In the heart of Asunción, tucked within the grand halls of the Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theatre, lies a café that breathes art into every corner: Café del Teatro. It is not merely a place to eat or drink; it is, as its creator Jorge Oyenard describes, “an extension of the theatre itself. A café that exists not around the stage, but within it.”
Originally from Uruguay, Jorge arrived in Paraguay in 2019 for what was meant to be a fleeting visit. “I was invited to cook at a restaurant for a week,” he recalls. “I saw it was a place full of opportunities, and I was drawn in by the warmth of the people.” That one week turned into years and, eventually, into three distinct culinary spaces: Café Comporta, Casa Clari, and Café del Teatro.
From forgotten storeroom to cultural sanctuary
Set within the Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theatre, Café del Teatro did not always look the way it does now. “When we arrived, the café space was essentially a storeroom,” Jorge explains. But that did not deter him. “We installed a stage, raised the kitchen, and created an extraction system. We incorporated repurposed materials to honour the location’s history.”
That history spans centuries. The space was once part of Paraguay’s Senate, then over time became a theatre, then a library, and, later, a café. The Ministry of Culture contacted Jorge Oyenard to offer him the opportunity to rent the space, and the café opened in August 2023.
Determined to bridge the artistic and the culinary, Jorge began scouring antique shops for theatrical pieces. “I even explored the theatre’s storage rooms, and came across forgotten treasures: ballet shoes, vintage costumes, even old stage lights.”
Today, those relics adorn the café, ballerina tutus dangle from the ceiling, theatrical props sit beside teacups, and walls are lined with paintings and aged sheet music, some of which are now used as physical menus.
An experience that moves with the day
The café is alive from morning to night, opening at 9 a.m. with breakfast service. “Lunchtime is the busiest, with simpler meals designed for the midday rush and for those working in the city centre,” says Jorge. In the afternoons, they mostly serve tea and pastries, and the atmosphere becomes one of quiet conversation.
But it is after sunset that the café truly shines. “Dinner features more refined dishes. There are pizzas, and our basic café menu is available all day, but the evening offerings are a bit more indulgent.” The dinner menu is deliberately more sophisticated, catering to theatre-goers seeking something more elaborate, combining both quality and flavour.
“Gastronomy is an experience; it encompasses the food, the dish, the atmosphere, the music.”
A man with a vision
Jorge speaks with the steady wisdom of someone who has built more than a business – he has built a community. “I am restless and always eager to try something new.” But teaching, he says, is equally close to his heart. “Anger and envy are poisons you drink hoping someone else will suffer. I give my best to my team. If someone outgrows the space and wishes to fly, that means I have done something right. I shall be their first customer.”
That philosophy runs through the walls of Café del Teatro, as well as at Casa Clari and Café Comporta, the two other locations he owns.
VIP Card benefits
As a VIP member of The Asunción Times, you enjoy 15% off at Café del Teatro simply by showing your VIP card, one of many VIP Member Benefits. The café is open daily from 10:00 AM to midnight, except Mondays when it opens at 5:00 PM. It is located on Presidente Franco Street in the city centre of Asunción.
In the near future, the café plans to introduce an English-language menu and a range of seasonal dishes to appeal to a broader clientele.
Café del Teatro opening hours
Monday: 9 AM to 12 AM.
Tuesday: 9 AM to 12 AM.
Wednesday: 9 AM to 12 AM.
Thursday: 9 AM to 12 AM.
Friday: 9 AM to 1 AM.
Saturday: 9 AM to 1 AM.
Sunday: 9 AM to 12 AM.
For more information, check Café del Teatro on Instagram.
