August 2025
In the bustling heart of the capital, right across from the National Theater and just a stone’s throw from famous landmarks such as the National Palace and the BINAES, a local fan favorite serves Salvadoran specialty coffee to the population and a growing crowd of tourists.
Since its inception in 2018, Café Fulanos has grown into a beloved space for breaks and conversation—but such tranquil scenes were unthinkable in Centro Histórico just a couple of years ago.
When Café Fulanos opened its doors, El Salvador was still healing. Gang violence had reached its tragic peak in 2015, when El Salvador became the world murder capital. At the center of this sat Centro Histórico, which was firmly in the grip of rivaling gangs. In the same year, Nayib Bukele became mayor of San Salvador and began securing the streets, transforming the heart of the capital into a quiet, low-traffic area under the control of law enforcement, with daily curfews for businesses.
Café Fulanos lived through this time, a constant in a rapidly changing landscape. Owner and founder Carlos Cárcamo lets us in on the reason behind his decision to open his coffee shop right here in Centro Historicó: “We decided to make a change from within, because we wanted this historic area to reclaim itself and change history.”
To do so, Fulanos had to create a sense of security and trust in a neighborhood with a chequered past. This, in part, inspired the name “Fulanos,” the Salvadoran term for an unspecified person or persons (think, “dude”). Fulanos is a café for everybody, in both style and nomenclature.
“We decided to make a change from within, because we wanted that historic area to reclaim itself and change history.”
As Mayor Bukele became President Bukele in 2019, progress accelerated rapidly in Centro Histórico. Security increased and investments began pouring into the area. Café Fulanos could extend its operating hours, and more and more guests, both local and international, began frequenting the establishment.
Ever since, Café Fulanos has continued to be a fiercely innovative brand, celebrating third-wave coffee culture and the progress of the industry. The café offers local and international sweet treats and savory dishes alongside specialty menu items such as pour-over, Aeropress, and drip coffee—brewing methods that bring out the very best in specialty coffee. Fulanos has also embraced Bitcoin since it was made legal tender in 2021. Founder Carlos Zamora explains, ”we started accepting bitcoin because it aligns with our brand philosophy. We are an innovative brand and want to be part of this new trend.”
“The center went from being a place where no one wanted to come to a point of pride for the entire country.”
With Centro Histórico reclaiming its vibrancy and status as a must-visit area of the Salvadoran capital, customers sit, relax, and gather all day long in the welcoming space that is Café Fulanos. Others drop in, greeting their favorite baristas with handshakes and fist bumps before grabbing a signature cold brew and going about their day.
Some head to work, others visit the neighboring Captain Gerardo Barrios Plaza to explore the national landmarks which now stand as proud symbols of a country that has bounced back like no other. Gerson Benítez, investor in and partner at Fulanos, tells us, “the center went from being a place where no one wanted to come to a point of pride for the entire country.”
