Top 5 Coffee Shops to Study Spanish in Xela, Guatemala

Trip: January 2018

Below is our Top 5 Coffee Shops to Study Spanish in Xela, Guatemala, part of the Just Carrying On – Top 5 Things To Do series.

If you’re in Quetzaltenango (Xela) for any length of time, you’re likely studying Spanish. And if you’re studying Spanish, you’re likely to study at cafes in the afternoons. Below is a list of our favorite cafes specifically for studying, after trying a lot of them.

Looking for a Spanish school recommendation? Scroll to the bottom of this post for ours.

1. Panque Waffles

You’ll also find Panque Waffles on our Top 5 Things To Do in Xela list because it is awesome. Hip decor, good food at reasonable prices, and amiable staff. Importantly for studying purposes, plenty of seating and table space. The internet is decent, coffee and hot chocolate are good, and a vibe that encourages you to stay awhile.

Google Maps

2. La Luna Cafe

This is a Xela staple and is found in all the guidebooks. We concur. I first visited Luna in 2011 and we went back several times this trip. It is a popular afternoon study spot, with great hot drinks (they are known for their chocolate drinks) and internet. We ordered the Moka drink every time and highly recommend. It also goes by Teatro La Luna and Cafe Museo La Luna.

Google Maps / Trip Advisor

3. Baviera Cafe II in Zona 3

Another Xela institution and locally owned, Baviera has 3 locations. We tried 2 of them (the photo above is from their downtown location) but we would recommend the newer location in Zona 3 because it has an awesome courtyard patio space (and it was near our homestay). Drinks are ok and the internet is good. If the day is nice, head here for a beautiful study space.

Google Maps / Trip Advisor

4. El Cuartito

Among the most popular cafes among travelers, this is a hip cafe good for studying and also for hanging out at night. Since 2011 they’ve expanded to a large outdoor courtyard with good study spaces. Drinks are moderately priced and the location is central. We didn’t eat here but the menu looks good.

Google maps / Trip Advisor

5. Mandarina

We only came here once but found it tasty and quaint. It is smaller than the other places but also has an outdoor patio space (seeing a theme here?) and good coffee drinks. Rated #1 on Trip Advisor for Coffee & Tea shops.

Google maps / Trip Advisor

Honorable mentions

  • Hot Cold Coffee: we came here more than any other place because it was our first find and we found the staff just lovely. It is Guatemalan owned and the coffee is hip. But it is too small to study often or comfortably, but we still tried.
  • Habitual Coffee: another hip new shop that pays a lot of attention to the coffee. It is also too small to recommend for regular study, with only one decently sized table.
  • Grano de Café: we had a really amazing barista here, with really good coffee, and studied for an hour or so. It is locally run but isn’t on the main list because it seemed like a hot spot for loud chess players (did you ever think you’d hear that phrase?). The tables are few but adequate, so long as there’s space and you don’t mind a louder environment.

Spanish School Recommendation

We studied Spanish for 4 weeks in early 2018 and Jason studied for 3 in 2011, both times at La Democracia Spanish School. The escuela is in Zona 3 run by Flory, a lovely Guatemalan woman. Nearly all the teachers are female and instruction is 1 on 1. The setting is a stand-alone home with a great vibe. There’s a reason we returned to study there again—we’d highly recommend it.

Top 5 Coffee Shops to Study Spanish in Xela, Guatemala is part of the Just Carrying On – Top 5 Things To Do series, which offers our best travel recommendations from around the world.

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