Melo Café

Melo Café Review

Look for the blue awnings, as you could easily pass by this nondescript, three-story building, a former office that now houses a charming café. Owned by Rafael of the Melo Coffee family and his wife, Teresa. It's a clean-living (alcohol-free) place, with good plates of eggs, omelets, and pancakes (a rarity here) for breakfast. On the menu, priced low enough for a Peace Corps volunteer's budget, the best beverages are the fresh fruit batidas(smoothies); try papaya, pineapple, or milk and bananas, all for less than 50 pesos. The plato del día always offers rice and beans with perhaps a chicken fricassee or stewed pork, and a little salad, for just RD$170. You can get a club sandwich here, too (another rarity). Monday through Wednesday the hours are 8-2, and then reopens for dinner from 6-9. For great souvenirs or gifts, stop by the Melo coffee factory two doors down (#14) and buy a couple of pounds of aromatic, organic coffee.