In this guide
To pick a café in Mariano Roque Alonso, decide first what you need it for: a quick coffee on the way, an afternoon snack with friends or a table to work at with your laptop. If you travel along the old Transchaco by car or bus, look for somewhere on your route; for something quieter, try Barrio Central. Before you leave, confirm that day's hours on WhatsApp or Instagram, because many neighborhood cafés close early or are not open every day.
Quick coffee, afternoon snack or a place to work?
Each plan calls for a different kind of place:
- Coffee on the go: what matters is that it is on your way and you can park or hop off the bus easily. Ask if they do takeaway.
- Breakfast or merienda: check for sweet and savory options, and whether they have chipa, mbejú or something homemade besides pastries.
- Working or studying: ask for the Wi-Fi password when you arrive, whether there are outlets near the tables, and whether staying a couple of hours on one order is fine.
- A meeting: choose a table away from the coffee machine and the door, especially when people are leaving work.
Which part of Mariano should you look in?
Route PY03, the old Transchaco, is the city's main avenue and where the big shops are (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Choose by your route:
- Shopping Mariano, on the old Transchaco: the most predictable option if you want air conditioning, restrooms and parking. The food court has more than 14 outlets and seats over 1,000 people (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)), and it opens Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 23:00 and Friday and Saturday 11:00 to midnight (Shopping Mariano (opens in a new tab)). Note that the food court is not open before 11:00, so for an early breakfast look elsewhere.
- Barrio Central and Avenida Boquerón: Avenida Boquerón is the main access to Barrio Central and is lined with shops (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). This is where to look for a more neighborhood-style café, near Plaza La Libertad.
- Towards Limpio or the Remanso: if you come along the highway from Limpio, or cross from the Chaco over the Remanso Bridge, stop for coffee before you hit the busiest stretch.
When should you go to get a table?
Mariano is a through-city between Asunción, Limpio and the Chaco, and the old Transchaco gets heavy at commuting hours. For a calm coffee, aim for mid-morning or early afternoon on a weekday.
July is different: the Expo takes place at the Asociación Rural grounds on the same highway, 150 meters from Shopping Mariano. In 2026 it ran from July 11 to 26, during the winter school holidays (Hoy (opens in a new tab)). Those weeks the mall and the highway fill up, so if you are not going to the Expo, pick a café elsewhere or go early.
How can you tell if the coffee is good?
Within a few years Paraguay went from drinking mostly instant coffee or sugar-roasted "torrado" to having cafés all over the country, and more people now want to understand what they are drinking, according to the Paraguayan restaurant association quoted by La Nación (opens in a new tab). That does not mean every café serves specialty coffee. To find out:
- Ask where the beans come from and who roasts them.
- See whether they offer filter methods (V60, Chemex, French press) as well as espresso.
- If it matters to you, order it without added sugar and taste it that way first.
If what you really want is a good merienda rather than a carefully brewed cup, a place with good pastries and quick service may be the better choice.
What should you ask before going?
A short message saves a wasted trip:
- That day's hours: especially on Sundays and holidays.
- Indoor or outdoor seating: summers in Mariano are hot and humid (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), so in the early afternoon you will want air conditioning.
- Large groups: whether they take bookings for birthdays or meetings.
- Parking: whether there is on-site parking or you leave the car on the street.
- Special options: plant milk, gluten-free or sugar-free, if you need them.
How do people pay?
QR is now the norm: 7 in 10 electronic payments in Paraguay are made by QR, according to Bancard data reported by ABC Color (opens in a new tab). Most cafés also take cards, but carry a little cash at small places in case the system goes down.
FAQ
Where are the cafés in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Along the old Transchaco (Route PY03), where Shopping Mariano and its food court are, and in Barrio Central around Avenida Boquerón. Pick the area that fits your route.
What are Shopping Mariano's food court hours?
According to the mall, Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 23:00 and Friday and Saturday 11:00 to midnight. For an early breakfast, look for a café outside the mall.
Are there cafés to work from in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Yes, but ask about Wi-Fi, outlets and whether you can stay a couple of hours. Weekday mid-morning or early afternoon is the easiest time to get a table.
When does the area get busiest?
At rush hour on the old Transchaco and during the July Expo, held at the Asociación Rural grounds a few meters from Shopping Mariano.
