Café Calaca
Coffee shop · Bedford-Stuyvesant ·
Savory empanadas, inventive lattes, and a warm community vibe
Savory empanadas, inventive lattes, and a warm community vibe
"The minute you step into Calaca, you feel transported to Mexico. This small, gritty and breezy neighborhood joint feels authentic to the core, down to the smallest ambiance, food and service details. Here, you'll find tasty food and mean margaritas that are curated, mixed and cooked up by the Mexican expats owners. Cash only, but so worth the hassle." - Ramona Todoca
"Much like your nephew in Fort Worth who just got rid of all his action figures, Calaca has scaled things back and reinvented itself over the last year. In fact, what was once a tiny, cash-only Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, is now a neighborhood coffee shop. Along with its new name, Cafe Calaca also has a new location just a few steps from the Franklin Avenue–Fulton Street subway stop. Show up on a weekday morning for a conchinita empanada and a cortado, or over the weekend for brunch dishes like avocado egg toast. There isn’t much seating indoors, but Cafe Calaca does have a few sidewalk benches that could work for a low-key coffee meet-up." - nikko duren
"Calaca is a cash-only Mexican restaurant with a tight menu of tostadas, tacos, and snacks but an impressively lengthy list of mezcals. It offers them in flights and focuses on smaller producers. Tequila and mezcal are the only spirits on hand here, and they’re used in cocktails that include a well-executed mezcalita. Be sure to ask if they have anything new in, and be aware that it’s a very small space that often gets full at dinner time." - Paul Schrodt, Eater Staff
"In passing, you might think Calaca is just a dark, tiny tequila bar with a few outdoor tables for those bold enough to emotionally drink in public. But the reality is, this cash-only Mexican spot serves incredible mezcal cocktails, as well as tacos, and tostadas (which is where you should focus most of your stomach space). They’re usually open from 5-9pm, Wednesday through Sunday, but it’s always best to check their Instagram for updates." - nikko duren
"Much like your nephew in Fort Worth who just got rid of all his action figures, Calaca has scaled things back and reinvented itself over the last year. In fact, what was once a tiny, cash-only Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, is now a neighborhood coffee shop. Along with its new name, Cafe Calaca also has a new location just a few steps from the Franklin Avenue–Fulton Street subway stop. Show up on a weekday morning for a conchinita empanada and a cortado, or over the weekend for brunch dishes like avocado egg toast. There isn’t much seating indoors, but Cafe Calaca does have a few sidewalk benches that could work for a low-key coffee meet-up. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation