Digital Nomad’s Guide to El Zonte and El Tunco
Turns out El Salvador these days is a pretty fun, safe place for tourists.
El Zonte (also known as “Bitcoin Beach”) is quite a little surfer haven, and a 20-minute drive away is the more lively tourist beach town of El Tunco.
(Want to know what El Salvador sounds like? Unfortunately, I couldn’t find much local music I liked, here’s a playlist of great bands and artists from elsewhere in Central and South America.)
Coffee Shops
Cafe Cocoa
Pasaje del Rio Casa 16, El Zonte, El Salvador
This cute cafe serves as the towns unofficial expat meeting and coworking space. It’s also got excellent coffee, friendly staff, and reliable Wi‑Fi.
(Photo: Cafe Cocoa)
Surfhub
Calle principal playa Final, El Zonte, El Salvador
The best thing about this café - which only accepts cash and Bitcoin - is that it’s got little windows you can look through in the morning to watch the surfers while you have a nice morning coffee.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Restaurants
Spacecat V-stro
255 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220
Adorable vegetarian (and very vegan-friendly) lunch spot in Detroit’s charming Ferndale neighbourhood.
They really go all out with the space+cat theme and aesthetic. I wish I had a good shot of the interior I could use here, as it is quite visually appealing.
(Photo: Spacecat V-stro)
Pie-Sci
5163 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48208
Not all plant-based, but this super fun pizza spot has a wealth of vegan pizza options on its menu with names like “I Am the Eggplant” and “Cashew Rules Everything Around Me”.
(Photo: Pie Sci Pizza)
Parks and Recreation
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
Excellent art museum. Its central Rivera Court room features the massive, famous Detroit Industry Murals by Diego Rivera (husband of Frida Kahlo).
(Photo: Detroit Institute of Arts)
The Schvitz
8295 Oakland Ave, Detroit, MI 48211
Built in 1930, this historic bathhouse (sauna) once catered to Detroit’s Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish population. These days, it’s a hip place frequented by health-conscious young professionals, but with an almost ghostly vibe.
(Photo: The Schvitz)
Marble Bar
1501 Holden St, Detroit, MI 48208
There are two cities known for techno: Berlin and Detroit. Believe the hype because Detroit’s techno scene remains incredible, and Marble Bar is an excellent venue to experience it.
(Photo: Michael Collette)
Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol: Legal drinking age in Detroit is 21.
Cannabis: Recreational cannabis is legal at the state level (though federally, it’s still illegal). It can be purchased from licensed dispensaries by adults aged 21+.
Psychedelics: Detroit has decriminalized personal possession of entheogenic plants and fungi, but they are not sold openly (and they’re also still federally illegal).