How to Say "Coffee Shop" in German

Café

/kaˈfeː/

The English phrase coffee shop is translated into German as Café.

A Café is a small restaurant that primarily serves coffee and light refreshments.

Which one should you use?

While Café refers to the establishment itself, Kaffeehaus is a more traditional or formal term often used for older, more classic coffee houses.

In Low German regions, the term Kaffeestuuv refers to a coffee lounge or parlor.

Café is a neuter noun, so it uses the article das. The plural form of Café is Cafés.

/kaˈfeː/

English speakers often confuse the establishment Café with the drink Kaffee. You go to a Café to drink a Kaffee.

In a traditional Kaffeehaus, the waiters are known for a specific brand of formal yet grumpy professionalism that is considered a charming part of the experience.
In traditional Viennese Kaffeehaus culture, it is customary to spend hours reading newspapers and writing while drinking a single coffee without being pressured by staff to leave.
The word Kaffee and the establishment Café are considered 'doublets' in German. This means they are two different words that actually share a common linguistic ancestor.

Wo ist das Café?
Where is the coffee shop?
This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a Café.
Tatoeba #608780 by virgil, translation #62268 by CK
Dieses Café ist gemütlich.
This coffee shop is cozy.
This sentence is useful for describing the atmosphere of a Café.
Tatoeba #661774 by kolonjano, translation #59717 by CK
Ich lerne gerne im örtlichen Café.
I like to study at the local coffee shop.
This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for studying in a Café.
Tatoeba #8304888 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2819541 by Hybrid
Lass uns in die neue Kaffeebar gehen und einen Cappuccino trinken.
Let's go to the new coffee bar and have a cappuccino.
15 more sentences on Tatoeba

Julian and Julia are deciding where to meet for a break.

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