The Coolest Cafe in Rittenhouse Is Also Its Coolest Bar
La Jefa in Rittenhouse is part-cafe and part-lounge, where every beverage, whether caffeinated, decaffeinated, fermented, or alcoholic, is worth sampling. It’s a mix of Mexico and Philly; owner Dan Suro calls it “Guadaladelphian,” with drinks that call to mind rich chocolate and sweet agave flavors back that up.
What to order
- Agave drinks are a specialty here, and the Agavette ($5.50), a light espresso and agave mix with frothed milk, is a nice introduction to the flavor.
- Look for seasonal specialties like winter’s spiced pepita latte ($8), a hot drink with toasted pumpkin seed and fall spices.
- All pastries are made in-house. Try the Dulce de la Jefa (ranges from $6 to $8), a sugar doughnut with lemongrass pastry cream.
Make a night of it
While La Jefa is a daytime cafe, its upbeat vibe continues after dark when cocktails replace coffee, and it becomes La Jefa Milpa. Heavily influenced by Mesoamerican farming using corn and native plants, cocktails include an Old Fashioned made with agave cocido-infused Cascahuin blanco, koji fermented agavezake, and bitters, with an orange twist.
Insider tip
With so many specialties, don’t sleep on the drip coffee ($3). Beans sourced through a partnership with Cafe Estelar, a roaster in Guadalajara, and are rich and nutty.
