The Art of Chic Cafes
I’m hopelessly in love with the cafes that get it just right. The ones where your perfectly poured matcha comes in a cup adorned with a single flower — like a love note in stem form. The ones with walls that whisper stories, coffee machines that gleam like jewelry, and seating that makes you want to stay forever. Cottagecore meets quiet luxury, wrapped up in a bouquet you can take home.
There’s something about a well–curated café that feels like stepping into a story. The light, the chairs, the music, the smell of fresh sourdough or pastries — when it’s done right, it’s not just a place to sip coffee, it’s a whole mood. I think that’s why I’ve become a little bit of a café connoisseur (or maybe an investor in lattes, depending on how you look at it). Every city I visit, I hunt down the spots that just get it — the ones that turn your cappuccino into an experience.
This week in Nashville, I stumbled into more than a few of those cafés — the kind of spaces that make you want to linger, notebook in hand, watching the morning stretch into the afternoon. The kind that feel like they’ve been designed with equal parts taste, intention, and style. That’s what makes them magnetic. It’s not just the menu — it’s the atmosphere, the effortless cool, the way everything just… works.
To me, that’s the art of a chic café.
I thought it only fitting to dedicate a love letter to those cafés — the ones that inspire me, calm me, and make me feel endlessly creative. There’s something about the way they do it all, from the dishware to the lighting, that makes me dream bigger and fall deeper in love with the details of life.
The Ever-Growing List
I’ve put together a list of all my all-time favourite cafés — the ones I can’t stop thinking about. It’s a living, breathing collection I’ll be continuously working on, adding to whenever I stumble across a new space that deserves a place here. If it’s on this list you better believe it’s chic & cute, good lates & food and is a total vibe! I am tough cookie to impress when it comes to cafes and restaurants! Some of them have little descriptions, some of them don’t. It’s imperfect, a little moody, and completely personal — just like the way I café-hop. This is my working list, one I’ll always come back to. If you want the full details on the cafes in the photo gallery below, check out my recent trip to Nashville TN, where I found the chicest spots (they made it on the list)…
THE CHIC CAFE LIST & GUIDE
Sprout – Kelowna
My hometown gem. It has all the charm of home, the kind of place you can slip into again and again without it ever losing its magic. The best bread! The olive loaf is forever iconic in my mind…Perenne – Franklin, Nashville
The coziest cottage vibes. If I lived there, this would be my every day stop. I was obsessed.Café Lola – Spain
Luxury logos dusted on your latte foam. Iconic, playful, a little indulgent — and exactly the kind of detail that makes me swoon.Karrat – Kelowna
A trip to Paris! Exquisite chocolate & pastries…Paul – Vancouver, BC
You know the one. Effortlessly chic, Parisian at heart, with coffee and croissants that tastes like a little ritual. The checkered floors get me, and the velvet seats… Sometimes I spend most a day here when I’m in the city…Flourish – Vancouver, BC
Amazing sourdough bread, fresh food & pastries! Everything is sourdough and delicious! Love this spot!Lola’s European Cafe –Nashville, TN
It has a gelato fridge… need I say more! This cafe was perfection right down to the branding, the vibe, the aesthetic, don’t even get me started on how good and authentic that gelato is!!!Marzano – Nelson BC
This place feels like it can’t be real, Italian cafe for morning, Napoleon style pizzeria by late. The best vibes, seating and menu!Cassa e Bottega — Positano, Italy
The dreamiest coastal café that feels like stepping into a Mediterranean design magazine. Whitewashed walls, lemon-lined displays, chic ceramics, and plates as beautiful as the view. It’s the kind of place you want to linger all afternoon, sipping cappuccinos and pretending you’re a local. Perfectly Positano in every way.
