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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Top Cafes in Chapala, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Chapala, Mexico is getting a cultural upgrade.

It used to be that the only cup of coffee one could purchase here was some hot water and instant Nescafe. For those of us who enjoy a rich, foamy cappuccino, this was a disappointment.

However, these days there are several cafes from which to choose, each with their own charms and specialties.

Take a look below.

Ripe coffee berries

Ripe coffee berries

Coffee is a brewed beverage prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant. Coffee is grown in over 70 countries around the world, and did you know that the unroasted green coffee bean is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world?!

What you see here, are the red coffee "cherries." This is how the coffee bean looks when it is growing on the tree. Mechanical harvesting of these coffee cherries is impractical for several reasons, so the picking is almost always done by hand.

Al Kafé

Avenida Francisco Ignacio Madero 407

Chapala Centro, 45900 Chapala, Jalisco

Open 8am to 10pm Closed Tuesdays

Tele: 01 33 1869 6086

Al Kafe on the corner, Chapala, Mexico

Indoor and outdoor seating at Al Kafe

Al Kafe has a great location in the center of town, just up from the Cathedral, the malecon and Lake Chapala. On any Sunday one can sit here with their fresh brewed drink and watch the locals dressed in their Church finery walk to Mass.

You can also get a glimpse of the Lake.

From inside Al Kafe looking out Chapala, Mexico

From inside Al Kafe looking out

Clean, quaint and with a European feel, Al Kafe has become popular very quickly. Our favorite places to sit are at the window or outside. Directly across the street you can see the Old Nido Grand Hotel, now the Government City Office Building.

Eggs Benedict/Florentine at Al Kafe, Chapala, Mexico

Eggs Benedict/Florentine

Hey! It's Mexico!

We heard that Al Kafe offered Eggs Benedict and Billy wanted to try them out. Since he's a French Chef by trade, you can't pull one over on him. He'll know for sure if the sauce is fresh, canned or a dried packet.

Billy gives this dish a thumbs up, even though it's not 100% classical Eggs Benedict (since it also has the spinach...) the muffin was freshly made, ham was good, sauce had flavor.

Al Kafe also sells omelets, smoothies, chai and various coffee drinks.

***

El Árbol de Café

Hidalgo 236

Centro, 45900 Chapala, Jalisco

OPEN 8am to 2pm CLOSED Sunday

Tele: 01 376 765 3908

El Arbol de Cafe in Chapala, Mexico

El Arbol de Cafe

 

 

 

 

This is one of the first real coffee shops that opened up in Chapala some years ago. It is locally famous and has a loyal clientele. This is the place where I most often purchase my freshly ground beans to take home for our personal use.

This cafe has indoor and outdoor seating, has the "best" cheesecake in town, offers really good breakfast choices and is a great social hangout.

Coffee Roaster in El Arbol de Cafe, Chapala, Mexico

Lalo, the owner, roasts the coffee beans here in the roaster

One can purchase regular coffee or decaffeinated, whatever your choice might be. You can choose medium roast, espresso, or French Roast.

Sometimes when you walk by Cafe de Arbol, you can smell the beans roasting. Mmmmm!

The "best" cheesecake along with a Chai Latte, El Arbol de Cafe, Chapala, Mexico

The "best" cheesecake along with a Chai Latte

What a great combination! The cheesecake is super creamy, and with the raspberry sauce on top, it's pert-near perfect!

As I mentioned, years ago we were luck enough to get a "real" cup of coffee, and these days... we can now get Chai!

Chai tea or Chai lattes are available.

Isn't that fabulous?

Try some of their other pastries as well, like their carrot cake or apple pie.

***

My Coffee Restaurant

Juárez 617-647

Chapala Centro

45900 Chapala, Jalisco

OPEN 9am-3pm, 5pm-8pm CLOSED Wednesday

My Coffee Restaurant in Chapala, Mexico

My Coffee Restaurant

On Francisco I. Madero, the main street in Chapala just south of the bus station is this clean new coffee shop. It currently has the best prices for coffee and Chai, a breakfast menu, and a deli case full of yummies.

In the afternoons, they serve wine and beer also.

Nice!

A peek inside My Cafe, Chapala, Mexico

A peek inside My Cafe

The menu is on the wall lists hot and cold coffee and Chai selections. The breakfast menu is on the counter in the corner of the photo, and a flat screen TV is hanging down from the ceiling.

It's a quieter location and Beto the server is very attentive.

Delicious Cappuccino, Chapala, Mexico

DEE-licious Cappuccino

We are getting spoiled with having so many cafes that make quality coffee drinks. This is yet another A+ cappuccino.

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Your guide to Chapala Living

Coffee Hour

Avenida Francisco Ignacio Madero 413

Chapala Centro, 45900 Chapala, Jalisco

OPEN daily 8:30am to 10:30pm

Tele: 01 376 765 5931

Inside Coffee Hour Cafe, Chapala, Mexico

Inside Coffee Hour

Coffee Hour is very popular, as its location is prime. Across from the fountain in Chapala Centro at the traffic light, it's a great place to people watch as you sip your beverage.

Along with various coffee, tea and Chai selections, Coffee Hour serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts. It is open daily, which is another convenience.

Lady searches on her phone in Comfortable outdoor seats, chapala, Mexico

Comfortable outdoor seats

Coffee Hour offers free access to WiFi. You can have your caffeine perk-me-up while doing your email, catch up on some news, or read on your Kindle.

Seats are fairly close together, and soon strangers become friends brought together by their love of the roasted bean brew and people-watching.

Waitress serves Cafe Latte in Chapala, Mexico

The Lovely and Gracious Martha serves a latte

One of the most picturesque and active corners in Chapala, Centro, sitting outside offers you non-stop activity of the village.

The main fountain of Chapala is to the left in this photo, and the traffic from Ajijic and other towns around the lake comes into our town right at this light. You are directly on the sidewalk here, so passers-by often will interact with customers of the Coffee Hour.

A very social place.

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Café Paris

Chapala on Franco I. Madero on the way to Guadalajara #423

Chapala Centro, 45900 Chapala, Jalisco

OPEN 8am to 10:30pm CLOSED Monday

Tele: 376. 765. 5353

Cafe Paris, Chapala, Mexico

Cafe Paris

Just a few steps from the Central Plaza and the indoor farmer's market, Cafe Paris has been a mainstay in town for many years.

This restored cafe has a history that dates from the mid-1950s, and you can choose from breakfast, lunch or dinner offerings.

The restaurant itself is open and airy, and pictures of Paris line the walls.

 

 

 

 

Inside Paris Cafe, Chapala, Mexico

Inside Paris Cafe

We are Retire Lifestyle Mentors. Our goal is to help you achieve your retirement dreams.

Here you see the classic photos of Paris, with the Tour Eiffel and the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe.

The Paris Cafe offers coffee drinks and also a full menu featuring hamburgers and fries, sandwiches and salads as well as an interesting selection of dinner entrees.

The breakfast menu offers a variety of traditional Mexican dishes as well as American standards, including hot cakes and eggs, breakfast burritos, enfrijoladas, eggs benedict and frittatas. Light menu choices such as yogurt and a fruit plate are also available.

Antonio serves up a great cappuccino, Paris Cafe, Chapala, Mexico

Antonio serves up a great cappuccino

Prices are a bit upscale, but during the weekends this place is packed with tourists from Guadalajara.

One of the main attractions is live music on Sunday mornings, which spills out onto the sidewalk. This creates an unbeatable atmosphere and draws people in to the cafe consistently.

Music can be a wide variety with violin, saxophone, piano, guitar and bass, all of it delightful.

With all of these choices of cafes to visit in Chapala, I guess you could say that this town is growing up. Grab a friend and go get a cup of Joe! Have a meal or a pastry.

Get social!

We're sure to see you around in one of these great cafes.

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About the Authors

 
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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