Skip to content
Food
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Suraya partners open El Cafe, a Mexican-inspired coffee shop, in Rittenhouse

This will be the first of three eateries at the Pod Philly hotel, at 19th and Ludlow Streets.

El Cafe, next to Condesa at the Pod Philly hotel, is inspired by Mexico.
El Cafe, next to Condesa at the Pod Philly hotel, is inspired by Mexico.Read moreCOURTESY DEFINED HOSPITALITY

The partners behind Suraya, the Middle Eastern hit in Fishtown, have opened the first of three Mexican-inspired restaurants at the new Pod Philly hotel at 19th and Ludlow Streets in Rittenhouse.

El Cafe, the all-day coffee shop, went live at 7 a.m. Sept. 23, serving pastries, breakfast tacos (8 a.m. to noon), Mexican drinking chocolate, agua frescas, and coffee beverages. It is accessible via 31 S. 19th St., just south of Market Street. For now, it will close at 5 p.m.

Condesa, a 140-seater and the main restaurant, is due to open next door on Oct. 1 with an entrance at 1830 Ludlow St. The final piece will be El Techo, a rooftop taqueria with a retractable glass roof.