Looking for the best coffee spot on campus? Pa’l Café is the place, hands down. I confess I might be a little bit biased: ever since I discovered them as a freshman, I haven’t been able to believe anywhere else could make me feel more at home. The Argentinean owners, Micaela and Ariel Torres, decided to buy the quaint coffee cart we all grew to love to bring a little more caffeine to our mornings.
Fast forward three years later and this brother-sister duo have expanded their coffee enterprise into a cozy, nicely-situated corner of Plaza Universitaria. Open from 7 AM to 7 PM from Monday through Thursday and from 7 AM to 5 PM on Fridays, Pa’l Café has all you want and more. They serve the typical café con leche, mochaccino, cappuccino and the like, but if you really want something special be sure to ask for the Submarino. Steaming milk served in a glass cup with a heaping piece of real chocolate makes everyone else’s typical hot chocolate sound pretty dull. Just make sure to use a spoon to mix together the melted chocolate!
To accompany your beverage of choice, be it coffee, hot chocolate or tea, you can’t possibly leave without trying one of the typical Argentinean treats they have to offer. The traditional Alfajores (dulce de leche between small cookies and topped with coconut shavings) are well worth the treat, but don’t overlook their empanadillas horneadas or media lunas. The latter might come off as a simple croissant but, unlike their French counterpart, they’re not sweet and much smaller. If you’re in a rush to the library or on your way to class, you can always ask them to serve the drink to-go along with their sándwiches de mezcla, one of the most popular items on their menu.
Expect to fall in love with the open space, the glass tables decorated with fresh flowers and the charming, musical sound of their Argentine accents when they ask for your order. While you wait for your coffee, don’t be afraid to snap some quick photos: their colorful walls hold positive messages and inspiring images to get you through the day.
Pictures courtesy of the Pa’l Cafe Facebook page.