BajaNomad

Cafe El Triunfo, outside of La Paz

bajajurel - 7-18-2012 at 09:07 PM

Cafe El Triunfo is in the town of El Triunfo on Mex 1 between San Antonio and La Paz. The cafe is run by a Gringo and has a great menu. They are open only fro 9 AM till 5 PM. I had the pulled pork sandwich on home made bread with a nice salad and cerveza. Big portion and great taste!!!!! I highly recommend this place - you wont go wrong.

Pics of the restaurant, meal, and menu of the day at this link.

https://plus.google.com/photos/113389988821727729729/albums/...

dtbushpilot - 7-18-2012 at 10:02 PM

They make a mighty fine wood oven pizza too.......dt

tripledigitken - 7-18-2012 at 10:13 PM

That is one great looking restaurant, in one of the coolest small towns in BS. Have added it to my list.

El Triunfo is one of the small towns in Baja I can't drive through without stopping.

Thanks for the review bajajurel.

Ken

bajalorena - 7-19-2012 at 07:25 AM

And a killer salad!!

tiotomasbcs - 7-19-2012 at 09:09 AM

I second that temptation! Excellent restaurant all around. Mark Spahr ran the Cafe Todos Santos for about 10yrs. Take some of their bread home, too! Thanks for the pics, amigo. I have friends that eat lunch there on the way home to Pescadero from La Paz!! :yes: Buen Provecho. Tio

danaeb - 7-19-2012 at 09:35 AM

This review is so timely. I'll be heading back to La Paz in September and El Triunfo is on my list of places to explore. Glad to hear about the cafe. Is it open daily?

windgrrl - 7-19-2012 at 11:42 AM

Park at the town square in San Antonio and enjoy a walk to El Triunfo and back on an old cobblestone mining road. Pleasant way to spend part of a day and earn lunch.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 7-19-2012 at 11:48 AM

Hola,

thanks for the info. i have driven through el triumfo so many times and never stopped to eat. i did however, stop at the church to say a few words for a very ill friend.

would this be the restaurant across the street from the church on the main drag ?

i thank you in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Siiiiiiii!

BFS - 7-19-2012 at 11:55 AM

Windgrl is right on; a great walk through the hills connecting these two towns followed by pizza and beer in the awesome garden cafe makes for a perfect day out.

Mula - 7-19-2012 at 12:06 PM

And don't forget to check out the museo in El Triunfo. It is amazing and has a piano that was put in a cow hide and buried in the desert during the Revolution.

And if the Maestro is in town and at the museo - he will play for you.

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-california-travel/baja-desti...

[Edited on 7-19-2012 by Mula]

windgrrl - 7-19-2012 at 06:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola,

would this be the restaurant across the street from the church on the main drag ?

i thank you in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


It's one block south of the main drag. If you are coming in from La Paz, turn right towards the mine stack. You will see the back entrance before the bridge to the mine. If you are coming from San Antonio, look for the poster board on the side walk and turn left.

Frank - 7-19-2012 at 08:32 PM

That's on my list of places to stop and eat now, thanks!

David K - 7-20-2012 at 01:08 AM

Drove by it today, had already ate, but it looked nice from the street!

bajajurel - 7-20-2012 at 08:21 AM

Coming from the south you will see a giant picture of a Bandido painted on a wall. Turn left there and go down about one block and then turn right. The Bandido is his logo. I don't know if he has the same painting coming from the north or not - didn't go that far.
Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola,

thanks for the info. i have driven through el triumfo so many times and never stopped to eat. i did however, stop at the church to say a few words for a very ill friend.

would this be the restaurant across the street from the church on the main drag ?

i thank you in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

bajajurel - 7-20-2012 at 08:22 AM

I am pretty sure they are open daily but NOTE: only 9 AM till 5 PM!!!
Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb
This review is so timely. I'll be heading back to La Paz in September and El Triunfo is on my list of places to explore. Glad to hear about the cafe. Is it open daily?

bajajurel - 7-20-2012 at 03:47 PM

Great link you posted - interesting history of the town.
Quote:
Originally posted by Mula
And don't forget to check out the museo in El Triunfo. It is amazing and has a piano that was put in a cow hide and buried in the desert during the Revolution.

And if the Maestro is in town and at the museo - he will play for you.

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-california-travel/baja-desti...

[Edited on 7-19-2012 by Mula]

Cafe El Triunfo

Carol - 12-28-2012 at 11:56 AM

We Dirt bike in from La Ventana and eat here quite often on our trip thru. It's a really funky spot and the contrast of riding back country and then eating in a restaurant with great food, that we can ride right up to, is always a hit with our first time ride companions.

I believe El Triunfo used to be one of the most populated towns in Baja, or something like that, but is pretty tiny now.

mulegemichael - 12-28-2012 at 12:32 PM

that little town has an incredibly rich history...gustave eiffel designed the huge smelter chimney and i mean HUGE!...the music museum is really magical and the maestro is almost always there and willing to play beethovan's moonlight sonata and other wonderful classics...we bought his cd..a really really unique baja character, to say the least!......it appears he had experienced a stroke or the like many years ago and his head is tilted hard to the right...we took a peek at his sheet music and he has it all written out on an angle too so he can read it..wonderful time!!

the trumpet

captkw - 12-28-2012 at 12:40 PM

Wow,,I know its was a smelter town for the silver mine (plata) but never knew the eiffel guy had any ties...unlike the church further north..thats a great story that cant be confirmed on how/why that church ended up there !!

Mula - 12-28-2012 at 01:54 PM

KW,

Sure the Eiffel Church story can be and is confirmed.

Just read about it not too long ago, but can't remember where.
But I'm pretty sure it is all documented.

Also the Boleo Bakery in Santa Rosalia started when the French showed up to put the church up.

David K probably has it.

Jack Swords - 12-28-2012 at 04:37 PM

The maestro has passed away.

BajaBlanca - 12-28-2012 at 05:06 PM

we plan on heading south for a short visit very soon - we shall now have a restaurant destination ! great reporting bajajurel !

David K - 12-28-2012 at 05:29 PM

See Day 6 of my July 2012 Baja Trip Report... and read BajaTripper's reply on El Triunfo...

Yes it was the largest city in Southern Baja with a population of 10,000 in the 1870's.


cool shot DK

captkw - 12-28-2012 at 05:36 PM

its a cool little pueblo..and there remanents of small RR tracks arond the area...I'm always amazed when I drive by every season and that chimney is still standing...I always take The "old road" can leave la paz to sjdc with my eyes closed !!! well,almost..LOL K&T:cool:...PS Mula..I have read many things on the church,, been there ,,got some bread..but when I was younger and doing a lot of study on baja their was many conflicting stories about the church was going I think new york or somewhere...but I dont think The Story ever came to light...Yes ,,I have wrong before !! anyone know foe sure ????

[Edited on 12-29-2012 by captkw]

David K - 12-28-2012 at 05:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
its a cool little pueblo..and there remanents of small RR tracks arond the area...I'm always amazed when I drive by every season and that chimney is still standing...I always take The "old road" can leave la paz to sjdc with my eyes closed !!! well,almost..LOL K&T:cool:...PS Mula..I have read many things on the church,, been there ,,got some bread..but when I was younger and doing a lot of study on baja their was many conflicting stories about the church was going I think new york or somewhere...but I dont think The Story ever came to light...Yes ,,I have wrong before !! anyone know foe sure ????

[Edited on 12-29-2012 by captkw]


Here's another of the railroad... also from last July:

DK

captkw - 12-28-2012 at 06:11 PM

You are amazing my friend..There is two of those really colse to each other and They so are easy to miss. I found loike 20 yrs ago and still drive by and miss them sometimes...LOL..would you know the "facts " on the effiel church in rosiario ???

David K - 12-28-2012 at 06:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
You are amazing my friend..There is two of those really colse to each other and They so are easy to miss. I found loike 20 yrs ago and still drive by and miss them sometimes...LOL..would you know the "facts " on the effiel church in rosiario ???


In Santa Rosalia... ?:light:

David K - 12-28-2012 at 06:14 PM

I wrote an article just about that in August, 2011 (BajaBound.com on line travel):

http://www.bajabound.com/bajatravel/eiffel_church_of_santa_r...

OPPS

captkw - 12-28-2012 at 06:14 PM

ya,,that place..rose like redwood here...

Text to the article (go to the link for photos)

David K - 12-28-2012 at 06:23 PM

The Eiffel Church Of Santa Rosalia

Article And Photos By David Kier

While Baja California is a region of Mexico, one town in Baja started out as a little piece of France. The story begins in 1868 when some very rich copper ore was discovered by José Rosas Villavicencio. The Villavicencio family has been in central Baja since 1732 when one enlisted as a Spanish soldier to protect the missions. José found the ore as blue- green spheres (boleos) and he had a ship captain take them across the gulf to Guaymas to be analyzed. Two German men paid José 16 pesos for the location of the copper and small scale prospecting began. The discovery was eventually seen by a French geologist from the House of Rothschild which purchased all the smaller mine claims in 1885.

The Boleo Mining Company was formed and constructed a network of roads, ranches, farms and water lines to supply the needs of the mine and miners. One thing over-looked was a church for the new town.

Alexander Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame) had designed a pre-fabricated metal church in 1884 as a prototype for missionary churches in France's tropical colonies. Built in 1887 to be strong enough to withstand severe tropical weather, the church is made from galvanized iron. In 1889 the church and the Eiffel Tower were put on display at the Paris World's Exposition. Gustave won first prize for the church's design.

Years later, an official for the French Boleo Mining Company learned of the church being stored in a Brussels warehouse. He purchased it and had the church shipped to Santa Rosalía where it was reassembled in 1897. It was given the name 'Iglesia de Santa Bárbara'.

The copper deposits thinned in the 1920's, but failing to sell their operation El Boleo continued mining until 1953. A Mexican company continued to work the mine and new activity from a Canadian company has promised a re-birth to the copper and also manganese mining. The Eiffel church, and many of Santa Rosalia's buildings and original hotels remain today along with some of the mine's hardware and a railroad engine. More history of the Santa Rosalia mine and town can be found in the San Diego History Center website.

With the completion of the Trans-peninsular Highway in 1973, and ferry service across the gulf to Guaymas, Santa Roaslía has blossomed into a tourist and service center for central Baja. Once called the ugliest town in Baja, the dusty, and sooty mine town has transformed. Santa Rosalia is now an attractive and interesting town. The town's black sand beach is most interesting and a reminder the proximity to the giant volcano system of Las Tres Vírgenes. The Eiffel designed church remains one of Santa Rosalía's biggest tourist attractions.

Getting There

As you drive through Santa Rosalia, the church is easily accessed from Highway 1. As you pass the Santa Rosalia harbor you will come to a roundabout directly across from the boat ramp. Head west on Alvaro Obregón street for two blocks and the church will be on your right. GPS coordinates are approximately 27 20'13.57"N and 112 16'6.83"W. If all of the sightseeing has stirred up an appetite, one block further west of the church you will find the Panaderia El Boleo, which claims to be the most famous bakery in the world!

Thank you !!

captkw - 12-28-2012 at 06:31 PM

Wished they had sourdough !!!

mulegemichael - 12-28-2012 at 10:13 PM

the maestro is gone???...tell me no!!!...we have enjoyed his concertos for so many years now and he appeared so much younger than us...like maybe 10 years or so...but we never could tell with all his makeup and stuff...rest in piece, amigo...you provided us with many years of wonderful music!

weebray - 12-29-2012 at 08:47 AM

There will be an art show manana (29th) near the resturant. The resturant does offer an excellent meal although their attention to detail has dropped off a bit as their business has expanded exponentially. Their prices have also expanded so be sure to bring a full wallet.

twogringos - 12-29-2012 at 07:17 PM

Does anyone know the restaurant hours on Sunday?

proneman - 12-30-2012 at 07:59 AM