Best Cafes in the world
1. The Backyard Café, Cape Town
Leafy garden café accessed through a wooden furniture store. Mismatched tables and sofas fill the wind-protected yard for breakfast, cake, and quiet lunches.
Leafy garden café accessed through a wooden furniture store. Mismatched tables and sofas fill the wind-protected yard for breakfast, cake, and quiet lunches.
Rustic coffee hatch sitting a twenty-minute walk into Tokai Forest. Cyclists and dog owners fill the stump seating for toasted bagels and caffeine rewards.
Year-round recreation area centered on a small lake and traditional public smoke saunas. Locals alternate between the intense heat of the sauna and a cold plunge in the lake – even through a hole cut in the winter ice.
Public saunas on a small island, housed in a former red-brick factory and reached by a short ferry. Locals alternate between hot steam and a cold plunge into the sea – even through a hole cut in the winter ice.
Grand First Republic patisserie serving Czech sweets across two floors of restored 1920s glamour. Marble stairs lead to tables full of signature caramel sundae cups and rich choux pastries.
Kitschy, living-room-style cafe where a team of Viennese grandmas bakes traditional cakes from an open kitchen. The space is a cozy jumble of worn sofas, family photos, and mismatched china – book ahead as tables fill up fast.
Specialty coffee shop and curated record store built around a custom hi-fi sound system. By night, the record racks are replaced with tatami mats for immersive listening events.
Specialty coffee roaster pouring single-origin filter and espresso in a minimalist Prenzlauer Berg space. The house-made cheesecake is the main draw – often paired with a newspaper at one of the outdoor tables.
Minimalist neighborhood café with a Copenhagen feel, serving simple brunch plates and specialty coffee. Sourdough from Gorilla bakery is topped with cheese from Alte Milch; pastries are from Albatross.
French cafe and gallery hybrid on a quiet Prenzlauer Berg street. Deep sofas and art-filled walls create a living room vibe for laptop sessions or lingering over lemon meringue tarts.
Weekday lunch spot serving traditional Swabian comfort food from a tiny kitchen. The focused menu sticks to the classics – homemade Maultaschen and Käsespätzle with fried onions.
Historic half-timbered cottage set inside a quiet park, serving coffee and cake from a small, bright room. Most seating is outside on a sunny terrace surrounded by rose bushes.
Quiet corner shop in Amsterdam Zuid pairing curated kitchen goods with an all-day deli. Ceramics and cookbooks line the shelves, while the counter serves flat whites and chocolate orange babka.
Contemporary art gallery and specialty cafe set within a serene canal house. Patrons wander through the rotating exhibitions on both floors, coffee in hand.
Compact espresso bar pouring Five Ways coffee for a steady queue near Museumplein. The standing-room layout pushes the crowd to the sidewalk bench or Vondelpark with sticky cardamom buns.
Sleek De Pijp cafe pouring single-origin coffee alongside seasonal all-day brunch. The minimalist room and street-side terrace fill up fast for Turkish eggs and spicy pulled chicken.
Historic brown café on a busy corner of the Spui. The Art Deco bar pours specialty beers and jenever, while the sidewalk terrace fills up for coffee and apple tart.
Bustling canal-side spot serving massive English breakfasts and cream teas. The interior is snug enough that the restroom route cuts through the kitchen, while a heated terrace sits right on the water.
All-day brunch spot running a heavy comfort food menu from morning until late afternoon. Waffle fries, French toast, and cocktails fill the tables regardless of the hour – booking ahead is essential to secure a seat.
Minimalist coffee bar with a neighborhood living room feel, directly opposite the busy Noordermarkt. Baristas pull careful espresso shots into oversized, heavy mugs – the food menu is just a few fresh pastries.
Vast industrial space combining an on-site roastery with an all-day brunch counter. Seasonal filter coffees are prepared with precision; everything from the bread to the jam is made in-house.
Stylish Marais coffee shop serving all-day brunch plates like Turkish eggs and black avocado toast. The homemade pastries are the real draw – expect a weekend queue for the cinnamon rolls and Basque cheesecake.
Specialty coffee shop and photo gallery pouring single-origin espresso and serving house-made cardamom rolls. Photography is the focus: rotating exhibits are printed directly onto the wallpaper, and a library of art books lines the shelves.
Specialty coffee roastery pouring two distinct styles: traditional Italian blends and lighter, single-origin roasts. The minimalist, industrial space is strictly laptop-free, with outdoor tables spilling onto the corner.
Minimalist Japanese coffee shop pouring rich espresso from globally sourced beans. The Spanish Latte is a house specialty; locals take theirs to the benches outside to watch the street.
Seoul-style cafe pouring black sesame and sweet potato lattes in a room lined with blue ombre tiles. Kimbap rolls and matcha cookies fuel afternoons in the bathhouse-inspired seating nooks.
Bright, modern cafes serving an all-day brunch menu of brioche benedict and chicken & waffles. The exposed-brick rooms are reliably packed on weekends – the crowd thins for a late afternoon meal.
Specialty roaster inside a protected 1920s building, where original Art Deco details meet a futuristic, glowing orange interior. Single-origin espresso and fresh pistachio babka are served at the satin-finish steel bar.
House-roaster pouring single-origin Arabica in minimalist, architect-designed shops. A strict no-laptops policy keeps the cozy spaces focused on conversation, not work.
Specialty coffee poured into handmade ceramics in a minimalist Montmartre space. It’s a quiet, focused retreat from the neighborhood crowds, with the co-owner's pottery for sale and displayed on exposed brick walls.
Functioning furniture showroom where the 1950s-inspired interior is completely redesigned every six months. It doubles as a specialty coffee shop, pouring Coutume beans and serving pastries near Canal Saint-Martin.
Third-wave coffee pioneer with the precision of a science lab, where water arrives in chemist's flasks. Single-origin beans are brewed via siphon and drip; the Anglo-French brunch is a neighborhood fixture.
Specialty coffee shop and cycling hub pouring espresso from local roasters and serving house-made waffles. High-end rental bikes hang from the ceiling; organized group rides depart from the front door.
Spacious corner cafe with exposed brick walls, serving an all-day, American-style brunch. The room is bright and always busy – expect a line for a table on weekends.
Spacious, modern café with an open kitchen serving a refined, daily-changing menu of seasonal dishes. Specialty coffee is poured all day, but the homemade cookies are the true local obsession.
Melbourne-inspired cafe pouring specialty coffee from Dublin roaster 3fe. The counter is stacked with treats from local bakeries – expect a queue for the morning espresso and sea salt cookies.
All-day brunch spot serving specialty coffee from a historic dockside warehouse. The best tables are outside, right on the water with clear views of the marina's boats.
Small coffee bar off Fleet Street pouring its own Penelope roast and guest beans for a weekday commuter crowd. Service is fast and takeaway-focused, with a tight selection of in-house pastries on the wooden counter.
Independent roastery pouring single-origin filter and strong flat whites from its own house-roasted beans. The small, calm spaces are built for a quick stop – seating is limited.
Covent Garden cafe channeling a rustic Australian homestead with its communal timber table and terracotta floors. The menu is all-day brunch – think fig sourdough toast, truffle toasties, and specialty Latin American coffee.
Independent Italian cafe pouring its own brand of coffee alongside buttery croissants and pistachio pastries. A large communal table dominates the cosy room; morning queues often form for the outdoor seats.
Minimalist, Aussie-style cafe pouring specialty coffee and plating brunch classics for locals and embassy visitors. Its bag storage service has become a ritual for those with appointments next door.
Minimalist coffee shop focused on single-origin brews and simple pastries. The space is deliberately low-tech – no Wi-Fi, no power outlets – creating a quiet escape from the surrounding city streets.
Filipino coffee shop serving single-origin brews alongside house-baked pandesal and warm coconut bibingka. The bright, minimalist space is small – just a few window seats and a counter for takeaway.
Minimalist coffee shop focused on ethically sourced, single-origin beans. The atmosphere is deliberately calm and quiet, with light wood interiors and award-winning baristas pulling shots behind a long counter.
Minimalist Japanese coffee bar centered on a custom Slayer espresso machine. Expect queues for its globally sourced beans and signature drinks like the Spanish and Kyoto lattes – this is a spot built for takeaway.
Specialty Korean tea house serving nutty matcha and signature salt breads. Drinks are whisked to order at individual bars in a tiny space – a strict one-in-one-out policy means there's always a queue.
Danish-inspired espresso bar tucked away in a quiet alley, pouring single-origin coffee. A few outdoor tables offer a welcome escape from the nearby crowds.
Danish café tucked onto a quiet Kensington street, with cardamom and cinnamon buns piled high on the counter. The small, simple space fills quickly, sending locals with their coffee and dogs out to the benches in front.
Quiet, cozy café used by locals as a calm workspace away from the Victoria Station crowds. The draw is simple: freshly made sourdough sandwiches and coffee from Monmouth.
