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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of café
On the surface, at least, the glitzy Russian capital, with its shops and cafes and traffic jams, is well-insulated against the horrors of the frontlines, save the occasional interception of Ukrainian drones, about which few Muscovites, frankly, spare a passing thought.
—
Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Don’t leave without checking out the rooftop cafe, which offers incredible city views.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
According to Jordan, the cafe has been inundated with calls.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The Havenly Program, where the women learn to cook and run a cafe, has relied on federal grants for 50 percent of its budget.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
While many mall food courts are closed in the day during Ramadan, some restaurants and cafes are choosing to open and serve food, or offer takeaway service for visitors or those ordering through food delivery apps.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The historic heart of Savannah is best experienced by strolling, drifting between the squares with stately old homes, cafes, shops and churches.
—Adam Kuehl, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Restaurants serve fresh Gulf seafood pulled from nearby waters daily, while local fish markets, wellness studios, and beachside cafes anchor daily life.
—Carrie Honaker, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026
The European luxury giant has used celebrities to generate buzz about the brand, while opening a cafe and using iconic store architecture to generate buzz on social media.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Don’t leave without checking out the rooftop cafe, which offers incredible city views.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
According to Jordan, the cafe has been inundated with calls.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The Havenly Program, where the women learn to cook and run a cafe, has relied on federal grants for 50 percent of its budget.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
While many mall food courts are closed in the day during Ramadan, some restaurants and cafes are choosing to open and serve food, or offer takeaway service for visitors or those ordering through food delivery apps.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The historic heart of Savannah is best experienced by strolling, drifting between the squares with stately old homes, cafes, shops and churches.
—Adam Kuehl, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Restaurants serve fresh Gulf seafood pulled from nearby waters daily, while local fish markets, wellness studios, and beachside cafes anchor daily life.
—Carrie Honaker, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026
The European luxury giant has used celebrities to generate buzz about the brand, while opening a cafe and using iconic store architecture to generate buzz on social media.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for café
Noun
-
The cabaret-style event features local performers singing favorites, including Broadway tunes, organizers said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
There’s also a cabaret, the Starlite Club, which hosts stand-up comedians, lectures or live music for dancing, or the after-hours Jade Night Club for dancing, drinks, and karaoke.—
Scott Laird,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The band performed at Simon’s too, that ancient (nearly 100 years old) and welcoming Andersonville tavern.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The land and tavern that would become Mohonk were purchased by two Quaker brothers named Albert and Alfred Smiley in 1870.—
Katie Mathews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
My meeting with Hélène Mercier Arnault, the Canadian pianist who is married to LVMH chair and CEO, Bernard Arnault, is arranged at Le Laurent, an elegant Paris restaurant inside an 18th-century pavilion off the Champs-Elysees.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
-
And the hotel's Michelin starred restaurant Tetedoie offers the cooking of Christian Tetedoie (a Paul Bocuse disciple) alongside its thrilling views.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
They're expected to continue their celebration at E11EVEN Miami, a popular nightclub.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Players who aren’t immediately flying back to their respective teams were set to have a team dinner at Cote Korean steakhouse in Miami’s Design District followed by a trip to Miami nightclub E11even — a staple on the Panthers’ Stanley Cup celebration tour each of the past two summers.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That project would include a 60-room lodge, 64 duplex housing units, a saloon, swimming pool, pickle ball court and an ice skating rink.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Scarp Ridge Lodge is located in downtown historic Crested Butte in a former saloon that's been transformed into a high-end property complete with a saltwater pool and rooftop hot tub.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With the arrival of Lent, seafood is top of mind for many diners.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Unlike the location at the Dior store in Ginza, the new Dior Café outpost in Daikanyama features a spacious terrace facing an impressive Japanese garden, offering diners a place of respite from the urban jungle.—
Kelly Wetherille,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Tuesday’s victory kept them in contention for the exclusive 40/20 club — 40 wins before their 20th loss — a benchmark all but three NBA champions since 1980 have cleared.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Groceries and warehouse clubs like Sam’s and Costco do flawlessly what many of us struggle to do at home — roast a whole chicken to golden-brown perfection on a rotating spit so that every morsel is cooked evenly and deliciously tender.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Gone is the American idea of an Irish pub, and in arrives a new wave of bars that lock on the beating heart of an Irish drinking establishment.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Basically, various countries rent out cool venues in Milan — from historic halls to popular pubs — to use as home bases for fans and events, some private and some open to the public by reservation.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Café.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caf%C3%A9. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
