($$$) Mere steps away from the Artisan's Market, transport yourself from Zihuatanejo Centro to a trendy downtown lounge for drinks on the velvet chairs of Caprichos Grill House. After a cocktail or two, continue the experience by stepping into the candlelit hacienda-style patio for dinner from Caprichos unique mesquite grilled menu. The decor, ambiance, and food all take the very meaning of Capricho -- "on a whim" -- to an irresistible level. The patio's fountains, lush plants, art, and copper chandeliers will lure you to stay a while longer for another glass of wine from their broad selection, another cup of espresso, another taste of their homemade ice cream, or another song from the intimate live weekend performances.

just the facts, ma'am: Caprichos is open every day from 4 until 11 PM with live music on weekends.

don't miss: whether you just have a cocktail or indulge in a 4 course meal, Capricho's menu is eclectic, inspired by world music and the flavors of a mesquiite grill. The owner, Joaquin, is on the constant lookout for new wines, new tastes, and new music to expand the restaurant's charms.

meet me @: Avendida 5 de Mayo #4 in Zihua Centro next to the Catholic Church (Iglesia de Guadalupe).

filed under: @zihua- @zihua- casual dining- fancy schmancy- live music- restaurants by Isahrai (Oct 07)

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($-$$$) With certified organic coffee beans grown in the mountains surrounding Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, Café Zihuatanejo is a place any coffee lover won't want to miss. For years, they have offered green and freshly roasted beans (both whole and ground) in their small store on Calle Cuauhtémoc. In 2006, they also opened a "proper" cafe in Centro that serves up their coffee, espresso drinks, a wide range of teas, and both breakfast and daytime fare.

just the facts, ma'am: Café Zihuatanejo is open from 8 am until midnight every day with breakfast served until noon. Many menu items can be ordered as entirely "organic" (there is typically a 5-10 peso surcharge due to increased cost in ingredients). Café Zihuatanejo has been certified organic by the USDA, OCIA, and has received awards for their coffee from as far away as Australia. In addition to being committed to organic coffee growing techniques, they also promote recycling by offering a small discount on coffee bean purchases when you bring your bag back to their Cuauhtémoc shop.

don't miss: Wake up the whole family with a pot of coffee for just 40 pesos (a single serving cup of café americano is 10 pesos). There are plenty of options for non-coffee drinkers including a wide range of fruit smoothies and teas. The ginger te (te gingebre) is especially delicious. Breakfast "packets" are a wonderful way to start the day before heading to the beach while the crepes (savory or sweet) taste great with a cappucino at night.

meet me @: the pedestrian street of H. Galeana (between restaurants Jarocho and Nueva Zealandia). Café Zihuatanejo has quickly become a popular meeting place for locals looking for an alternative to bars and clubs.
You can also still buy green and roasted beans by the 1/2 kilo or kilo in their shop at Calle Cuauhtémoc # 170. They offer several roasts/blends including French Roast, Cuban Roast, Americano, Expresso, an anti-depressive blend, and decaffeinated varieties.

filed under: @zihua- cafes by Isahrai (Jul 07)

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($$) Lilian's Coffee is the area's first foray into franchised coffee shops. Located on the main strip of Ixtapa, Lilian's provides both hot and cold versions of many modern Starbucks-style drinks including cafe americano, cappuccino, mochaccino, espresso, and frappuccino. They also have pastries and bottled beverages including beer. Make sure to take the time and enjoy your freshly-brewed coffee or espresso under one of the umbrellas in front of the stand and take advantage of their wifi and prime people-watching location

meet me @: Lilian's is located on the main strip of Ixtapa across from Playa del Palmar. It is in the front of the Los Patios shopping complex.

filed under: @ixtapa- cafes by Isahrai (Dec 06)

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($$-$$$) Yes, there is a creperia in Zihuatanejo! Café Mandarina specializes in both savory and dessert crepes in addition to being one of the first locations to serve strong-brewed coffee and espresso drinks. The menu doesn't stop there, though! There is a full selection of Mexican tortas and other traditional fare, contintental breakfasts, large entree salads, and cakes. The owners, Carlos and Esperanza, are genuine people who get to know their customers and are constantly working to improve the cafe through menu changes, decor improvements, and training their employees in good customer service.

just the facts, ma'am: open daily from 9 am until midnight. There is free wifi for paying customers; simply ask for the password from any of the staff to log on.

don't miss: the savory crepes are very filling and the dessert crepes are almost too big! In fact, I've never managed to finish one. The chef's salad with a honey mustard dressing is especially satisfying on a hot day.

meet me @: Café Mandarina is located directly across from the Church on Cinco de Mayo, on the same side of the street as the Artisan's Market.

filed under: @zihua- cafes- casual dining- restaurants by Isahrai (Oct 06)

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($-$$) La Casa Cafe has become a vacationer and expatriate's staple, offering a balanced mix of gringo-style breakfasts, deli sandwiches and wraps, and Mexican favorites in a quiet courtyard-style restaurant. Owners Lorna and Pedro are great for directions, travel advice, and Zihua stories. Major sporting events are shown on a large flat panel tv during special extended hours and they also occasionally also have night time live music events.

just the facts, ma'am: open Tuesday-Sunday, serving 9 am - 2 pm; La Casa Cafe is one of the few nonsmoking restaurants in Zihua.

don't miss: the coffee! Casa Cafe's slogan is "Life's too short to drink bad coffee" and they take this sentiment seriously with strong brewed americano plus a wide range of espresso-based drinks. From the menu, the homemade multigrain bread and bagels are a hit with customers who try in vain to pry the recipes from Lorna.

meet me @: La Casa Cafe is located in Colonia la Madera in the middle of Calle Adelita, the street running alongside the canal. Look for their sandwich board sign and Pedro outside, greeting passersby.

filed under: cafes- on the cheap- restaurants by Isahrai (Oct 06)

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