’s also not the worst either. You can still enjoy the experience of sitting on the main walking street, enjoying a freshly baked croissant and sipping a cup of coffee here.
Opening hours: Saturday – Wednesday, 8am – 9.30pm; Thursday – Friday, 8am to 10pm
Special Mention: Carajillo Cafe
We wanted to mention Carajillo Cafe because we absolutely loved the coffee there.
However, on the Google listing, it says that it has permanently closed which is why I didn’t add it to this list. The cup of coffee is worth the little wander to see if it’s still open.
5 Must-Try Cafes San Cristobal de las Casas
You can’t go wrong with any of the 5 cafes in San Cristobal de las Casas I’ve stated above. We know all you coffee lovers won’t be disappointed, just like we weren’t.
After being Playa del Carmen digital nomads, we wanted to really switch up our environment and everyone recommended we visit San Cristóbal de las Casas.
The chilly weather.
The local vibes.
The coffee culture.
What’s not to like?! Okay… maybe we could do without the chilly weather but it’s part of the experience. We had no idea what to expect and hadn’t figured out where to stay in San Cristobal de las Casas but just booked our flights anyway. We’re so glad we did!
Before your trip, it might be best to double-check the weather in San Cris – especially if the cold gets to you. While the best time to visit San Cristobal de las Casas is February-May, we went in December and it was pretty cold but we still enjoyed our time. The weather in the day is usually sunny and it’s just the perfect temperature to walk around and try the cafes in San Cristobal de las Casas.
On our first morning, we scoped out a few cafes – it’s hard to beat that first cup of coffee in a new city feeling. Trust me when I say – San Cristobal de las Casas coffee did not disappoint. We hope you enjoy your own coffee adventures and let us know your favorite San Cristobal coffee shop below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best months to visit San Cristobal?
The best time to visit San Cristobal de las Casas is in March, April and May. These months have the best weather and the most sunshine so you can be out exploring San Cristobal or the nearby villages without worrying about the rain or cold ruining your plans.
What’s the cost of living in San Cristobal de las Casas for digital nomads?
We found San Cristobal to be a very affordable digital nomad destination, especially for the high quality of life! For 2 people, our cost of living in San Cristobal de las Casas was $1,825 for 1 month. Of course, this is just what we spent – what you spend is totally up to you! You might want to spend more on certain things and save in other ways.
Where is the best place to stay in San Cristobal?
The best areas to stay in San Cristobal de las Casas are:
– El Cerillo (Best Overall Neighborhood)
– El Cerillo & Barrio de los Mexicanos (Closest To Coworking Spaces)
- Zona Centro & Guadalupe (Closest To Restaurants)
Where should I eat in San Cristobal de las Casas?
The good news about this magical town is that there are plenty of amazing restaurants in San Cristobal de las Casas that are worth a try, from cheap eats to fine dining experiences. Some of our favorites:
– El Meson Del Taco (best tacos)
– Sarajevo Cafe Jardin (great lunch deals)
– Trattoria Catanzaro (perfect date night option)
– Tok Tok Wok (a hidden gem!)
Which is the best cafe to work from in San Cristobal de las Casas?
Our top 3 picks for getting some work done at a cafe would be:
Frontera Cafe
We worked from Frontera several times and they didn’t mind us having our laptops out. TTA Tip: Get there early to get a table near a plug outlet and with fewer people, the wifi will be more stable.
Cafeologia
They had decent wifi and a good table and chairs to work from. However, we noticed a sticker on the table saying there’s a 1-hour limit to sit at each table. They didn’t kick us out if we went over so maybe it’s a lenient rule? Just be aware.
Libre Cafe
The tables and chairs weren’t the most comfortable here but it seemed like you could spend as long as you want, so could easily work from here. Plus, delicious coffee!
Looking for more places to work in San Cris? Check out our guide to the best coworking spaces in San Cristobal de las Casas.
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