Café Conmigo, a snug Cuban café from partners Fredo Noguiera and Ryan Iriarte, slipped onto Freret Street in early January and has already started channeling serious Miami ventanita energy into Uptown New Orleans. The little spot keeps things tight and fast: well-crafted coffee, a short lineup of Cuban sandwiches, fritas, and pastries, all built around components made in-house. Counter service and a stroll-up feel keep the pace brisk without sacrificing technique.
Owners And Roots
According to What Now New Orleans, Café Conmigo is very much a passion project for Noguiera and Iriarte. After recently taking over High Hat Café, the duo wanted a more compact place where they could spotlight family recipes and showcase Cuban coffee on their own terms.
Where It Lives
The café operates out of an 800-square-foot shotgun house at 2511 Jena St., just off Freret Street, sliding neatly into a corridor already known for its neighborhood dining spots. As Eater New Orleans reports, the partners called in some local reinforcements for key details, including a custom house coffee blend created with French Truck Coffee and a dedicated sandwich loaf developed with Ralph Brennan Bakery.
What To Order
The Cuban sandwich is the headliner. Roast pork is sliced instead of pulled, marinated with garlic and a sour citrus, and paired with house-cured ham for the build. The frita Cubana brings together beef seasoned with chorizo-style spices, griddle-browned onions, American cheese, and a crunchy crown of thin potato sticks. Vegetarian and breakfast frita options round things out, alongside sides like avocado salad, maduros, and croquetas de jamón.
On the drink side, the menu features an iced “malta con leche,” a mix of coffee with a malty, caramel-flavored soda and a touch of fizz. The idea is to keep the board sharp and unfussy. “It's just pared down, simple but perfectly executed, that's the goal,” Noguiera said, as reported by NOLA.com.
Small-Scale, Big Coffee
Coffee sits at the center of the whole operation. Short, strong pours and a concise list of signature drinks pay homage to Miami's ventanita culture. The program revolves around a special house roast put together with French Truck Coffee and is built to deliver concentrated, quick-turn drinks, according to Eater New Orleans.
Hours And Drinks
The owners recently secured a liquor license, and cocktails, including daiquiris and mojitos, along with a small lineup of Spanish wines, are slated to hit the menu this week. Expected regular hours are Thursday through Monday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with Tuesday and Wednesday dark. On Feb. 2, the café was running a limited midday service while it ramps up, as reported by NOLA.com.
