Cafe Nena'i is a Coffee Shop and Bakery located on the East side of Austin, Texas. A modern Latin American homemade menu complements this coffee spot with it's exposed-brick walls, antique chandeliers and outdoor seating. It's the cutest place to stop by on your way to anywhere. Cafe Nena'i, is a South American coffee shop that was born from a mother and daughter dream.
It started off with Paraguayan and Argentine roots then expanded to hold a menu with a variety of national influences including (but not limited to) Cuba and Venezuela. Miami brought its own influence and continues to be considered a second home to our founder. For those with Latin American food indulgence and with coffee lovers in mind, come and sate your desires with our internationally inspired pastries and goods.
It started off with Paraguayan and Argentine roots then expanded to hold a menu with a variety of national influences including (but not limited to) Cuba and Venezuela. Miami brought its own influence and continues to be considered a second home to our founder. For those with Latin American food indulgence and with coffee lovers in mind, come and sate your desires with our internationally inspired pastries and goods.
Services
Gladys Benitez, a lifestyle blogger and University of Texas Graduate is the mastermind behind all things marketing and branding at the cafe. She was born and raised in Miami Beach, and describes growing up there like a melting pot of cultures particularly those of Latin America. Growing up with a love for food, salsa, and traveling.
Gladys Benitez & Elena Sanguinetti have created a menu using their Latin American background. Cafe Nena'i has a come and go service throughout for food and drinks. Our Menu is designed to allow people to come in and taste a bit of South America. We have mostly foods from Paraguay and Argentina, but we also serve specialty cuban espresso drinks and venezulean arepas.
KUT Interviews Austin American Statesman Critic- Matthew Odam on the South American offerings at Cafe Nena'i on the eve of the Austin. Get a taste of South. Instagram gets us noticed and picked up by the Austin American Statesman Newspaper as a new Latin American Cafe and Bakery that serves. Getting noticed by Eater Austin our 3rd week into business was a wonderful way to finish our first month of business!
Reviews (26)
The S.
Jan 26, 2022
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Martin Keuchkerian
Jan 04, 2022
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This place was fantastic! I’m Uruguayan and I was very excited to try some sweets from my childhood and I was not disappointed.
The pastaflora was amazing! Authentic recipe, tasted just as I remembered. The membrillo was excellent and the dough was crumbly and super flavorful. The alfajor was also great, although very small. The dulce de leche was very good, and the cookie held together very well. You can taste the maizena on the cookie which I loved. The last item I tried was the spinach and cheese empanada. This is also a classic Uruguayan empanada, but this one included raisins. I never tried
The pastaflora was amazing! Authentic recipe, tasted just as I remembered. The membrillo was excellent and the dough was crumbly and super flavorful. The alfajor was also great, although very small. The dulce de leche was very good, and the cookie held together very well. You can taste the maizena on the cookie which I loved. The last item I tried was the spinach and cheese empanada. This is also a classic Uruguayan empanada, but this one included raisins. I never tried
Nicolas Aquino
Jan 04, 2022
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Cafe Nena'i (pronounced ne-na-ee and not ne-nai) is a wonderful place and Elena is a wonderful host who is willing to talk with customers who understand and respect the difficulties facing a small business during these times.
Ordered various empanadas, croissant mixto ( ham/cheese), & mate cocido. The dough is one of the best empanada doughs I have ever eaten anywhere and the croissant was amazing. Any critiques I have I feel Elena would take care of them.
Ordered various empanadas, croissant mixto ( ham/cheese), & mate cocido. The dough is one of the best empanada doughs I have ever eaten anywhere and the croissant was amazing. Any critiques I have I feel Elena would take care of them.
Darren Jackson-Adams
Jan 02, 2022
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Hennesy May
Jan 01, 2022
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Erica W.
Dec 11, 2021
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Connor Sheehan
Nov 26, 2021
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Juan Perez
Nov 04, 2021
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Pastries are good. I lived and worked in Paraguay for some time years ago and this brings back good memories. They don't seem to answer their phone, so don't bother calling. You can't eat in either. Maybe the pandemic is insane in Austin or they can't hire servers (or both). Wait time for ordering is a bit unreasonable. These are tough times to run a pastry shop. But, I've been to others that are currently run much more efficiently and with a better experience overall.
Xia M.
Nov 04, 2021
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Sometime in between last week and today, they started doing contactless service, meaning no one can go inside the facility. It's a shame because the place is super cute and lots of people make it their morning to come here. I had the cortidado which is a double espresso (it was the real deal, strong as all hell- and never order that again!). The Nutella filled croissant may be tiny, but it is delicious! That hint of salt on the top of the croissant is a nice touch! This place is often the best option for coffee nearby! Many locals frequent. Next time, I'll try an empanada with chimichurri
Kevin K.
Oct 03, 2021
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Alex G.
Sep 26, 2021
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Jesse C.
Jul 29, 2021
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Monica Araniva
Jul 26, 2021
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Liliana Rios Rojas
Jun 21, 2021
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Maor R.
Jun 20, 2021
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Solid empanadas but nothing mind blowing at these high prices. Best was the traditional beef. The arepa was very good too. You can skip the guava pasty though.
Also, serving Argentinian food especially empanadas without chimmichurri is a huge no-no. Coffee was not good. Burned espresso & clearly not top quality beans, though i am a self admitted coffee snob.
Also, serving Argentinian food especially empanadas without chimmichurri is a huge no-no. Coffee was not good. Burned espresso & clearly not top quality beans, though i am a self admitted coffee snob.
Misha F.
Jun 20, 2021
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Robert L.
Jun 20, 2021
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Not coming back to this place. Their positive reviews are very misleading. The purpose of going to a coffee shop is to have personal experience and human interaction. The woman slams the door and locked it and point her finger at the QR sign and expect you to stand outside in a deadly summer heat. Wow! That's insane. Not worth of our support to this business.
Cassidy R.
May 09, 2021
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AMAZING food. The staff was extremely kind and caring! I'm very picky about empanadas, and so far there has been only one restaurant that I come back to to get them, but after having them here I now have two place with fantastic empanadas!! I will definitely be returning for more - they're addicting! Their COVID-19 precautions are great - a QR code is outside for you to scan and order and then wait outside at their tables. I do wish they would provide the option to order food online ahead of time, because I did have to wait longer because I could only order once I was physically there
Megan L.
Dec 21, 2020
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They're doing a really good job of contactless ordering and pick-up. I ordered their signature latte, and I really liked it. It was definitely a more unique milk latte than anything I've tried at other Austin coffee shops before. I actually prefer foamy/milky coffee more, so it was perfect for me. I definitely want to come back and try their food.
Rose C.
Oct 09, 2020
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Celeste G.
Sep 12, 2020
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This place is definitely worth a stop! Contactless set up where you can order ahead and they will leave it outside of the door. The empanadas seem to always be sold out so make sure you get your order in early! I have never tried something here that I did not love! The coffee is amazing and all the food and pastry options are nothing short of It either. My first time here I ended up looking at their story on the website and It made me fall even more in love with this business. You can tell this business was built on lots of love!
Samuel C.
Apr 23, 2020
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Food Five Stars
Coffee Five Stars
Niceness of the People Five Stars
Response to the Problems of Coronavirus One Star !!!! :.(
Visit these ladies after the pandemic is over and get some great Paraguayan snacks.
* * *
First the good stuff, because the good stuff is more enduring.
This is a Paraguayan snack shop.
Paraguayans eat well.
Most of us will not marry a Paraguayan housewife or a Paraguayan chef. So this is your only chance to get the good stuff.
Coffee is exceptional.
Very bitter. Very strong.
They offer milky versions because Americans drink a lot of lattes.
And a cortadito is
Coffee Five Stars
Niceness of the People Five Stars
Response to the Problems of Coronavirus One Star !!!! :.(
Visit these ladies after the pandemic is over and get some great Paraguayan snacks.
* * *
First the good stuff, because the good stuff is more enduring.
This is a Paraguayan snack shop.
Paraguayans eat well.
Most of us will not marry a Paraguayan housewife or a Paraguayan chef. So this is your only chance to get the good stuff.
Coffee is exceptional.
Very bitter. Very strong.
They offer milky versions because Americans drink a lot of lattes.
And a cortadito is
Raveena S.
Mar 08, 2020
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Adorable little cafe that specializes in South American/Cuban pastries and coffee. A cortadito is typically my go to Cuban coffee but this time I decided to venture out and try something new. I got the cocido which was a Yerba mate drink infused with milk. So glad I got this! The owner explained to me that Yerba mate comes from a plant and is caffeinated but contains a lower amount than coffee. She also said it's culturally significant in South American counties and she has many positive memories sharing it with her family. She seemed so passionate about her cafe you could tell that every
Mariel V.
Apr 30, 2019
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Customer service needs a lot of work! The lady told me not to take pictures of the menu and had so many restrictions. In this day in age, that's crazy! Free publicity on Instagram and Yelp (insert platform here). I asked why and she said because people copy their menu. Whaaaat?!?! Lol
I drove 40 minutes to try them out and the reception was cold as ice. That's too bad!
Oh and their arepas are harder than Four Brothers and doesn't taste as good. Fair price but not worth it. If there is one thing I enjoyed is their Alfajor dessert.
I drove 40 minutes to try them out and the reception was cold as ice. That's too bad!
Oh and their arepas are harder than Four Brothers and doesn't taste as good. Fair price but not worth it. If there is one thing I enjoyed is their Alfajor dessert.
Sam Pattnaik
Nov 11, 2018
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Let me start by saying that this place is underrated. This is a beautiful little south American coffee joint, very clean, amazing interior decor, fantastic empanadas and mind-blowing Cuban coffee. The place is run by one of the best people you can ever talk to, she is amazing. I'll suggest everyone to give this place a try and give Starbucks a break for once. I can't wait to come back. Repeating the fact that the empanadas are amazing and you must try it. They have a big table for groups, they have Hugh chairs and outdoor seating too. Parking is free and accessible and it isn't very crowded, that
Lilah Bazarte
Aug 23, 2018
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