Take a Seat: Legendary Cafés Where the Afternoon Unfolds in Style
There is a certain magic that happens at a well-placed café table. The hours soften. Conversations stretch. And the world offers itself up, one gesture, one passerby, one golden beam of light at a time. From Paris to Cape Town, these iconic terraces invite you to sit still, sip slowly, and watch the story of a place unfold before you.
Café Central – Vienna, Austria
Iconic Cafés Around the World to Visit
The grand dame of people-watching. Café de Flore’s red awning and wicker chairs on Boulevard Saint-Germain are practically a Parisian landmark. Come for the chocolat chaud, stay for the literary ghosts and très chic sidewalk fashion show.
Established in 1720, Florian is reputedly the oldest continuously operating café in the world, spilling out under the arcades of Piazza San Marco. Order an espresso or a Campari spritz, let the string quartet play on, and let yourself be seduced by Venice.
Sénéquier – St. Tropez, France
With its unmistakable red canvas chairs and harbor-side perch, Sénéquier is the epicenter of Riviera glam. Watch yachts glide in and out while nibbling a tarte tropézienne and sipping rosé like it’s water.
A Viennese moment in Manhattan. Tucked inside the Neue Galerie, this elegant café serves apple strudel and Gustav Klimt-level ambiance. The terrace, though modest, is a stylish Upper East Side hideaway.
Bungalow – Cape Town, South Africa
This is where Cape Town goes to toast the sunset. Set right on the Atlantic, Bungalow’s loungy terrace is ideal for oysters, champagne, and watching the golden light slide over Lion’s Head.
Confeitaria Colombo – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Step into a Belle Époque daydream. With soaring mirrors, stained glass, and serious pastry game, this Rio institution has been enchanting visitors since 1894. A perfect post-beach wind-down spot.
Café Central – Vienna, Austria
Where Freud, Trotsky, and Klimt once lingered over melange and ideas. Café Central’s vaulted ceilings and marble tables are steeped in history, but the people-watching is just as good now as it was then.
Portrait Firenze – Florence, Italy
Part of the Lungarno Collection, this stylish riverside terrace is where aperitivo becomes a ritual. Sip a spritz as the sun sinks behind the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno glimmers just beyond your table.
The Ivy Chelsea Garden – London, UK
A lush, whimsical garden on the King’s Road. The Ivy’s terrace is a sanctuary of greenery and good taste, perfect for long lunches that melt into cocktail hour, with people-watching and a side of truffle arancini.
The Ivy Chelsea Garden – London, UK