variants
also cafes
1
as in cabarets
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 taverns
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 restaurants
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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Recent Examples of cafés
Outside the trendy thrift shops and cafes, elderly women in headscarves sweep sidewalks with rustic brooms while teens whiz by on electric scooters.
—
Lori Rackl, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Some of the provisions include allowing sidewalk cafes to have removable railings or fencing as dividers from the public sidewalk, prohibiting solid walls in the right of way, and allowing solid walls and windscreens in outdoor areas that are not in the right of way.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
The machine is already appearing in small mobile cafes and pop-up setups across the country, though Jake Miller is clear that commercial is not where he is headed.
—Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Such chains are positioned as more convenient than stand-alone cafes and largely appeal to commuters and families going to and from school.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
In peaceful times, Ramadan would normally see people hanging out in sidewalk restaurants and cafes after the daylong fast.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
While it’s not traditionally paired with milk in Japan, in the UK hojicha lattes are starting to appear in cafes up and down the country.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 22 May 2026
Most cafes also offer a community room that can be reserved by local groups.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
While Juan-les-Pins has some lovely hotel restaurants, be sure to try the many charming cafes and intimate eateries around town as well.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026
Lori Rackl, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Some of the provisions include allowing sidewalk cafes to have removable railings or fencing as dividers from the public sidewalk, prohibiting solid walls in the right of way, and allowing solid walls and windscreens in outdoor areas that are not in the right of way.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
The machine is already appearing in small mobile cafes and pop-up setups across the country, though Jake Miller is clear that commercial is not where he is headed.
—Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Such chains are positioned as more convenient than stand-alone cafes and largely appeal to commuters and families going to and from school.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
In peaceful times, Ramadan would normally see people hanging out in sidewalk restaurants and cafes after the daylong fast.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
While it’s not traditionally paired with milk in Japan, in the UK hojicha lattes are starting to appear in cafes up and down the country.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 22 May 2026
Most cafes also offer a community room that can be reserved by local groups.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
While Juan-les-Pins has some lovely hotel restaurants, be sure to try the many charming cafes and intimate eateries around town as well.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cafés
Noun
-
Salon Toulouse, the ship's main lounge and bar, inspired by vintage Parisian cabarets and complete with deep red velvet armchairs, was Joie de Vivre's main social hub for sundowners and digestifs.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
-
The newest chapter is Velvet Night 76—my personal obsession—inspired by Parisian cabarets.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
As the vessel toured Baja California, Diana Sanders of Vacaville sampled tequila shots — 14 or 15 in total — from six ship taverns, tequileras and pubs, according to court documents.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Plans call for a nine-screen movie theater spanning 40,000 square feet, restaurants and bars, retail shops, and a 773-space parking garage, which has already been completed.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
-
This hotel has a range of restaurants that lure locals aplenty.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Other Allred Management concepts are also in Westport and include the Lotus and Q Kansas City nightclubs.—
Katelyn Umholtz,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
-
The organization’s old modus operandi was Spursian in nature, and similar to Heat Culture, but without all the neon and nightclubs.—
Candace Buckner,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
In Scotland, which has its own semiautonomous government, local authorities can allow pubs to stay open until 30 minutes after matches end.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
-
Izakaya, often translated as Japanese pubs, are casual eateries with an emphasis on drinks and shareable plates of food.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The square is recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance, which gives diners a sense of the history behind every meal.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
-
The space seats 85 diners inside and almost 40 outside and still includes a communal table.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Players want expanded free agency and salary arbitration rights along with almost doubling the major league minimum, increasing the money high-revenue teams share with the less-wealthy clubs and establishing penalties for teams that drop below payroll floors.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
The participants did not come from boarding schools but from football clubs that had formed independently of public schools.—
Thomas Adam,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
While here, visitors can still see its multiple saloons, general store, and boarding house, among other buildings.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
-
Beyond the cattle drives, the Stockyards are home to rodeos, Western saloons and live music venues.—
Taylor Haught,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cafés.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caf%C3%A9s. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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