Breakfast at Café Tecuba

When in Mexico City, we usually stay at the Gillow Hotel, located at the intersection of Cinco de Mayo and Isabel la Católica in the Centro Historico. A modest but comfortable hotel, suites go for $670 pesos. For that, you get a small sitting room, a king size bed, a large Jacuzzi tub, and a balcony overlooking the street where a saxophonist sometimes entertains you with a rendition of the theme from the Pink Panther.

At least once during each visit to Mexico City we walk three blocks from the Gillow to the Café Tecuba for breakfast.



The food at Café Tecuba is just okay, but the atmosphere and decór are the real draw. We arrived at opening time—8:00 AM—on Saturday morning. Being the only customers at that hour, the atmosphere seemed a little subdued. But lack of customers permitted clear sight lines for photography.  Above: the view toward the front with the beautiful stained glass windows. Below we see to the rear. Beyond the doorway the walls are covered with murals.



Eighteenth-century portraits of obscure nobility line the walls.



A painting of a little girl in court dress contains a written notation identifying her as Doña Anna Maria etc., etc., legitimate daughter of Manuel Porfirio etc. etc. Why, I wonder, was it necessary to make such a distinction on a formal portrait?

Breakfast dishes generally are uninspired, but the café con leche is a treat.



The waitress pours a half inch or so of intense coffee concentrate in the bottom of a tall glass—more or less depending on how strong you tell her you like your coffee. Then she adds hot milk from a pitcher. She pours from a great height, causing the drink to foam. The flavor is robust; the drama makes it more so.

Breakfast at the Tecuba—we do it every visit.

Comments

[el guapo]

an empty restaurant scene; again can't miss
poss page 11 very close to front as mexico is designed like a wheel with all spokes emanating from DF

[Billie]

We go to Tacuba for the same reason....the decor. The breakfast is okay but I never get tired of seeing the place.