This cafe-boutique on Yates near Wharf Street is an airy loft space dedicated to long stays.
The owners, Thorsten and Berit, are German expats heavily influenced by Scandinavian lifestyle and design. “We always travelled a lot and met friends at bars and cafes,” says Hoefling. “We wanted to create a space where you want to spend time with friends or feel comfortable to stay a bit longer.” They worked with local designer Bidgood and Co. to lean into creating an inviting, living-room feeling. Light wood and soft grey textures soften an industrial space that’s designed with every type of seating option for your hangout needs.
On the main level, there are cozy banquettes under wall-to-wall windows. Upstairs, you’ll find large tables fit for quiet study sessions or heated book club meetings, a reading nook with armchairs that looks straight out of Gabriel Ross, a kids’ play area, and hightop bar seating outfitted with multiple power outlets and surprisingly comfortable pistachio-coloured stools—the ideal perch for anyone who likes a bit of people watching with their laptopping.
“We wanted to create a space where you want to spend time with friends or feel comfortable to stay a bit longer.”
On the minimalist menu: necessities like espresso, flat whites, pour-over coffee, and tea, as well as delectable pastries made in-house and brought in from Fry’s Bakery in Vic West. The coffee program changes weekly, with roasters from Europe (La Cabra, Fjord Coffee) and Canada (Phil & Sebastian, Moving Coffee) and on the shelves you’ll see sustainably made clothing, and modern coffee accessories and filters.
And the name? “Berit and I are music fans and used to go to a lot of concerts and shows. Saint Cecilia is the holy patroness of musicians,” explains Hoefling. The duo plan to host small gigs and shows at Saint Cecilia in the future, but for now, patrons will have to be satisfied with their sweet playlists (Toro Y Moi’s full-length Outer Peace? Don’t mind if I do.)
Follow Saint Cecilia on Instagram.
Saint Cecilia Cafe
535 Yates St, Victoria
