Every once in a while, I like to do a little experiment here on ‘Coffee & Chiffon’ when it comes to featuring beloved local (and occasionally not-so-local) hotspots. That experiment, entitled “Operation: Once The Influencers Leave” is pretty self-explanatory. I visit a place that had previously been overrun with people trying to capture/share a photo or video of a particular aesthetic, a unique product or food/beverage selection, or take the perfect selfie – to sit down and truly enjoy being there without the crowds after they’d moved on to whatever the next big thing was at any given moment.
Cafe Italia in Providence, Rhode Island is one of those very places.
While I’ve been in Cafe Italia in the past, it usually involved me grabbing a matcha latté to go and then bobbing and weaving through a sea of unfamiliar faces while trying to get back outside to my car, all while simultaneously doing my best to not to end up in their videos or ruin their photos. It’s completely understandable, of course – since the inside of the café is really, really pretty – and I’ve wanted to stop and and snap some pictures of it myself, too. Given that the space is on the smaller side, though – it can be a lot for anyone who gets a little claustrophobic from time to time (like me!)
So this past weekend while in the area, I decided to stop and finally sit down to have lunch there now that the New England-based influencers have moved onto the Malibu Barbie Café that recently popped up in Boston for their Spring/Summer aesthetic (and I am not even attempting to get anywhere near that for a long time.) While Cafe Italia still has plenty of devoted fans and followers – and for good reason! – it didn’t take me an hour to get a table, which is always a good thing.
I took the time to enjoy their beautiful décor and browse their extensive menu while sipping on a sparkly GALAXTEA and enjoying a buffalo chicken flatbread. The staff were so sweet, and they had a great Millennial playlist bumping that had a lot of Destiny’s Child, Avril Lavigne and Jennifer Lopez on it which made for a fun and expected soundtrack. The café might not be the best place to go if you’re looking to get in a study session or work remotely – but it’s definitely worth visiting for a fun day/night out with your friends.
After a certain hour, Cafe Italia switches from a coffee shop into a regular bar that serves intricate cocktails, martinis, etc., so the crowd sizes and wait times vary depending on the day/time, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area! Everything tasted great, and it really is a beautiful spot to feel more “springy” this season given their abundance of pastels and flowers everywhere.
I had a great time on my little solo adventure, and am looking forward to heading back soon!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 