Thanks to the ubiquity of free Wi-Fi service, the freelance set is already well-accustomed with the concept of the
multipurpose coffee shop. Lately, however, cafés around the globe are introducing other ancillary services that go beyond mere caffeination and office amenities. From design studio facilities to nutrition counseling, no longer is the café
just coffee.
Café Therapy: Prague, long beloved by architecture buffs for
being a living textbook of iconic styles through the centuries, has always enjoyed a reputation as a city well-suited to those who appreciate creativity. Now, a small eatery called
Café Therapy is translating the city’s aesthetically-inclined sensibility into a humanitarian effort by offering in-house art therapy classes, including candle-making and ceramics. A partnership with
a local aftercare center, the program was created as a way to provide recovering addicts with a safe and calming space in which to socialize. All crafts made in the program are used in the café—customers who like them enough have the option to purchase.
FabCafé: The “coffice” has become a staple among professionals seeking a workplace outside of their cubicles. Yet for those employed in creative fields, a studio environment is usually necessary for genuine productivity.
FabCafé, which opened last month in Tokyo’s trendy Shibuya neighborhood, provides makers of all skill levels with a social space in which to hone their crafts. Along with specialty coffee drinks, such as an intriguingly kawaii
marshmallow latte, the café’s menu includes a rentable
laser cutter. The machine, which costs approximately $60/30 minutes to rent, can be used for anything from cutting clothing patterns to creating
accessories that could be the next big thing on Etsy.
Tanita Shokudo: With the number of calories in Starbucks’ menu items no longer a secret, the coffee chain has become a sore spot among those who count them. Healthcare product company
Tanita, however, recently opened a waistline-conscious specialty café that’s initiated Japan’s latest lunchtime craze:
the 500-calorie meal.
Tanita Shokudo, located in Tokyo’s business district, is an obsessively healthy restaurant where all dishes clock in at 500 calories max. Complementing the eatery’s nutritious, portion-controlled meals is an informal clinic where a dietician remains on-call for free consultations with diners. Though the cafeteria-style restaurant is reminiscent of a college dining hall, there’s absolutely no risk of the Freshman 15 here.
