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    Cafe Nova

    4.4 (404 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Cafe Nova Photos

    CAFE NOVA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Nova

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    Reviews With Photos

    Saganaki
    Sami B.

    I've driven past this cute cafe in my neighborhood so many times, and finally stopped in, wish I would have done it sooner. I started with the seasonal sangria, very refreshing and was a good size cocktail. We started with the Mediterranean Platter, and Mushrooms and saganaki as appetizers then had the Nova Gyro & added feta as my entree, and ended with the Tiramisu. Everything was delicious, and flavorful. The inside isn't very big but they have a nice size patio & the service was quick and attentive. Already can't wait to go back

    Cocktail
    Wanda H.

    SHAME on my lack of pictures! My cocktail was delicious. I ordered the Cucumber & Feta Rolls to share with the table and everyone enjoyed them. I had the Spicy Chicken Gyro which didn't seem spicy at all to me. I had to give up on eating the pita, and ate all the inner ingredients which were good. But not spicy ‍. Desserts were excellent. Service was lacking, throughout the meal. There were numerous things on the menu that they were either out of or couldn't make because of equipment issues. We sat out front on the patio and once WE turned the music down, it was pleasant enough. But I think being out there was why the service wasn't great.

    Three cheese tiropita
    MaryAnn B.

    Small indoor space but a lot of outdoor seating which is nicely lit . Attentive service, maybe a little bit of communication difficulty but eventually understanding happens. If Mediterranean is a choice of your, this is the right place for some delicious dining. Great choice of appetizers, small and large plates of typical dishes but some excellent surprises, as well. Don't forget dessert!

    Suzane C.

    Food was very good. The ac was not working well on a hot summer evening and a large fan added a bit of relief but also added more noise. The service was good for as busy as they were. I wish I could have gotten more refills on my ice water. I like this place, and love the patio, but it was too hot today to enjoy that.

    Gracie L.

    I've recently been on a Mediterranean food kick, and it's safe to say that Cafe Nova provided me exactly what I was looking for! My partner and I visited on a beautiful Wednesday evening and decided to sit outside. I couldn't believe the expansiveness of their outdoor patio area. There's SO many seating options! The host at the entrance told us to sit anywhere we wanted. Our table was nicely shaded by an umbrella. Given the perfect scenery and weather, I was really looking forward to drinking a glass of moscato, but unfortunately my server let me know that they were all out. It seemed like they had run out of a few other types of wine as well, as I overheard another server share the same thing with a table nearby. My partner had a glass of cabernet sauvignon and loved it. We started with an appetizer of hummus. First of all, the presentation was stunning. Very picture-worthy! The taste was just as incredible. The pita bread was overall soft but also the tiniest bit crunchy on the edges, which my partner thought was a great switch-up from pita that we've had in the past that's completely soft. For our meals, my partner tried their classic gyro and was blown away. I had the veggie gyro and thought the same. Both were massive. I felt so bad that I couldn't finish the whole thing because it was so big, but it was insanely delicious and filling! Their oregano fries on the side were great, too. Can't wait to come back here!

    Seafood Bake with Salad
    Rebecca R.

    The service was very friendly, given that it was a slow day I got a lot of extra attention. Food was delicious; baked well with flaky layers and the salad was perfectly dressed with acid. As I'm not a fan of the sweet dressings most STL places use. I will be back to try more of the menu.

    Cafe Nova Gyro
    Courtney S.

    [July 2025] My friend and I met up for dinner here one night. It has street parking only. When we walked up, I was met with the cutesiest outdoor patio so of course we had to see about sitting out there! They have a signature cocktails menu along with their regular menu but boy it was hard to choose from the options. They all sounded amazing, but I landed with the Seasonal Sangria. It was fruit forward, crisp and garnished with mint. For my meal, I ordered the Nova Gyro. It was jam packed with flavor and came equipped with very well-seasoned fries. I devoured my gyro and took half the fries home (healthy serving!). I cannot wait until it's summer again so that I can sit on that patio! Just be mindful of mosquitos. They were eating on me while I was eating!

    Nova gyro
    Julia M.

    An incredible patio and restaurant in STL! One of the best patios with an incredible vibe. The food is also delicious and always hot and fresh. Can't go wrong with the nova gyro or any apps. Their fries are also incredible. Parking is always really easy. The service is usually pretty slow (very busy) but everyone is always so kind and hustling. So worth a try!

    Shrimp appetizer
    Madi B.

    Gyros got me through the door, the patio and signature cocktails made me cancel my afternoon plans. Excited to come back!

    Greek salad with gyro
    Joyce W.

    Came here on a Sunday, brunch time during the winter fluke where the temp reached the upper 60s. We have a lovely time on the gorgeous patio. We were one of the first tables occupied so our service and food was prompt. As the day went on, it got busier and noticeably slower and less attention. However we were fine with this since our group of 3 head embroiled in conversation. I had the greek salad with gyro. There was so much food I had to take it home. Same with my friends. Both had gyros that were so stuffed, easily the side of heads with fries. The food was delicious and I will absolutely come again, even if the service was slower later. I think they're under staffed, so that added empathy is needed.

    Mini spanikopita
    Beth K.

    The patio has huge , unfortunately it was raining l but we were able to sit in the screen in portion. The food was big portions which was nice but online prices are not accurate with in person menu prices. A gyro is around 12.89 instead of 8.99. The fries were great and the meat was tasty! The staff was friendly and attentive.

    Warm melty Feta Cheese with chili oil & fresh fried pita chip.  This wasn't on the menu, but suggested by our server.  SO DELICIOUS!!
    Michele H.

    Amazing food! Attentive and helpful servers. Beautiful outdoor seating garden. The Spanicopita is life-changing, seriously delicious!! The Gyros are moist, flavorful & not greasy. Get an extra Tziki sauce & feta cheese... So good! The summer seasonal sangria was light, refreshing (not too sweet) & garnished with fresh mint grown on premises I wish I lived closer & could come more often! The servers make you feel like a member of their family. They share their favorites & I have never been disappointed - TAKE THEIR SUGGESTIONS! I can't wait to come back!!

    Cucumber drink
    Kayla W.

    The food and service is always great! We go here at east once a week love cafe nova! The best patio in south city!

    Buffalo Gyro

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    5 months ago

    Bad service. Waited 45 min and all we received was water, ended up having to leave because the waiter never came back.

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    1 year ago

    Tasty Mediterranean food, love the lamb shank, unique coffee drink, affordable desserts, wonderful outdoor eating area seating up to 50.

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    Ask the Community - Cafe Nova

    Do they take reservations?

    I believe they do. You need to call them. I have been there when they have certain tables and areas reserved.

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    Vivid Cafe

    Vivid Cafe

    3.2
    (15 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $

    Wonderful Café Loved…read morethe latte. The service was friendly and personal. This place has a unique Eastern European feel!

    I'm not the best authority on coffee, but on the scale of Starbucks to Venetian cafe without a lick…read moreof English, the coffee here leans towards the latter. Decor is great, rustic brick with plenty of plants, pops of red on black with a classy black leather booth sitting area -- very cozy -- and a patio outside. I've seen reviews lambasting the smoke and some stating there's no smoke smell at all. My experience here is somewhere in the middle. If you've ever been out of country to a small local cafe, it adds to the atmosphere, but if a whiff of tobacco ruins the feel, be aware that some patrons do smoke on the patio, and the smell does drift inside. Service was very quick. I swung by because my fiber cut out at home and I wanted a place to game on a Sunday night. Don't know how relevant this is to anyone else, but the wifi here is great -- 180 MBPS and stable. Barista was very friendly and told me to get comfy with my setup. Owner peeked in to say "Oh we have a DJ!" Seems like a charismatic guy, he was out there entertaining the regulars for quite some time. Otherwise didn't bother me, which I appreciated. Over all a great local place. $8 gets you a quality drink and quality company if you're for that, and quality wifi if you're not. 10/10 introvert recommended, would come back even without my fiber going out.

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    VIVID CAFÉ
    VIVID CAFÉ
    Vivid Cafe
    Vivid Cafe

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    Russell's on Macklind

    Russell's on Macklind

    4.5
    (887 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Came here for brunch. Was seated right away on the patio. It was a bit chilly but they had heaters…read moreand blankets which was much appreciated. Service was quick and our waiter was nice and knowledgeable. Very friendly. I go a coffee and my "friend" got a mimosa. We got the buttermilk biscuits to share and I got the breakfast sandwich. Everything was so delicious. I accidentally dropped my fork on the patio floor and it fell through a crack in the wood and I was too embarrassed to say anything. Everything was amazing and I would love to come back and try some new things like the delicious looking baked goods.

    sunday brunch is VERY busy. we sat upstairs and it's extremely noisy. BECAUSE it's so busy, pack…read moreyour patience because service is extremely slow. We got an order of cinnamon roll and we were sharing but never got little plates with it and it was super messy to eat. we never could get our waiters attention to ask .It was very tasty however. We had brunch cocktails. the bloody mary's were good and so was the white wine sangria. I had the special sandwich which was meatloaf wrapped in bacon with an egg which was tasty. the biscuits and gravy was huge and tasty. The BLATE SANDWICH on grilled sourdough was also good. I enjoy russell's better at dinner. Brunch (or at least today's ) is too noisy and crazy. Our waiter was pleasant and brought me a piece of chocolate torte to take home as we were celebrating my birthday.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Russell's on Macklind
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    Espresso Yourself Coffee & Cafe

    Espresso Yourself Coffee & Cafe

    4.6
    (100 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    Wow, what a cute little place, lots of local art, I got an awesome little purple ceramic mushroom,…read morebut they had lots of other things. And of course coffee, which was really delicious, the one I got. It was a cinnamon roll cold brew with foam and.... I don't know what else, but it was pretty amazing (iced). Lots of coffee/tea options, they have gluten-free goodies and I noticed they had some quiche and soups, so while I didn't get any food, I would not be opposed, for sure! The place was clean and bright, and the local art everywhere was really cool. The bathroom was tidy, service was great, definitely will be back when I'm in the area.

    The location of Espresso Yourself Coffee & Cafe couldn't have been any better, as far as what I…read moreneeded it for. I'd just done a training run that began and ended at the shoe store across the street. At the conclusion, I was given a Paloma-flavored non-alcoholic beer, courtesy of one of my running group's sponsors, but what was I supposed to do with that? It was decided that we needed coffee. (How ironic, by the way. Receiving a free beer from your sponsor.) We seem to have gotten there just in time. There was already a healthy crowd of people who apparently weren't runners, based on their physique (lol jk), and several people from our running group arrived after we did. People apparently like this place. The vibe is quirky and independent, with a lot of random decor, including a Blues Brothers poster and a sign declaring that the Teletubbies are welcome, and a lot of local-interest signage and artwork. People in the City love to remind themselves that they're in St. Louis. You never see anything like that in my native West County. Truth be told, I wouldn't even go into a coffee shop unless someone else suggested it. It costs less at QT. But I figured when in Rome. I wasn't about to get a sandwich, in part because I wasn't hungry, and in part because I'm always wary of food from places that specialize in coffee, but I figured I'd try one of their fancy coffee drinks instead of just a regular coffee. I went with something called a Zippity Do Da, or something to that effect. It was a latte, served hot or cold (I of course went with hot), with... if I'm not mistaken, peanut butter, honey and mocha. I liked the idea that there was a peanut butter element, in part because I couldn't imagine what that would be like. Peanut butter, even the welfare version you get at Aldi, is at least somewhat viscous. Was this going to be more like a milkshake? That could be gross, and grossly caloric, canceling out any benefit of my training run. Of course I was going to drink it anyway. Turns out that the peanut butter was the element that was least prominent in the overall taste of this drink, though you could in fact taste it. I found it impressive that, if you concentrated hard enough, you could detect elements of peanut butter, honey and mocha. It's like when you purchase a fancy bottle of wine, from, perhaps, the aforementioned Aldi, and you really can taste bits of oak, vanilla, campfire and a slight nuttiness. No Diddy. These people are true coffee artists, the cafe equivalent of people who work at Subway. I'm at the nearby shoe store every once in a while, so maybe I'll return. I might even cop a bagel.

    Photos
    More local art and part of the kids nook
    More local art and part of the kids nook
    Breakfast Wrap. Calling this a burrito is savagery against the creators of that wonderful food and all of the American West.
    Breakfast Wrap. Calling this a burrito is savagery against the creators of that wonderful food and all of the American West.
    Guy decided what the heck he wants to drink this early in the morning. Ha! (Photo taken with his permission.

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    Guy decided what the heck he wants to drink this early in the morning. Ha! (Photo taken with his permission.

    Cafe Nova - coffee - Updated August 2026

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