Salento
Coffee shop · Washington Heights ·
Colombian cafe with buñuelos, pandebono, empanadas & coffee
Colombian cafe with buñuelos, pandebono, empanadas & coffee
"Salento is a Colombian coffee shop where you can read a book while munching on a guava cheese palito. The Washington Heights spot occupies a sunny corner on Amsterdam Avenue, and there's an outdoor seating area if it's basking weather. If not, the light wood, plant-filled interior works well for catching up with a friend over a cafe con leche. Whatever you do, don’t leave here without an empanada. There are three different types, but the beef, with its chewy, crispy corn crust and soft mashed potato filling is a standout. They come with a creamy, slightly spicy green sauce that we’d happily drink like soup. But eat at least one completely plain. The empanadas here deserve your undivided attention. photo credit: Willa Moore" - Willa Moore
"Named after a town deep in Colombian coffee country, this stylish cafe opened right before the pandemic and is one of the best places to go for coffee and a bite (or substantial breakfast) in the Heights. The large display case holds an array of traditional pastries like bunuelos, and various puff pastry treats stuffed with sweet (guava and cheese) or savory (chicken, mushroom, or beef) ingredients. You'll also find fresh empanadas, arepas, and, if you’re truly hungry, the bandeja paisa—a classic plate with beef, chorizo, chicharron, arepa, sweet plantains, and fried egg over rice and beans." - Willa Moore, Sonal Shah, Bryan Kim, Nikko Duren, Matt Tervooren
"I visited Salento in Washington for empanadas and pandebono con bocadillo." - Eater Staff
"This Washington Heights cafe and panadería sends out South American classics — crisp corn empanadas, calentado breakfast platters with rice, eggs, beans, and arepas, guava-stuffed pandebono, sweet crispy aborrajados de plátanos maduros, and indulgent bandeja paisa platters teeming with picadillo or skirt steaks." - Ryan Sutton
"In Washington Heights I enjoyed Salento’s fine Colombian empanada, where yellow masa shells are stuffed with juicy shredded chicken and potatoes, and I made a point not to overlook the pandebono cheese bread." - Ryan Sutton
