All about Cafetería Impala in Mérida, Mexico (2025)

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.

As the name suggests, Cafetería Impala offers a casual dining experience. The menu features a mix of American-style dishes, including sandwiches and hamburgers, alongside traditional Yucatecan options like Huevos Motuleños, Sopa de Lima, and Orden de Arrachera.

It is a convenient spot if you are looking for a simple meal with familiar flavors in a relaxed setting. The interior is basic, and to be honest, there is nothing particularly special about it, but stopping by still feels like something you should do when visiting Mérida.

In the evening, street performers, often musicians and dancers, entertain guests in front of the café, adding to the lively atmosphere and giving you another taste of Mérida’s local culture. The pedestrian area was completely renovated in 2023 and therefore looks quite nice.

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 sits at the corner of Paseo de Montejo. The area is known as the Restaurant Row, or Corredor Gastronómico, which stretches for about four blocks east along Calle 47 from the southern roundabout.

Strictly speaking, Cafetería Impala is not actually on the Restaurant Row in Calle 47, but it is close enough. Calle 47 underwent renovations in 2023 and is now home to some of Mérida’s best restaurants and most popular cafés.

You will find fine restaurants such as Olivia Enoteca, 130 Grados Steakhouse, Catrín, and Micaela Mar & Leña. In addition to Cafetería Impala, there are also cafés like Baretto Espresso Bar, Marmalade 47 or Latte Quatro Sette, as well as the cantina El Lucero del Alba.