variants
also cafe
1
as in cabaret
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts)
the café presents nationally known jazz performers in an intimate setting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in tavern
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises
a speakeasy that became a fashionable café with the repeal of prohibition
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in restaurant
a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises
they met at a little café in Paris
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of café
After reading about Crettaz’s cafes, in 2011, former government employee Jon Underwood held one at his home in Hackney, England, and created a website with advice so others could stage their own.
—
Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
After a spectacular photo stop at the summit, the group about-faced back to the Petersen Museum for a quick lunch at the Meyers Manx lobby cafe.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 May 2026
Unlike typical American cafes, many of these stay open late into the evening.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Boutique shops, art galleries and sidewalk cafes sit at the bottom of the hill directly below Château Frontenac.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
That connection is memorialized through Lena’s Garden, a permanent Chihuly installation that spans the ceiling of the cafe with hundreds of brightly colored glass elements.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Coffeehouse culture is intrinsic to Vienna, and 10 minutes from the hotel is perhaps the city’s most unique cafe, Vollpension.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
Find a Korean Birthday Cafe For a quieter, more local experience, build in time for a Korean birthday cafe — known in Korea as saeng-ka.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Customers who book an Uber Black or Uber Black SUV in select markets can soon request to have their driver purchase coffee or other cafe items ahead of their pickup.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
After a spectacular photo stop at the summit, the group about-faced back to the Petersen Museum for a quick lunch at the Meyers Manx lobby cafe.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 May 2026
Unlike typical American cafes, many of these stay open late into the evening.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Boutique shops, art galleries and sidewalk cafes sit at the bottom of the hill directly below Château Frontenac.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
That connection is memorialized through Lena’s Garden, a permanent Chihuly installation that spans the ceiling of the cafe with hundreds of brightly colored glass elements.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Coffeehouse culture is intrinsic to Vienna, and 10 minutes from the hotel is perhaps the city’s most unique cafe, Vollpension.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
Find a Korean Birthday Cafe For a quieter, more local experience, build in time for a Korean birthday cafe — known in Korea as saeng-ka.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Customers who book an Uber Black or Uber Black SUV in select markets can soon request to have their driver purchase coffee or other cafe items ahead of their pickup.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for café
Noun
-
In the weeks before Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, the alcoholic, frustrated cabaret singer/force of nature that is Mary Todd Lincoln deals with secret yearnings, as does her husband.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The family of the cabaret artist Fritz Grünbaum, who was murdered in the Holocaust, for example, was able to recover works by Viennese Expressionist artist Egon Schiele that were in Grünbaum’s vast personal collection in 2018 after decades of efforts.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Toast to history at Ye Olde Trail Tavern Restaurant, Ohio’s oldest tavern, built in 1827.—
Sarah Miller,
Midwest Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Keep in mind that despite the significance of the date of July 4, 1776, royalists and republicans had been arguing in print, pamphlets, taverns and on town greens long before 1776.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Word got around and surfers came to the restaurant from all over San Diego County, gathered around the tables, ate burgers and swapped their tales.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
This success is only possible because of the hardworking residents who keep the hospitality industry running, from hotel staff to restaurant workers, ride attendants, healthcare professionals and beyond.—
Ryan von Weller,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Four people were wounded early Sunday in a shooting at a troubled Queens nightclub with a history of violence and murder.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The pop icon, 67, previewed two new songs at the (not-so) surprise appearance at Club Confessions — a one-night party at the legendary Abbey nightclub in West Hollywood.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pirates and brothels and casinos once set up camp in Fernandina Beach, the island's harbor town, and even Prohibition didn't shut down the town saloon.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Other big moments from Friday night at Stagecoach included Sweeney flicking underwear into the crowd at a SYRN pop-up saloon and singing a duet with Bailey Zimmerman.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Taking Mom out to eat will cost more The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute expects diners to spend about 4% more for a total Mother's Day restaurant meal bill of $67, up from $64 last year.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
But this year, one of the best local favorite underground comedy shows is pulling up to the legendary diner for a traveling show that’s known for creating a space to see some of your favorite rising social media comedians IRL and give them an opportunity to perform for a live audience.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Open Cup presents a welcome shift in focus and a familiar tournament for the club; Orlando won the cup in 2022 and has reached this round in seven of its nine MLS-era campaigns.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The agreement included a unique clause, never before reported, that would have reduced the total payment if the NWSL’s 18th club did not command an expansion fee of at least $200 million, according to five people familiar with the agreement.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The family-friendly spot features a weekly selection of 20 beers, ciders, and seltzers, plus a menu of creative pub grub ranging from buffalo chicken eggrolls to brisket dumplings served with beer cheese.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
-
To cater to them both, the ship is equally split between sports pubs and jazz bars, burger and pizza joints and Greek and Italian restaurants, casinos and theatres, etc.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Café.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caf%C3%A9. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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