Cafecito (Otro)

Cafecito in Phoenix has a menu built around Mexican coffee culture, and it earns its place among the better coffee spots in the city. It sits inside Otro Cafe tucked into the Uptown / North Central corridor close to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.

The coffee bar was born when Otro Cafe's ownership (Doug Robson and partner Carlos Diaz) knocked through a wall into the neighboring storefront. Phoenix New Times described it as a love letter to Mexican coffee culture, and that feels right. The whole thing was built to handle brunch overflow from next door, but it has grown into its own thing entirely.

The beans come from Esso Coffee, a local female owned roastery chosen for its caramel and chocolate leaning darker roast profile. The coffee is strong and well prepared. It does not try to be delicate or tea-like. It wants to be bold and it pulls that off.

The specialty drink menu is where things get fun. The horchata latte and the cajeta latte are the ones people talk about most and they are both worth trying. Cafe de olla inspired drinks and licuados round out a menu that feels genuinely connected to Mexican tradition rather than just borrowing the aesthetics.

The pastries deserve their own mention. They are made in house and are one of the best in the area. Fresh, flavorful and the kind of thing that makes it harder to say no when you are just "stopping by for a coffee".

The space itself is chill. Latin music plays, the bar seating works well for solo visits and the vibe leans relaxed rather than performative. If you live nearby, it is easy to make this becoming a regular stop. It is also a natural fit for anyone coming off a morning hike at Piestewa or up in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve area.

One thing worth knowing: if you end up here and the smell of Otro Cafe's food starts pulling at you, that is not a problem unique to you. Their pancakes have a reputation for a reason.