In this guide
For breakfast in Asunción, first decide which side of the city you'll be on. Downtown (microcentro), El Bolsi opens at 7:00 and Lido Bar serves breakfast facing Plaza de los Héroes; for specialty coffee there's Kaffe'i on calle Palma. In Villa Morra, El Café de Acá is the go-to for a long breakfast with cocido quemado or brunch, and in Las Mercedes, Karu adds sourdough and a garden patio.
What do people eat for breakfast in Asunción?
Chipa is one of Paraguay's main morning foods, eaten widely mid-morning; the classic chipa almidón is made with cassava starch and cheese, and chipa so'o is filled with seasoned beef (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Its natural partner is cocido, a hot yerba mate drink. Cafés also serve cocido quemado (caramelised-sugar cocido), payagua mascada and cassava empanadas alongside eggs Benedict or shakshuka (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). To eat like a local, order cocido with chipa or a basket of Paraguayan bites first.
Microcentro: early breakfasts and classics
- El Bolsi (Estrella and Alberdi). Café-restaurant since 1960, open 07:00–01:00, with bookings advised Thursday to Sunday (La Nación, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). It is on TasteAtlas's list of legendary restaurants (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). In 2024 The New York Times put breakfast for two at about Gs. 50,000 (Infobae/NYT (opens in a new tab)). Good before a downtown meeting.
- Lido Bar. Open since 1953 (Infonegocios (opens in a new tab)), on the corner facing Plaza de los Héroes (Eurolinguiste (opens in a new tab)). The tourism board listing includes breakfast, Wi-Fi, air conditioning and card payment (visitparaguay.travel (opens in a new tab)). Sit at the counter and watch downtown go by.
- Kaffe'i (calle Palma). A micro-roastery opened in November 2024 that roasts on site; in 2025 it was named among South America's 100 best coffee shops (ABC Color (opens in a new tab); La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Ask what single origin is on filter that day.
- Casa Clari (Manzana de la Rivera, Ayolas 129). A café-bar in a historic house with a terrace behind the Palacio de los López; open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 with breakfasts and afternoon snacks, and space to work (Última Hora (opens in a new tab); La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Best for a late breakfast.
Villa Morra and Jara: a long breakfast or brunch
El Café de Acá. The Villa Morra branch is at Teniente Héctor Vera 1390, near Francisco Mora, with another inside the Textilia complex in barrio Jara (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Expect breakfast, brunch and afternoon tea: cocido quemado, payagua mascada, cassava empanadas, eggs Benedict and shakshuka, plus aloha, a cane-honey, lemon and crushed-ice drink few places still make. The tourism board lists Wi-Fi, reservations, parking, air conditioning and cards (visitparaguay.travel (opens in a new tab)). Go early at weekends.
La Galette (Florida near San Agustín, Jara). A French-style café specialising in galettes and crêpes, which also serves sandwiches and salads (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab); Tripadvisor (opens in a new tab)). Tripadvisor lists it for breakfast and lunch: go for a different breakfast, savoury or sweet. Check its social media to see if it opens on the day you go.
Las Mercedes: sourdough and a patio
Karu. A sourdough bakery since 2011 using local, seasonal ingredients (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). The NYT recommended its patio under mango trees, passion-fruit macarons and guava tarts (Infobae/NYT (opens in a new tab)). Saturday morning is the best time, and the busiest.
Which one fits your morning?
- Early meeting downtown: El Bolsi from 07:00.
- Traditional breakfast with time to spare: Lido Bar or El Café de Acá.
- Specialty coffee at the bar or to go: Kaffe'i.
- Laptop work: El Café de Acá (Wi-Fi per the tourism board) or Casa Clari from 10:00.
- Weekend brunch: El Café de Acá or Karu, arriving early.
- Coffee to go: Perro Blanco, a grab-and-go specialty coffee stand with cold drinks such as cold brew (InfoNegocios, 2025 (opens in a new tab); Última Hora, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
Before you go
- Hours here come from press reports; check each place's social media, especially on Sundays and holidays.
- In summer, Paraguay's Health Ministry advises outdoor activity before 10:00 or after 17:00 (MSPBS (opens in a new tab)), so walk between cafés early.
- QR is the most used electronic payment: 68.1% of payments processed by Bancard in April 2026 (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Carry some cash for street chipa.
FAQ
Where to have breakfast in Asunción?
Downtown: El Bolsi (from 07:00), Lido Bar, or Kaffe'i for specialty coffee. In Villa Morra: El Café de Acá. In Las Mercedes: Karu bakery.
Where can I get an early breakfast in downtown Asunción?
El Bolsi at Estrella and Alberdi opens at 07:00, according to La Nación. Casa Clari opens only at 10:00.
How much does breakfast cost in Asunción?
In 2024 The New York Times estimated about Gs. 50,000 for breakfast for two at El Bolsi. Street chipa costs far less.
What is a typical Paraguayan breakfast?
Chipa almidón or chipa so'o with cocido, a hot yerba mate drink. Cafés like El Café de Acá also serve cocido quemado, payagua mascada and cassava empanadas.
