Cafés in Fernando de la Mora: where to go for merienda

To choose a café in Fernando de la Mora, first decide the plan: an afternoon merienda with something sweet, a specialty coffee to go, or a quiet table to work on your laptop. Then pick the zone, north or south of Avenida Mariscal Estigarribia, and check the café's Instagram for today's hours and menu before you leave.

Where to go for merienda in Fernando de la Mora

The city is known for tereré, but meeting over coffee is a growing habit, according to a September 2026 roundup by Infonegocios⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. It features four cafés with different styles:

• Malcriada Café: strong on sweets (raspberry alfajor, coconut tart with dulce de leche) plus savory options such as mbejú, sandwiches and pizza.
• Alquimia Café: a cake-led menu, including red velvet and chocolate, and coffee pairings with cookies or alfajores.
• Moraga Café: specialty coffee (macchiato, flat white, mocha) and also cocido, with medialunas and croissants.
• Café Madre: specialty coffee, 100% sourdough breads, pastries and a brunch menu, plus its own take on cocido called "chuchi".

The article does not list addresses or hours; all four post them on social media, so check before you go.

Merienda, coffee to go or a table to work at

Each plan needs something different:

• Merienda with friends or family: look at table sizes and whether you can book for a group. Whole cakes or special orders usually need notice.
• Coffee on the way to work: choose one on your route (Mariscal López, Mariscal Estigarribia, or Eusebio Ayala if you head to Asunción) with space to pull over.
• A table to work at: ask about Wi-Fi and power outlets and whether staying several hours is fine. At merienda time, free up the table or keep ordering.

North or south zone?

Avenida Mariscal Estigarribia divides Fernando de la Mora into a north and a south zone (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). For a weekday coffee, stay on your side: crossing the avenue at rush hour can eat the time you wanted to spend sitting down. If you live in the south near Acceso Sur (Ruta PY01), Villa Elisa and Ñemby are also close; in the north, San Lorenzo and Luque.

Local flavors: cocido, mbejú and tereré

Fernando de la Mora holds the title of Paraguay's tereré capital (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), and some cafés now mix Paraguayan staples with specialty coffee: cocido on the menu, new takes on cocido, or mbejú among the savory options (Infonegocios⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If you are visiting, order a cocido: it is Paraguay's classic breakfast and afternoon drink, made from yerba mate toasted with sugar, served plain or with milk.

Before you go: parking and payment

• Parking: if the café is on a main avenue, ask whether it has its own spaces or where to leave the car; on the street there are sometimes informal car minders (cuidacoches).
• Payment: QR is now the most used electronic payment in Paraguay (La Nación⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), so paying by phone or card is usually possible. Carry some cash in case the system is down.
• Hours: check which days they open and from what time, especially early in the morning or on a Monday. A look at their Instagram stories saves a wasted trip.