Café Chic: The World’s Coolest Places to Have a Cup of Coffee

Since coffee lovers span the globe, there are many countries that are home to some interesting and unique places to sit back, relax, and enjoy a cup of joe.

Paris, Venice, or Budapest may come to mind as these places are known to have exquisite cafes, but there are other places that are just as lovely.

Here are the most desirable places to drink one of your favorite beverages on each continent.

North America

Espresso Vivace, Seattle, WA

Founded in 1988 and still under the ownership of David Schomer and Geneva Sullivan, this independent coffee shop has three locations in the coffee capitol of the United States.

Each location features a unique setting that offers charm as well as aesthetic value. One of the coffee shops is set up to model a European café, one is a sidewalk bar, and the third offers a more modern coffee shop style.

The art of espresso has been perfected by the owners, with roasting, grinding, prepping, and pouring that’s done with precision and excellence.

Merchants of Green Coffee Café, Toronto, Ontario

Using certified fair trade and organic beans to roast on site, Merchants Café prides itself on their commitment to a sustainable brew.

In their rustic and very natural-looking café inside a former factory warehouse, they offer a divine view of the Toronto skyline while their customers enjoy an environmentally-friendly cup of one of their single origin coffees.

Their cozy chairs may invite you to stay awhile and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere but also offer a nice enough seat for your business meeting.

Also offering classes to educate customers about sustainability, for someone who wants to know the history behind their cup of coffee, this is the perfect spot.

Interested in other aspects of the Toronto food scene? Check out our exploratory article about Toronto’s cosmopolitan food culture.

South America

Café Rubro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Surprisingly, though Brazil supplies much of the world’s coffee and (next to America) it consumes the most as well, it can be extremely hard to find a delicious cup of joe in the country.

This is because Brazil exports the best of its beans. However, if you stop by Café Rubro, you will find one of the best cups of espresso in Rio de Janeiro along with the rich and earthy smell of freshly roasted coffee beans.

This café prides itself on its excellent blend of Arabica beans. They offer three spacious, comfortable, and modern locations where you can enjoy the “aroma and intense and balanced, distinctive taste of espresso.”

Europe

The Vintage Emporium, London, England

Also home to a very unique boutique, The Vintage Emporium café appears to offer a chance to travel back in time in addition to their delicious drinks. Walking into this café is like taking a step into the past.

Customers can enjoy coffee, tea, and other herbal drinks while listening to vintage records in one of the large tea rooms.

Make yourself at home in the living room style seating area and feel free to pet the resident pooch while enjoying a tasty sandwich off of the café menu. Head downstairs after you enjoy your meal for some fun antique shopping.

Café Comercial, Madrid, Spain

Since 1887, this historic café has been serving patrons, who were originally traders. The name originated from the commercial business that the café received from the trade fairs.

At Café Comercial, which is located in the heart of the city, you can delight in a game of chess, read one of the newspapers available, or just revel in the bustling sights and sounds of the goings on around you.

Everyone from artists to scholars favors this cool café for its excellent coffee as well as the menu and interesting atmosphere.

Coutume Café, Paris, France

Though we would be remiss to leave out a Parisian café, it is hard to choose just one from this café-loving city.

Though less traditional coffee shops have gained popularity in Paris, one café is trying their best to resuscitate the original coffee scene, and that place is Coutume Café.

They roast the beans on site and have all of the latest coffee machines such as the Japanese siphon, a cold-drip machine, as well as a La Marzocco Strada espresso machine.

Their goal is to revitalize and enrich French coffee culture and they are passionate about using ethically-sourced beans.

Asia

Double Tall, Tokyo, Japan

Though you may associate tea with Japan, coffee has grown in popularity in this country, mainly with the younger crowd. One of the best cafés in Tokyo, Double Tall is noted for its fine latte art.

A latte art contest held in 2008 awarded its prize to a barista from Double Tall, but that’s not all this fabulous café has to offer. It is also known for importing the best quality beans, and its kopi luwak.

Within a short walking distance from Shibuya station, it is still far enough away from all of the hustle and bustle that you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing time.

Mahika Mano, Tokyo, Japan

Another very cool spot to sip your drink and “hang” (literally) in Tokyo is Mahika Mano, located in the downtempo Kichijoji district.

Patrons of this unique spot sit in hammocks hanging from the ceiling and are allowed to stay and relax for up to two hours. The café offers a variety of delicious food and drinks and doubles as a showroom for, well, hammocks of course.

What better way to sell a product than allowing customers to appreciate and experience the item while having a great time with friends?

The café offers a modern and urban feel while providing a very unique appeal that no other boutique has.

The Reading Room, Jakarta, Indonesia

If you are one of the many who don’t understand the appeal of digital books and love the feel, smell, and look of a freshly printed book instead, then The Reading Room is the place to be.

This two-story café is loaded with thousands of books from floor to ceiling. There is no way to ever be bored, and there may be no reason to ever leave. With a delicious cappuccino and a good book in hand, why would you want to?

The books are available for purchase, but they may be enjoyed for free while you are there.

Africa

Truth Coffee, Cape Town, South Africa

Though the modern coffee bean was developed in Africa and the continent exports over ten percent of the world’s supply, it wasn’t until recently that coffee consumption became popular there. Truth Coffee is one of the newest shops that has jumped on the trend of making the beverage an experience to appreciate.

Daring to be different, this café was decorated in the steampunk fashion, inspired by the similarities of coffee roasters and espresso machines to science fiction steampunk style.

With accents such as metal pipes, early typewriters and telephones, and antique sewing machines, this intricately decorated shop features artisan roasters, too.

They pride themselves on delivering “upon the promise made by the aroma of freshly ground coffee.”

Australia

The Grounds, Alexandria, NSW

With a coffee research and testing facility on site as well as a terrace that hosts a fragrant garden of fresh herbs and vegetables, The Grounds is located in an old pie factory. Its original industrial and rustic look remains intact.

Just about a ten minute drive from Sidney brings you to the city’s industrial zone, where this café gem is located.

On site, they use the bounty from the garden to prepare their signature dishes, send coffee beans through pipes from the roasting room straight to the café’s espresso stands, offer home brewing lessons, and much more.

They have a passion for their work and it clearly shows with each quality cup.

Antartica

The Coffee Shop, McMurdo Station, Antarctica

While it may not be accessible to everyone, believe it or not, Antarctica is actually home to a café. The Coffee Shop, formerly the Officer’s Club which only allowed in officers, is now open to the general “public” of Antarctic inhabitants.

Though the population of the continent is often as little as 1,000 people, it is enough to support a café that remains a popular spot. People enjoy socializing at the café where they can appreciate a non-smoking environment, gentle music, and occasionally even concerts.

Because the scientists and other inhabitants come from across the world, it is quite an interesting place to meet new people.

In Summary

There is certainly no shortage of splendid destinations to have a great cup of coffee, and part of the enjoyment of the experience is the locale.

Whether you have a cuppa in one of these interesting places or your own home, the experience of each sip can be enhanced by the details of your surroundings.

If you want to sound just as cool as the places you enjoy your brew, make sure you ham up on coffee terms in this article and java glossary.

Do you have a favorite spot to drink your favorite coffee? Whether it’s your local café or your special reading nook in your own living room, we want to know where you delight in your favorite brew!

Please share in the comments where you think the world’s coolest place to have a cappuccino, latte, regular brew, or tea is.