La Nueva Casita Café

If you want to experience the authentic taste of New Mexico, then La Nueva Casita Café is a mandatory stop on your itinerary. It is the oldest restaurant in the city of Las Cruces, founded back in 1957, and it remains true to family traditions and old-fashioned recipes to this day.

Located in the historic Mesquite district, this USA establishment is famous for its authentic Southern regional cuisine. The café sits on the ancient Camino Real route once traveled by explorers and traders, which adds a special historical charm to the place.

Today, La Nueva Casita Café is not just a place for lunch, but a true gastronomic landmark. Here, they serve dishes featuring legendary Hatch chili and signature tostadas compuestas, maintaining the same atmosphere and flavor that have attracted guests for over half a century.

To help you plan your visit to La Nueva Casita Café, we have compiled the essential contact information. We recommend calling ahead to check for table availability on weekends.

The main thing to do here is to sample local culinary masterpieces. Be sure to try the enchiladas with red or green chili, which are made from scratch without any unnecessary additives. Spicy food enthusiasts should try the dishes featuring Hatch Valley chili, and the delicate tres leches dessert is the perfect way to round off your meal.

Take a close look at the interior: it preserves the aesthetic of the original 1950s menu, allowing guests to take a small trip back in time. The friendly staff and the motto "Our Casa es Su Casa" (Our House is Your House) create a warm, almost family-like environment.

Since the café opens early, it is a great spot for a hearty breakfast alongside the locals. After your meal, you can stroll through the quiet streets of the city's oldest neighborhood, admiring the architecture and soaking up the spirit of the American Southwest.

The famous restaurant is located at 195 N Mesquite St, right in the heart of the historic Mesquite district. This location is just a few minutes' walk from Main Street, where the history of Las Cruces first began.

If you are traveling by car, the café is easily accessible via Mesquite Street. The area is usually quite peaceful, and parking can be found on the surrounding streets. For precise navigation, you can use the coordinates: 32.311193, -106.7744694.

For those who prefer public transport or walking, the downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly. The café is within walking distance of many central hotels and cultural sites, making it a convenient stop during a sightseeing tour.

The history of this place began in 1957, when the Herrera family opened an establishment called La Casita Café. The restaurant is nestled in the historic Mesquite district, where houses from the late 19th century still stand and the spirit of old America is felt in every alleyway.

The building is located along the ancient El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro route—the Royal Road that for centuries served as the trail for caravans traveling from Mexico City to Santa Fe. This gives La Nueva Casita Café a special status as a cultural crossroads.

In the 1990s, the restaurant came under the management of the Salazar family and received its current name. Since 2005, the business has been run by Melissa and Jaime Salazar, who have preserved the original menu and the same secret recipes from the 1950s that keep generations of locals coming back.

You should plan for about 1–2 hours for your visit to La Nueva Casita Café. Most of that time—roughly 45–60 minutes—will be spent enjoying a leisurely breakfast or lunch prepared from fresh, local ingredients.

We recommend spending the remaining time exploring the interior, which carefully preserves the mid-century atmosphere, and taking a short walk through the charming historic Mesquite district, where almost every building tells its own story.

La Nueva Casita Café invites guests for breakfast and lunch every day, except for Tuesdays. The restaurant closes early, so plan your visit for the first half of the day.

Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday through Sunday — from 09:00 to 15:00. Tuesday — closed.

A visit to La Nueva Casita Café can easily be combined with exploring the sights of the old city. The historic Mesquite district and downtown Las Cruces offer many interesting locations within walking distance.