With the warmer weather, people begin to take advantage of the afternoons to tour the capital and a business that is gaining relevance in the market is that of cafeterias, which attract different groups with their gastronomic proposals. Coffee & Business collected information from some coffee shops to present a general overview of the offer in Montevideo.
coffee
The idea was conceived in 2012, but the cafeteria finally entered the market in 2014. “We wanted there to be quality coffee in Uruguay,” said the founding partner of Cafetto, Alicia Radi, when asked about the reason for the opening.
Cafetto emerged as a gastronomic space of good quality, but without pretensions. “A simple place,” Radi said.
From the beginning, the cafeteria has offered customers specialty coffee and according to the founding member, the proposal linked to this product is the one that has evolved the most over the years: “We started by importing specialty coffee, we were formed by the Association of specialty coffee from Europe (SCA) and moved on to roasting our own coffee,” explained Radi.
The coffee is accompanied with homemade food. Radi highlighted the artisanal walnut bread sandwich with bondiola, cream cheese and arugula, and the scones.
coffee
coffee
Address: Joaquin Suarez 3640
Schedule: 11:00 – 20:00 | Closed from Sunday to Tuesday
Potts
The first branch—located on an iconic corner of the Palermo neighborhood—entered the market in 2017, and the founding partners later replicated the business in three new addresses. But the pandemic was against the development of the cafeteria and just as they opened, the new branches had to close their doors.
Potts works in its original space, with a proposal that includes breakfast, snacks and lunch.
Breakfast is characterized by the offer of brunch (late breakfast, in Spanish), although there is also the possibility of ordering breakfast a la carte: the tostones —in sourdough country bread, or in walnut bread— with egg and avocado are in high demand, as are the American-style dishes that include scrambled eggs and bacon. For snack they focus on the offer of bagels, which are of more than 10 types of filling.
Potts
Potts
According to the founding partner of the cafeteria, Guillermo Alpa, the prices of the cafeteria range between $300 and $450.
Address: Eduardo Acevedo 1047
Schedule: 10:00 – 20:30 | Closed on Tuesdays
The pharmacy
The La Farmacia specialty cafeteria was installed in a 20th-century pharmacy building. According to the founding partner of the company, Martín Chamyan —also a reference for La Madriguera—, it emerged in 2017 due to the need of the owners to create another gastronomic space.
Then they came across the old Deli pharmacy, and decided to settle there with a specialty coffee shop that retains the features of what Deli once was.
The proposal focuses on breakfast and snacks, although last year they incorporated the lunch service accompanied by pastry. According to Chamyan, the price range for breakfast and snacks is between $190 and $250. The pastry costs between $100 and $200, and two Middle Eastern cuisine products stand out: Baklava ($ 160) and Shamali ($115).
The pharmacy
The pharmacy
In the future, La Farmacia hopes to open the kitchen for direct sales to the public, both take away and delivery.
Address: hill 550
Schedule: 8:00 – 19:00 | Saturdays 9:00 – 19:00
pecan
The company was born in 2012. The starting point was a store on Oscar Gestido street, which operated solely as a take away. At the age of two, he settled in a house in Pocitos and, later, he moved to a space on the Punta Carretas Shopping pedestrian street.
Pecana specializes in homemade food, according to the owner of the company, Sofía Muñoz, “Pocha”. This is their differential and —although it requires a lot of work—, due to the enjoyment of the customers every time they receive the products, they are committed to continuing down this path. Likewise, with the spirit of pampering consumers, it generates a bond of closeness by being present in the three restaurants —because By Pecana also opened inside the Punta Carretas Shopping—, asking for opinions and even giving a special gift.
pecan
pecan
Muñoz changes the menu every three months, so as not to get bored or to bore his cooks. He looks to the internet—especially Instagram—for inspiration, from cookbooks, from travel, and from his own gear.
Address: Master 2778 | Pedestrian Punta Carretas Shopping
Schedule: 12:00 – 20:00 | 8:30 – 20:00
caravel
Carabele began to take shape in March 2020, and opened its doors in the middle of 2021.
The initial proposal was for a gluten-free food restaurant, and focused on take away. And so it remained until —by customer demand—, they decided to set up some tables in the store to receive guests.
“Carabele offers solutions with rich and varied food,” said the company’s founding partner, Carolina Raquet.
In the breakfast and snack category, the star products are apple cakes with almonds ($190) and carrot cakes ($170). The price range for all dishes varies between $80 and $420. “We don’t want to take advantage of prices for being gluten-free,” Raquet said.
caravel
caravel
In the future, Carabele aims to continue creating gluten-free but appetizing options with the aim of overthrowing the prejudice about food without TACC
Address: Alexander Schroeder 6558
Schedule: 9:00 – 20:00 | Saturday 10:00 – 19:00
