Café del Mundo more than coffee & The 10 Most Asked Traveler Questions
March 2025
So happy you’re back for another blog post, this time from a chilly, foggy morning in La Paz! Like many mornings, I’m sitting in the café, surrounded by people having their first coffee of the day, planning their adventures, and sharing travel stories. I love these quiet moments, the excitement in the air and the feeling of new journeys just about to begin.
The other day, I was walking around the café, chatting with people, when an American traveler stopped me. “This is my third day here,” he said. “I get that it’s a travel café, but I want to hear it from you, what makes Café del Mundo a travel café?”
I started telling him the story, realizing halfway through that I was skipping parts, forgetting details, and jumping around. So today, I want to put it all down properly, this is Café del Mundo: a travel café filled with people, food, and stories from around the world!
How It All Started
When I opened the café in 2011, I had zero experience running a business or working in a café. It was just a dream! I didn’t even speak Spanish! All I knew was that I wanted to create a place where people could eat, meet, and feel inspired by the world.
Back then, Café del Mundo started with two tiny tables and a small bar desk. I put up photos from my travels and did a brunch menu inspired by the little things I missed from home while backpacking american pancakes, yogurt with fruit, eggs with veggies, fresh juice, and that comforting feeling of a home away from home.
But very soon something special started happening, travelers connected. They exchanged stories, shared tips, and even planned trips together over a cup of coffee. And that’s when I realized: this café was never just about food. It is about the people, the experiences and the magic of travel.
Expanding the Café: A World of Its Own
As more travelers found their way here, I needed more space. Growing wasn’t always easy, but it gave me the chance to get creative.
Instead of just adding tables, we designed each new room to feel like a different part of the world. Today, you can grab a coffee in Africa, Oceania, America, or Europe, or stretch out and relax in the Asian pillow corner to rest between your adventures. The travel photos are still on the walls, mixed with little details from every continent, making the café feel like a global meeting point.
More than anything, Café del Mundo became a home for travelers, even when they were far from home. Whether you are here in Bolivia, you just arrived in La Paz or you’re about to take off on your next trip, this café is your space to pause, connect, and be inspired.
The Menu: A Taste of the World
Back in 2011, we started with a small breakfast/brunch menu, yogurt, fruit, fresh smoothies, egg mixes, and american pancakes. Simple, fresh, and perfect for travelers who needed a good start to the day.
But food is a huge part of traveling, right? And sometimes, when you’re far from home, you just need something familiar to recharge. So, as more travelers walked in, we started talking—what foods do you miss? What makes you feel comfortable while traveling?
That’s how our menu grew! Today, you’ll find flavors from around the world, served from early morning until late at night. And we’re always experimenting, inviting travelers into our kitchen to share their favorite dishes, adding a Bolivian twist to global flavors.
Take açaí, for example. When I opened the café, nobody talked about it. Today, it’s one of our most popular items, we serve it in bowls, smoothies, and ice cream. And fun fact, while açaí is often linked to Brazil, we actually use Bolivian açaí, grown right here in the Amazon!
Who knows what the next big trend will be? One thing’s for sure, Café del Mundo will always progress, just like the travelers who visit.
The Travel Community: More Than Coffee
Over the years, I’ve realized that a café isn’t just a place to eat, it's also be a travel spot, a meeting point, and a space for connection. We want Café del Mundo to be more than just a café; we wanted it to be part of your journey.
That’s why we’re constantly creating ways for travelers to connect and get inspired. Besides this blog, we now have a podcast, free travel e-guides, weekly travel updates in our TravelZine (our own travel magazine!), a Facebook group, and of course, a free eBook packed with tips for Bolivia.
If you’re planning a trip to La Paz, make sure to download it [HERE] and get even more out of your adventure!
All of this exists because we want to inspire and help you make the most of your trip to La Paz and Bolivia, so you leave this country with a big smile and unforgettable memories.
The 10 Most Asked Traveler Questions
We love listening to your stories and that’s how we learn! Not just about food, but about travel itself, what worked, what didn’t, what surprised you, and what could have made your trip even better. And over the years, while listening, we’ve also answered thousands of questions about La Paz.
Some questions change, but others? They come up again and again. So, we’ve collected the 10 most-asked ones to help you prepare for your trip! Here are three of them:
See You at Café del Mundo!
That’s a little piece of the Café del Mundo story. I hope this gave you a better idea of who we are, what we do, and why we do it. It’s all for the travelers, to create a space where you feel safe, inspired, and connected while experiencing La Paz and Bolivia with all your senses.
If you have any questions about your trip, don’t hesitate to reach out. And if you’re already here in La Paz, I hope to see you soon at Café del Mundo!
