Ché Café

Ché Café is a music and arts venue on the University of California San Diego campus in La Jolla that operates as a worker cooperative. The space holds about 170 people and operates entirely through volunteer effort and collective decision-making.

Students founded the venue in 1980, naming it after Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara while also creating the double meaning 'Cheap Healthy Eats'. An 18-year dispute with the University was resolved in 2017 when a new lease secured the space's future.

The space became known for supporting underground and independent artists, drawing musicians and performers who valued creative freedom and experimentation. Today, the venue continues to reflect this commitment through the artists and community groups that regularly gather there.

The space is located within the campus and is straightforward to find once you are in the university area. Guests should bring cash for entry and arrive early on event days, as the limited space fills up quickly.

The name carries a hidden double meaning beyond its political reference, as the founders also created the playful backronym 'Cheap Healthy Eats' that references affordable food service. This witty wordplay reveals the founders' tongue-in-cheek approach to naming.

Location: California

Inception: 1980

GPS coordinates: 32.87290,-117.23900

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:02