La Atolería por Tierra del Sol — Restaurant in Oaxaca

"La Atolería: Style Over Substance"

What happens when hype meets hubris? You get this supposedly "iconic" Atole café in Oaxaca Mexico, where the staff's attitudes are as bitter as their overpriced drinks. My recent attempt to get a simple cup of atole, to go, turned into a masterclass in pretentious service.

Picture this: A bustling café with both dine-in and takeout service. While I understand the dining room was occupied, I simply wanted an atole to go. With not a single person in the takeout line, I was informed of an hour wait. Yes, you read that correctly – an hour wait to pour a traditional beverage into a cup. Apparently, the act of transferring atole into a takeout cup requires the alignment of planets and perhaps a small miracle.

Don't be fooled by the glowing reviews. In a city blessed with countless authentic, welcoming establishments serving magnificent Mexican beverages, this place stands out for all the wrong reasons. Oaxaca's rich culinary scene deserves better ambassadors than this establishment's self-important gatekeepers. Save yourself the frustration and explore the many other wonderful cafés in town. Your time, money, and dignity will thank you.

Pros: None worth mentioning

Cons: Inexplicably long wait times for simple takeout orders Condescending staff Unwarranted sense of self-importance Poor service despite empty...

Visited La Atoleria on a Friday night and I did not have to wait for a seat.

Here is what I liked about the place:

Ambiance - The place is not very big but the decor and design makes for a good experience.

Concept - Not your typical coffee shop by any means. This place focuses on highlighting traditional drinks that have been a staple in Mexican households for many generations. Guests are able to enjoy traditional atoles. For those who may not be familiar with atoles, these are drinks that are corn or cacao based. Aside from traditional atoles, this place also offers atoles with a more unique twist.

The Drinks - The atoles are the star of the show and these live up to the expectations! They also serve an amazing chocolate in case you prefer to stick to something more familiar.

The Pastries - This place has its own bakery right next door and they make very tasty desserts.

The Team - Friendly, efficient and very knowledgeable about the drinks!

Overall, this is a place that I would recommend to visit. If you are not able to find a seat, get it to go and stroll through Oaxaca city with your atole! Trust me, it will...

This place was absolutely amazing!! We walked in with a big group and they accommodated us with some extra seating. The service was the absolute best--the guy that welcomed us kindly asked if we'd prefer English. When we told him we wanted to practice our Spanish, he talked us to in Spanish but then switched to English when he wanted to make sure we understood. He was very patient with us when we were asking him certain questions about the drinks we were considering. The drinks we ordered included chocolate-atole, some hot chocolate drinks, and a hibiscus drink. We also got a croissant with almonds I think. I LOVED the hibiscus drink, it was really refreshing after a hot day, and they put in a little bit more sweetener per my request. The vibe of the place is really cozy, simplistic, and neat. There's a lot of ingredients they have out on display, and it just felt like a perfect place to hang out and have a...