The Best Cafes in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Lúdica is a European-style coffee house popular with locals. This cafe specializes in espresso drinks and cold brews. They serve light meals, lots of great desserts, and local handcrafted, microbrew beers.

Just a few steps away from the Gardens at the Malecon 2000, El Mono Goloso is a great place to take a break from touring the city. High on the list of favorites are the French-style pastries, including excellent almond croissants.

Pastelería Galletas Pecosa is a local treasure and is beloved by Guayaquileños. High on the list of favorites are the chocolate cake, the macadamia nut cake and the tiramisu. This is not the place to come for espresso drinks but they do make a great cup of coffee.

Sailor Coffee is the perfect name for a port city like Guayaquil. They also make a superb cup of coffee: pour over, Aeropress, French press, and espresso. They have a great selection of bagels, sandwiches and salads, some with an international twist. Healthy options are on the menu as well, including an extensive juice bar.

Kawka Coffee Shop Bakery has great coffee, excellent empanadas and delicious waffles. Located in the Samborondon neighborhood, this relatively new restaurant is quickly making a name for itself.

El Café de Tere was once a local secret. Nowadays, with several stores in the city, lines of hungry customers wait their turn to buy the specialty of the house, Bolón de Verde, or a hefty platter of Tigrillo, both dishes made from green plantains. Arrive early for the best selection as they stop serving once sold out, usually before closing.

Sweet & Coffee first opened in Guayaquil in 1997. Today, they own cafes throughout Ecuador. This coffee shop offers a good selection of coffee drinks, fresh juices, as well as sweet and savory pastries. If you want to know how Ecuadorians drink their coffee, this is a great place to learn.