Café Central

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Century of Fine Dining in Downtown El Paso

Café Central first opened its doors in 1918 in Ciudad Juárez, México, drawing an electrifying clientele of gamblers and cabaret-goers who quickly grew to expect the finest culinary experience the region had to offer. After Prohibition ended, the restaurant migrated closer to the border and took root in downtown El Paso — where it has remained a landmark of American and French fine dining ever since.

In 1991, a new chapter began. The interior was reimagined in an elegant black-and-cream palette to showcase a collection of original art, and an ornately gated New Orleans-style courtyard was restored, reclaiming much of the restaurant's original charm. The result is a space that feels simultaneously historic and quietly sophisticated — a rare combination in any city.

Innovation Built on Tradition

Today's Café Central holds firmly to the idea that a century of tradition and a forward-looking kitchen are not in conflict. The menu spans brunch, lunch, and dinner, with dishes like a double-cut bacon-cured heritage pork loin chop served with sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, and pork belly ragout — the kind of composed, ingredient-driven plate that reflects both American confidence and French technique. Private dining and event services round out an offer designed for everything from business dinners to weddings.

A Wine List That Earns Its Recognition

The wine program is where Café Central has drawn consistent national attention. Wine Spectator has recognized the restaurant repeatedly, including its Best of Award of Excellence — a distinction that reflects not just the breadth of the list but its coherence and appeal across different tastes. The cellar spans French Champagne and Burgundy, Italian Barolo and Super Tuscans, and an extensive selection of North American bottles, with options ranging from approachable half-bottles to rare large-format vintages. Wine Enthusiast has also recognized the list, and the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) has awarded Café Central its Achievement of Distinction in Dining every year from 2014 through 2023.

The New York Times named it a Choice Table, and four James Beard Award nominations have further cemented its standing — not as a regional curiosity, but as a serious dining destination by any national measure.

Who It's For

Café Central draws locals and travelers alike, dressed business casual, looking for a room with real history and a kitchen that takes the work seriously. Over a hundred years in, the standards haven't slipped.