La Castellana Cafe

71 E La Castellana Dr, Nogales, AZ 85621, United States
+1 520-287-5421
$$$ Cafe
(50 Reviews)
Price Range $1–10

Welcome to La Castellana Cafe, a delightful gem nestled in Nogales, Arizona. This charming cafe is more than just a place to grab a bite; it embodies a vibrant spirit of community and a mission to make a difference. Here, you'll find a heartwarming blend of traditional Mexican cuisine and a dedication to empowering individuals with developmental disabilities through hospitality training.

As you step into La Castellana Cafe, you're greeted by a colorful and welcoming atmosphere that instantly lifts your spirits. The walls are adorned with cheerful decor, setting the perfect scene for a casual yet memorable dining experience. But the true highlight here is the food—a tantalizing array of authentic Mexican dishes that promise to delight your palate.

For breakfast, don’t miss out on the Chile Relleno Burrito—a culinary masterpiece that starts with a perfectly fried Anaheim chili pepper stuffed with creamy eggs and cheese, all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. At just $5.75, this satisfying dish is not only delicious but also an energizing way to kickstart your day.

When lunchtime rolls around, the Quesadilla Especial is a must-try! Picture two soft tortillas generously filled with flavorful chorizo, mingled with red onion and cilantro, and melted Monterrey cheese. As you take your first bite, the warm, melty goodness envelops your senses, making it impossible not to smile. Priced at an attractive $5.00, it’s an irresistible option that will make you return again and again.

The cafe also offers a delightful selection of soups, such as the Caldo de Queso on Tuesdays—a rich cheese soup filled with cubed queso fresco, potatoes, and strips of Anaheim pepper—and the Lentejas on Thursdays, a hearty lentil soup simmered with bacon and spices. Both soups are priced at $5.50 and come with your choice of fresh tortillas, adding a delightful touch to your comfort meal.

But what truly sets La Castellana Cafe apart are the wonderful stories and passionate staff behind the counter. As customer Maegan Samuel expressed, "The staff is so friendly and excited to share their story and purpose with guests." Visitors often leave not just with full bellies but also with hearts warmed by the cafe's inspiring mission. Charles Wensel praised the experience, noting the beautifully presented food and the friendly atmosphere, emphasizing how welcoming the staff is.

Real-life testimonials reveal that La Castellana Cafe is about so much more than food. From Danielle Forsyth's commendation of the cafe's inclusive environment to Albert Dorn's heartfelt endorsement of its training mission, it's clear this cafe resonates deeply with its patrons. Kate Poss encapsulates the essence best: "Joyous people. Sweet setting. Good food made with love."

So whether you're in Nogales for an appointment, passing through, or simply looking for a cozy cafe to enjoy a meal, La Castellana Cafe welcomes you with open arms. It's not just a stop for delicious food; it’s a place where every visit supports a meaningful cause. Make sure to treat yourself and explore the delightful offerings of this special cafe—you won’t regret it!

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Does not have assistive hearing loop
Service options
Has outdoor seating
Offers delivery
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Serves great coffee
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Sells prepared foods
Quick bite
Serves vegetarian dishes
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has gender-neutral toilets
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Crowd
Popular with tourists
Payments
Accepts cheques
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Pets
Dogs allowed outside
Openings Hours
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Monday

8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Tuesday

8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Wednesday

8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Thursday

8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Friday

8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

50 Reviews
Danielle Forsyth

16 Sep 2025

Such a great experience with many differently abled people who are thriving in this very unique cafe and bakery. Excellent breakfast and amazing baked goods. Please support this incredible organization.

Aleksis Anthony

04 Sep 2025

This place is incredible. The people and the food are amazing. It was truly a delight sitting down enjoying a meal. Gracias

Charles Wensel

03 Aug 2025

The food was presented beautifully and had great Authentic flavor. The hostess was very friendly and helpful and the servers were also friendly. Very quaint and colorful atmosphere, very welcoming. The prices were very reasonable.

C Garza

10 Jul 2025

Why did they close??!!!! Love this place! Get cookies to go

Maegan Samuel

29 Jun 2025

Stopped into this cafe after an appointment and had a delightful breakfast! The staff is so friendly and excited to share their story and purpose with guests. We have another appointment in Nogales soon and will definitely be making a stop in again

Kate Poss

24 Jun 2025

Joyous people. Sweet setting. Good food made with love.

ALBERT DORN

04 Jun 2025

What a find! Small Cafe, unique mission, shaded patio and great food. We've had Mexican food at most of the top rated restaurants in Southern Arizona and the food here is top echelon. Most impressive is their mission to train developmentally challenged people in the restaurant business. We'll done La Castellana!

Ana Delia_Alejandro Mendoza_Castaneda

27 May 2025

A humbling as well as a delicious experience (5 star) is what we had at La Castellana Bakery and Café in Nogales today. The moon and the stars aligned perfectly today for this to happen. Had no clue this place was there. We only noticed it when we were following a van that had the name of “La Castellana Bakery and Café” on it into Nogales today. Out of curiosity we googled it and decided once we were done with our list of things we had to accomplish in Nogales that we would go there. This place was right across from the Santa Cruz Training Programs Day Treatment & Training for Adult. It’s a part of this program where they train individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be kitchen prep staff. The proceeds go to support them in all their endeavors. As we approached the entrance to the restaurant we noticed how delightful the patio was. Lots of outdoor seating and much shade to keep it cool. As we entered we were greeted by the staff who assigned seating and provided a menu for us. Since it was our 1st time going there they gave us a breakdown of what they did and who it supported. Before we even placed our order we noticed that this was a gem. The layout, décor, how inviting it was, etc… We ordered two items. One was the chile relleno with rice and beans. The other was a chile relleno burrito. The portions were spot on. No massive plates with more food than you could eat in a week. Just the right amount. The presentation was great and what surprised me was the flavor. Many places say “home style cooking” but fail. At La Castellana it was evident from the first bite to the last. This was home style cooking that I remember having when I was a kid. Nothing pretentious here….just honest to God good cooking and great food. My chile relleno was nice and fluffy on the outside from the fried egg. The chile had great flavor. Deliciously cheesy on the inside with great tasting cheese. And FINALLY….some fantastic rice and beans. The rice was delicious, not dry and the beans were the way they should be and taste as well. This dish took me back many years in an instant to when I used to have home cooked Mexican food with my mom’s friends in LA (Boyle Heights and Montebello in East LA). My Dad was from Guatemala, Mom from Argentina so Mexican food only happened when we went to a Mexican restaurant or if we went to a house of one of my parents friends who were Mexican or of Mexican decent. The other dish was a chile relleno burrito. About the same as my plate but the chile relleno was inside a burrito. Again, just the right amount and packed with flavor. Across from us was another customer who had ordered a tostada con carne. It looked so good I had to get me one. This tostada was very generous on the meat. The meat tasted great, not salty. The garnishes were plenty on the meat and fresh! This place is also a bakery. You can buy different kinds of baked good all made there. We ordered a mixed variety for $7. Careful with these delicious treats. It’s very easy to eat them all in one shot. That’s how good they are. The amount of cookies in the container was very generous as well. This place is truly a gem that serves a much greater purpose and does so with compassion as well as dignity. You can see how well run this program is. How clean and efficient the kitchen and restaurant is along with the friendly staff that help run it. This may be the best run program in Santa Cruz County that serves a higher purpose and serves delicious food at the same time. There is still goodness in a lot of people. It's reflected in the great tasting food and what they do here / the purpose they serve at this bakery and restaurant. That was the humbling part of it. We forget about things or get lost in the pace of life and current events. A place like this helps to center you somehow. It does more that it's intended purpose. It's reach is greater than it's stated mission. La Castellana…my hat is off to you. Well done!!! The prices on the menu are current as of 8/2025.

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