All about Cafetería Impala in Mérida, Mexico

The time-honored Cafetería Impala is a favorite among locals since 1958. This Mérida institution is popular day and night with long opening hours from 8:00 am to 2:00 am.

If you sit facing the street, you will be looking at the Monumento a los Montejo, which is located in the middle of the traffic circle that marks the beginning of the Paseo de Montejo in the Santa Ana district.

The main focus of the Cafetería Impala is - as the name suggests - the cafe business, but you can also get simple American dishes to eat like sandwiches and hamburgers.

But there is also typical Yucatecan food, like Huevos Motulenos (eggs), Sopa de Lima (lime soup) or Orden de Arrachera (skirt steak). Street artists often perform in front of the cafe in the evening.

What does Impala mean?

Car enthusiasts will notice that the almost life-size car model that towers over the cafe's lettering on the front of the house is a reference to the cafe's name.

The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size car built by General Motors under the Chevrolet automobile brand in the U.S. with interruptions from 1958 to 2020.

But an impala (or rooibok) is also a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. And such an antelope is also pictured right next to the Impala lettering. If you go out for a meal or a drink with someone at Cafetería Impala, you can brag about it if you like.

The Restaurant Row

Cafetería Impala is located on the corner of the Paseo de Montejo and the so-called Restaurant Row (Corredor Gastronómico) that extends about four blocks east on Calle 47 from the south traffic circle of Paseo de Montejo. The whole street was renovated in 2023 and there are some of the best restaurants and trendiest cafes in the city.

You will find the fine restaurants Olivia Enoteca, 130 Grados Steakhouse, Catrín or Micaela Mar & Leña, the cafés Cafetería Impala, Baretto Espresso Bar, Marmalade 47 or Latte Quatro Sette and the cantina El Lucero del Alba.