10 best designed cafes that are on our checklist

Caffeine addicts, give your daily routine a boost – discover cool coffee shops with design aesthetics as strong as their brews. We are filtering down ten coffee shops that every design enthusiast must visit at least once in their lifetime.

1) Gifu, Japan: Mirror mirror on the wall… this Queen’s dialogue in the Disney classic Disney movie Snow-white finds perfect expression in this cafe. Designed by the Japanese firm, Bandesign, the coffeehouse features wall-length mirror that reflects the cherry blossoms, which surrounds the café’s exterior – making it the ideal Instagrammable spot.

2) Laduree, Paris: This century-old salon de thé in France’s iconic boulevard, Champs – Elysees – holds the legacy of Parisian tea rooms. Established in 1862, Laduree has mastered the art of making drool-worthy macarons and equally dreamy hot chocolate. Pastel green and golden dominate the interiors, along with pictorial seating and long silk curtains that run along the windows.

3) Saint Aymes café, London: Nestled in the heart of London this cafe is a city slicker’s dreamscape. Inspired by the work of Wes Anderson and floral garden, Saint Aymes café is designed by two sisters who wanted to create a paradise on earth. While the entrance dons beautiful mauve flowers, the all-white interiors add a complimentary touch to the space.

4) Café Palladio, Jaipur: A hidden gem within the grand palace of Jaipur, be prepared to transport into a fairy tale. The coffee shop serves authentic Italian food in the most beautiful setting. Following a theme of pastel saffron and green, the walls of this Indian café are painted with scenes of verdant gardens, orange blossoms, and birds as well as butterflies in flight.

5) Dreamy camera café, South Korea: This is not your regular café, it literally stands tall in the shape of a vintage camera. On the flip side of this camera lens is a cosy space that doubles up as a café and as well as a photo gallery with polaroid pictures running along the window.

6) Ki Cafe, Tokyo: Find a little forest of quiet inside Tokyo’s popular Ki Café. Ki in Japanese means, tree and the interior of this space revolves around it. Coffee coloured poles stand tall with branches that also double as a coat hanger. The all-white aesthetics of the space gives a zen-like feeling, creating an ideal environment to work.

7) Bar Topolski, London: Art aficionados rejoice – you can now catch up on art history while sipping the house-infused spirits. The cafe bar pays homage to the Polish expressionist and painter, Feliks Topolski. The interiors of this café are covered with the illustrator’s drawings and paintings. This is enough to warrant a trip to London.

8) The Butcher’s Daughter, NYC: Contrary to the name board, The Butcher’s Daughter recognizes itself as a “vegetable slaughterhouse.” As you step into the space, you will find green planters everywhere – hanging from the ceiling, on shelves, on walls – giving it a very tropical and fresh vibe.

9) The Cake, Kyiv, Ukraine: The cheeky imitation of Jeff Koons’s animal sculpture may almost have you fooled as you enter the swanky bistro in Kyiv. Designed by 2B Group, the space reimagines a delightfully sliced piece of cake. Think an industrial theme with muted hues, 10,000 odd handmade tiles and bathroom décor with playful funky colours. Who’s up for desserts?

10) Swan Café, Cape Town: Crafted by South African interior and furniture designer Haldane Martin, the interiors of the creperie reimagines the elegance and grace of the swan. The space is manicured with brass interiors, curios on shelves, bistro furniture and a colour palette inspired by the French flag. The café serves gobsmacking crêpes and galettes that comes straight from the open-plan kitchen. What’s not to love?