Costa Rica has been growing coffee for 250 years, with the beans shaping everything from the land to the national identity. Now, the Upstate has a place to get a taste of Costa Rican coffee culture and the pura vida spirit for which Costa Ricans are known. D’Cafe on the Swamp opened in September 2025 off Main Street in Travelers Rest and has quickly become a refreshing stop for those traversing the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Step inside for instant warmth, both personal and atmospheric. Oversized rattan pendant lights cast the dark walls in a honey-tinted glow. Reclaimed wood and evergreen accents ground the space in a casual calm, while a photo wall of famous faces drinking from D’Cafe cups adds a touch of whimsy.
Owners Mario and Yamileth Castro have fulfilled a family dream by opening this cafe, but it almost didn’t happen. “This building was actually designed to be my construction office,” says Mario. After talking to Yamileth about her family’s successful cafe and bakery business in Costa Rica, the couple realized this was a prime location to share cherished family recipes.
“We’re trying to do a different concept for a coffee shop,” Mario shares, referring to it as a “family reunion” with local musicians playing in the space and DJs spinning house music on the weekends, along with other events that bring the community together year-round.
Ripples Drink Printer
A personal touch comes from the cafe’s Ripples drink printer, which lets guests upload any image to be printed directly on top of their cappuccino. Faces of loved ones, pets, celebrities, or favorite designs artfully adorn hot or cold drinks.
For Mario, D’Cafe reflects his own cross-cultural story. He grew up in South Carolina but moved back to Costa Rica at age 15 to live with his grandparents and immerse himself in his heritage. That’s where he first saw Yamileth and later discovered that her father and his dad were best friends. “And then we found out that our grandparents used to spend every Christmas together,” Mario says. He moved back to the Upstate at age 21 to help his father run a construction company and connected with Yamileth on Facebook. They finally met in Miami and were engaged 15 days later.
D’Cafe is a family enterprise; Mario’s younger brother, Isaac, is often behind the pastry case, taking orders. Yamileth leads the cafe’s distinctive design, and both her mother and Mario’s mom bake traditional Costa Rican sweet and savory treats, from traditional empanadas and beef paninis to dulce de leche pastries and tender corn bread.
The only core team member who is not related, but still feels like part of the family, is barista Patrício Barias. He developed his craft and passion for coffee working in New York City cafes. When Barias isn’t pulling meticulous espresso shots, he’s roasting his own beans under his Bluume brand, available to purchase by the bag at D’Cafe.
Authenticity and quality are a powerful draw. D’Cafe’s tables stay full with regulars and new faces, and the Castros are already dreaming up additional Upstate locations.
D’Cafe Innovation Inspiration
D’Cafe brews a welcome experience off the Swamp Rabbit Trail
Costa Rica has been growing coffee for 250 years, with the beans shaping everything from the land to the national identity. Now, the Upstate has a place to get a taste of Costa Rican coffee culture and the pura vida spirit for which Costa Ricans are known. D’Cafe on the Swamp opened in September 2025 off Main Street in Travelers Rest and has quickly become a refreshing stop for those traversing the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Step inside for instant warmth, both personal and atmospheric. Oversized rattan pendant lights cast the dark walls in a honey-tinted glow. Reclaimed wood and evergreen accents ground the space in a casual calm, while a photo wall of famous faces drinking from D’Cafe cups adds a touch of whimsy.
Owners Mario and Yamileth Castro have fulfilled a family dream by opening this cafe, but it almost didn’t happen. “This building was actually designed to be my construction office,” says Mario. After talking to Yamileth about her family’s successful cafe and bakery business in Costa Rica, the couple realized this was a prime location to share cherished family recipes.
“We’re trying to do a different concept for a coffee shop,” Mario shares, referring to it as a “family reunion” with local musicians playing in the space and DJs spinning house music on the weekends, along with other events that bring the community together year-round.
Ripples Drink Printer
A personal touch comes from the cafe’s Ripples drink printer, which lets guests upload any image to be printed directly on top of their cappuccino. Faces of loved ones, pets, celebrities, or favorite designs artfully adorn hot or cold drinks.
For Mario, D’Cafe reflects his own cross-cultural story. He grew up in South Carolina but moved back to Costa Rica at age 15 to live with his grandparents and immerse himself in his heritage. That’s where he first saw Yamileth and later discovered that her father and his dad were best friends. “And then we found out that our grandparents used to spend every Christmas together,” Mario says. He moved back to the Upstate at age 21 to help his father run a construction company and connected with Yamileth on Facebook. They finally met in Miami and were engaged 15 days later.
D’Cafe is a family enterprise; Mario’s younger brother, Isaac, is often behind the pastry case, taking orders. Yamileth leads the cafe’s distinctive design, and both her mother and Mario’s mom bake traditional Costa Rican sweet and savory treats, from traditional empanadas and beef paninis to dulce de leche pastries and tender corn bread.
The only core team member who is not related, but still feels like part of the family, is barista Patrício Barias. He developed his craft and passion for coffee working in New York City cafes. When Barias isn’t pulling meticulous espresso shots, he’s roasting his own beans under his Bluume brand, available to purchase by the bag at D’Cafe.
Authenticity and quality are a powerful draw. D’Cafe’s tables stay full with regulars and new faces, and the Castros are already dreaming up additional Upstate locations.
D’Cafe Innovation Inspiration
What inspires me is an innovative company in Costa Rica called Spoon. It’s like a miniature version of Starbucks with [locations] throughout the whole country. That’s the business that inspired me to get my wife’s family recipes and create a new concept for a coffee shop.” —Mario Castro, owner, D’Cafe On the Swamp
Coffee Culture
Check out these other new Greenville cafes creating a buzz.
Canvas Coffee + Art House
Opened in January 2025, Canvas values creativity, mixing coffee and matcha with a rotating gallery of work by local artists. The comfortable seating and inviting staff make this a great place for deep focus or casual conversations. 109 W. Stone Ave, Suite E4., wearethecanvas.co
TOWN recommends: Take one of their popular latte art classes and learn to pour your own coffee masterpiece.
Opened in October 2025 in downtown Greenville, this green-and-gold palace serves authentic Middle Eastern drinks like Adeni chai and Turkish coffee in an elegant, spacious location offering private workspaces downstairs. 106 N. Main St., qahwah-palace.com
TOWN recommends: Try the iced Dubai latte and milk cake.
Opened in August 2025, Sawdust shares its Lauren’s Road location with a local fitness studio. Serving locally roasted coffee, matcha lattes, and golden milk with pastries and sourdough bread, the coffee shop’s abundance of plants and natural light keep the atmosphere positive and bright. 1431 Laurens Rd., sawdustcoffeeshop.com
TOWN recommends: The crowd favorite is the banana bread latte; pair it with a muffin.
Tselia Coffee
Opened at the end of 2024, this family-owned cafe offers coffee with house-made syrups, scratch-made pastries, and specialty teas in a trendy pink and black space anchored by a large cherry blossom tree. What does Tselia mean? You’ll have to go to find out. 219 N Main St., tselia.com
TOWN recommends: Grab a spot near the cherry tree and try a beverage flight with four options—cold brew, tea, cortado, and kombucha.