Cuban Cafe

Tucked on Front Street across from the Riverfront Carousel, Cuban Cafe is the kind of small, sunlit refuge that feels like someone’s kitchen more than a business. The room is quietly cheerful with close-set tables, friendly counter service and the aroma of sweetened Cuban coffee pulling you in. Order a Cubano and you get a tight, well-seasoned sandwich that tastes of careful technique rather than flash. Empanadas and tamales arrive warm and honest; they fit neatly into the rhythms of downtown lunches and slow weekend strolls. Locals treat it as a dependable midday stop while curious visitors make a beeline for the signature espresso shot served in a tiny cup with optional cream. The staff moves with genuine hospitality, the kind that keeps people coming back. This is not a glossy, tourist-facing spot but a small cultural bridge, carrying a slice of Cuban coffee culture into Oregon’s riverfront heart and anchoring a modest but distinct corner of Salem’s culinary map.