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A sleek design, glass facade, metallic finish, white ceiling, stretched mirror, reflective ceramics... Welcome to Cafe Diem, a place where the meaning of coffee shop is redefined.
I've been here two times already, this place where breakfast starts at 8am before moving on to lunch and dinner afterwards. A coffee shop, an upscale coffee shop serving a large variety of sandwiches, bread and croissants. What makes it special is the design, service and the quality of the coffee. Here, coffee is everything.
The place's little secrets:
- Pass the wooden door then enter a white space that soothes all your senses.
- The first thing that embraces your eyes is a conical display of colorful meringues that are unfortunately not for sale.
- Five pending lights behind the glass vitrine make the place look typically French.
- To the right, a bar that divides the long corridor in two.
- To the left, six round tables in front of a long bench placed under a mirror that makes the place look twice the size.
- Design chairs by Surpil. France's signature since 1927.
- Seven lamps add the needed amount of light over each and every table.
- White tiles cover all the walls and bar, adding finesse and reflection, making the space look wide and relaxed.
- Behind the bar is a series of unique items especially imported from Italy for your ultimate satisfaction: Kees Vander Westin design Espresso machine, a salad bar, a cold cuts and cheese display fridge, a desserts display (carrot cake, chocolate cake...) and a manual ham cutter from Berhel.
- On the many shelves filling the walls, Mariage Freres tea and Zejd oil are available for sale as all you can eat is sold in here.
- The bar is lit by four pending lights adding more whiteness and purity to the design.
- Breaking this ultimate whiteness, a black vinyl floor blends perfectly and adequately.
- At the very end of the shop, a vitrine displays a large variety of unique tea mixes imported directly from France Square, paintings and design items, decorate the white wall on the left.
I enjoy Cafe Diem, the little details are really taken care of in this little hidden spot down in Sodeco. White tables, a table napkin, coffee served with chunks of sugar and a glass of water, tea is even taken more seriously and is served with an hourglass timer to make sure you drink it at right concentration and much more.
Cafe Diem is a place where people love and simple things are transformed into innovative ideas. Croissants are cut and filled with melting cheese and ham. Eggs are served in a street casserole and the best part are the mini cups in which they serve a starter of olives, labneh, Zaatar, cheese, pickled eggplants and cherry tomatoes. With that, a bread basket from The French bakery, which I've previously reviewed.
The menu includes a selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and crepes. The crepes, or more specifically Galettes de Sarasin, are one of the things that make Cafe Diem unique and special. I reviewed them earlier and believe you should try them as well.
Breakfast is enjoyable. We had the eggs simply served with salt and pepper, the toasted croissant stuffed with ham and cheese and the basket of bread, also heated for a crispy feel. After that, an Espresso was waiting, but not just any Espresso. Vascobelo, Belgium's finest coffee blend for the true coffee lover, served with a delicious homemade biscotti.
Come here for a classy encounter with coffee, Cafe Diem has the Ferrari of coffee machines and uses a premium brand as well as a selection from Marriage Freres, the tea specialist.
