Definition

Noun: 1. A small, informal establishment serving drinks and light meals: A cafe is a casual place, often with seating, where people can purchase and consume beverages (especially coffee and tea) and simple food items like pastries, sandwiches, or snacks. It is typically smaller and less formal than a full-service restaurant.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Let's meet at the new cafe on Main Street for a coffee.
  • She works on her laptop at the corner cafe every afternoon.
  • The museum has a small cafe where visitors can get a light lunch.

Advanced Usage

• "Internet cafe": A commercial establishment that provides public access to computers and the internet, often while also serving drinks and snacks.
  • While traveling, he sent emails from an internet cafe.
• "Cafe society": A term referring to the social group of people who frequently gather in fashionable cafes, often associated with artists, writers, and intellectuals.
  • In the 1920s, Parisian cafe society was vibrant and influential.

Variants and Related Words

• Café: The original French spelling, often used to imply a more authentic or European-style establishment.
  • They had croissants at a charming French café.
• Cafeteria: A self-service restaurant, often in a school, office, or institution, where people select food from a counter.
• Coffeehouse: A very close synonym, emphasizing the primary beverage served. It can sometimes imply a place with a focus on high-quality coffee.

Synonyms

• Coffee shop: A place specializing in coffee and light refreshments.
• Bistro: A small, casual restaurant, often with a French character, serving simple meals and drinks.
• Tea room: An establishment that primarily serves tea and light food like cakes and sandwiches.

Related Phrases

• "Sidewalk cafe" or "outdoor cafe": A cafe with tables and chairs placed on the pavement or terrace outside the establishment.
  • We enjoyed the sunshine at a sidewalk cafe.
• "Cafe au lait": A French term for coffee with hot milk, often used on menus in cafes.
  • She ordered a cafe au lait and a croissant.

Noun

1. a small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold