Escandonia, Mexico City, Mexico

Gral. Salvador Alvarado S/N, Escandón I Secc, 11800 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Turning left from my apartment every day, to head to the metro station, it took me nearly a week to realise there was a coffee shop almost directly below where I was staying, and a decent one at that.
I think what also threw me was the amount of plant life in the window as I assumed it was some sort of florist or maybe even a private lot but when the peso dropped that I could actually go in, sit down and have a coffee I plagued the poor baristas like some foreign, coffee drinking locust.

Having to compete for my affections with the café I’d discovered just a few blocks away (Cafe Illusionista) meant that it had to have good coffee and vegan eats, both of which were prominent from the outset as my stuttering Spanish was met with unfaltering English and laughed off confusion over how much I should be paying (I still get some of my numbers confused when counting in español). Also dealing in organic products, the vibe is one of laid back efficiency, where the service is excellent but never seems in a rush. The super chic decor is decked out with well thumbed books on shelves should you wish to pass the time with a quick read or brushing up of your coffee knowledge. Pet friendly too, it encourages the local community to wander in when out walking as people flit in and out without a particular direction.
Dark coffee comes with the possibility of of dairy free milk alternatives if you are so inclined so that a cosy and casual ethos is embodied in everything around it.

I made this such a frequent haunt of mine that it completely slipped my mind to take any pictures to document my days there. It just became natural to head on down early in the mornings or after returning from a day trip elsewhere. To have two such fabulous places to plan my days and write up about my travels is certainly a treat and it is here I spend my last few hours in Mexico City as I wait for a cab to come and pick me up for the airport and honestly, just sitting in the sunshine drinking great coffee is all I could really ask for.