Two summers ago, I was privileged enough to spend several weeks in France. Aside from the obvious positives — impeccable fashion, quality museums, experiencing a new culture — I was pleased to discover something that I had yet to experience: café culture.
When I stepped into a café, there was not a laptop in sight; instead, I spotted people of all ages sitting, chatting and engaging in non-digital conversations. Even inside of PAUL, one of France’s biggest coffee and pastry chains, human interaction was alive.
Back in Palo Alto, residents have no dearth of café choices: Verve, Blue Bottle and Philz are several highlights. And, don’t get me wrong, these shops all serve tasty, high-quality coffee. Yet, upon entering a local café, it’s common to get bombarded with a sea of individuals working, headphones on, tuned out from the rest of the world.
I admit — I’ve fallen victim to this, too. When I ask a friend to “grab coffee,” what I’m really asking is: “Do you want to go to our homework in a coffee shop with our headphones on?” It seems that I, and many others, have forgotten that the original purpose of coffee shops was to be a communal space for people to chat over a warm, rich drink. This is café culture.
Paris and a slew of other European cities have preserved this scene. When I saw this, I was frustrated; why couldn’t the United States — or at least the Bay Area — keep up? It seemed that the US, whether it be a shop in New York City or Seattle, had completely lost this.
This belief persisted until I discovered the Bay Area gems that took me right back to Paris.
- Little Green: A Plant Bar
Redwood City’s plant shop-meets-café is filled with live music, quiet conversations and the aroma of the candles tucked in the corner. Upon entering, one is immediately greeted with a view of the many plants, puzzles and knick-knacks for sale. Guitar and keyboard noises float into one’s ears. When I first set foot into Little Green, I was struck by how easily it took me into an entirely different world from the chilly, monochromatic streets.
No two tables are identical, which adds to the comforting and eclectic vibe of the shop. The for-here drink mugs, too, are anomalous, resembling my cluttered cupboards at home. A clothing rack hanging in the corner is full of unique vintage pieces, making Little Green a hidden gem for thrifting lovers, too.
And, the coffee was impeccable. My order of choice at any coffee shop is a cappuccino, so I can confidently say that Little Green has one of my favorite cappuccinos in the area.
For those who are searching for a comforting café that’s conducive to conversation, look no further: Little Green may just be a new go-to spot.
- Saint Frank Coffee
This satellite Menlo Park coffee kiosk redefined my definition of café culture when I first stumbled upon it. Located just next to the Menlo Park Caltrain station, Saint Frank coffee is one of my favorite spots to grab a drink and peoplewatch. It is also outdoors only, which makes working on a laptop just difficult enough for the majority of people to tuck their screens away and chat with one another.
Saint Frank’s menu is small but mighty, notably boasting a Kaffé Tonic (espresso and tonic water), an espresso platter with several small drinks and several fresh, buttery pastries. My drink of choice is their “almac” (almond–macadamia milk) cappuccino.
The café’s location near downtown Menlo Park makes it ideal for young professionals who may be looking for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
- Café Venetia
For those who have been looking for a portal to Italy, look no further than downtown Palo Alto’s Café Venetia. The cozy, laid-back atmosphere is emblematic of a small café in the middle of Venice, with the aroma of chocolate — emanating from both the pastries and the decadent hot chocolate drinks — filling the air.
Café Venetia’s array of items are all hits: For a salty bite, grab one of their numerous focaccia pizzas; to appease your sweet tooth, snag an authentic fruit tart. Then, sans laptop, make your way over to one of their miniature, circular tables, perfect for authentic human-to-human conversations.
The shop’s atmosphere is not conducive to deep work. The soft buzz of chatter and constant whir of coffee machines do make perfect background noise for a relaxing mid-afternoon pick-me-up, though. Perhaps most importantly, the café does not offer any to-go beverages, ensuring that its tables are constantly filled and the atmosphere is welcoming — perfect café culture, if you ask me.
