From quaint bookshops to pristinely arranged furniture boutiques, there are just some stores you wish you could live in. When those stores have cafés or restaurants, you almost can—for a day, at least. These stores become more than just retailers. They’re experiences; their vision is a lifestyle. Stumptown coffee pairs perfectly with post-punk records and Aperol spritzes are a heavenly match for Italian-designed dresses. Hybrid stores invite you to not just shop, but stay a while. From New York to Hong Kong, Oslo to Dallas, these stores are like whole little worlds we could and want to get lost in.
New York: Roman and Williams Guild
Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, aka interior design visionaries Roman and Williams, opened their New York flagship store in Soho this past winter. The duo’s home designs mingle with thoughtfully sourced items from around the world and one-of-a-kind antiques. It’s okay to get lost in all the pretty happening around you: Standefer and Alesch want you to stay a while. Take a break from the city in the library, and bring some of the magic home with a bouquet from Emily Thompson Flowers. In between, make time for French-tinged dishes at La Mercerie, from cheese plates and oysters to buckwheat crepes with a cocktail or glass of wine. The best part? The chic glasses and plates and everything else on the table are all for sale.
Moscow: KM20
The cool kids and fashion fans find both inspiration and wardrobe updates at KM20, Moscow’s concept store and haven of hip. Off-White, J.W. Anderson, Vetements, and Vika Gazinskaya hang from the racks, gracing shoppers with their presence. Whether you’re hopelessly devoted to trends or just like to look at lovely things, KM20 is a shortcut to experiencing Moscow’s sartorial savvy. Because fresh-from-the-runway shopping can be hard work, take a break at the store’s vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant, designed to embrace healthy and responsible living with a modern and appropriately stylish slant. Sip on an organic wine or snack on house-made ice cream while playing a game of backgammon or ping-pong.
Tokyo: visvim
One of visvim’s Tokyo flagship stores resides inside the Gyre shopping center, and is essentially the tangible intersection of relaxingly spacious and invitingly cozy. Its entire interior is done in rich woods with vintage furniture, capturing the cult clothing, shoe, and accessory label’s focus on craftsmanship and global-traveler influences. The beautifully worn-in surroundings will have you wanting to sink into a leather chair to really relish those leopard-print desert boots you’re about to buy. And you might as well, since you can enjoy a cup of visvim’s artisanal java, little cloud coffee. Take in some sunshine at one of the outdoor tables, enjoying an espresso or drip coffee with a vegan pastry.
Berlin: Soho House’s The Store
Synonymous with luxury, the exclusive Soho House opens its impossibly cool doors to the public in Berlin’s Mitte district with an expansive and light-filled space. The Store is designed to feel like a (dream) home, only you can buy everything. The music you hear, the candle you smell, the plush rug you stand on, the Ann Demeulemeester coat you drool over—there’s plenty to fall in love with. You can even indulge in some pampering at an on-site salon. What would such a welcoming home be without food, though? At The Store Kitchen, you can dig into a brunch or lunch of simple dishes made from the freshest and most delicious ingredients, all in the healthy comfort-food vein with a Mediterranean influence.
Milan: 10 Corso Como
Founded by one of fashion’s chicest people and in one of fashion’s chicest cities, editor Carla Sozzani’s 10 Corso Como in Milan fulfills its destiny as a runway-to-real-world oasis. There’s more than Alaïa and Comme des Garçons, though. The well-appointed store sells Italian furniture that could inspire your next home makeover, and features a bookstore to get lost in and an art gallery to wander. Make a day out of it: Depending on your mood, you can take your pressed juice, espresso, and focaccia in the lush garden café, or sit down to a full dinner in the restaurant and lounge area.
Detroit: Shinola
With its watches, leather goods, and bicycles serving as the finely crafted trappings of today’s urban creative and its mission to manufacture in the U.S. with Detroit as a homebase, Shinola’s Motor City flagship is a must-visit. Exuding understated cool, the space hums with entrepreneurial spirit and sells things like buttery leather-covered headphones. It’s a fitting place for a café that has become a local favorite in its own right, making round-ups of the best coffee shops in Detroit. Hit the outdoor patio with a honey vanilla latté or, because branding, a Shinola cola.
Seattle: Raconteur at Third Place Books
Seattle’s Third Place Books was established to become a community gathering place, and it’s succeeded. The Seward Park location lives up to its task, bringing readers together with an expansive selection of new and used books, a welcoming atmosphere with a friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a stacked calendar of engaging events. Locally beloved restaurant Raconteur lies, conveniently, just beyond the cookbook section, and yes, you can peruse the shelves with beer or wine in hand. Once you sit down, you’ll find a menu of burgers, tacos, salads and lobster rolls.
Dallas: Wild Detectives
In Oak Cliff, dubbed “Dallas’s Brooklyn,” you’ll find a hub of community, creativity, and cool factor. Wild Detectives focuses on the more under-the-radar books of the world, with an emphasis on translations and poetry. Its careful curation stretches to include vintage rock and jazz records. On the weekends, the store turns its WiFi off to inspire disconnecting, whether conversation or quiet reading is your cup of tea. While you browse, why not sip on a beer? Sit down and stay a while with a cortado, a breakfast taco, cocktail, or something from the selection of Mediterranean-inspired toasts.
Baltimore: Baby’s on Fire
Baby’s on Fire owners David Koslowski and Shirlé Hale-Koslowski are staples on Baltimore’s music scene, having played in indie bands since the early ‘90s; the store is named for the couple’s favorite Brian Eno song. There’s an easygoing rock and roll flavor to their store, where casual shoppers and vinylphiles alike can search for sonic treasure and geek out over deep cuts while enjoying a light café menu by Hale-Koslowski, a personal chef for 15 years. Bins stuffed with records for every kind of fan line the walls of this cute carriage house, while communal tables offer a chilled-out spot for coffee (Stumptown, to be precise) and conversation.
Oslo: Hendrix Ibsen
Oslo’s cleverly named Hendrix Ibsen was launched by owner Kristian Moldskred to unite the best of vinyl, coffee, and beer—three things that can make for quite the lovely day off. Much of the store’s inventory is sourced from Berlin, and offers a comprehensive journey through classic rock. The café is known for its nitro coffee, a cold and carbonated way to get your caffeine fix. The homey and light-filled interior will make it easy to stay all day, from browsing records with your bubbly java to taking in one of the music gigs or art exhibitions that might be happening in the evening with a craft beer.
Hong Kong: Potato Head
Some store and restaurant hybrids end up being the kind of place you can spend a whole day in; Potato Head was designed to be a day-long destination. A modern space contrasted by vibrant plants everywhere you look, Potato Head houses Canaan, a home goods store featuring ceramics and textiles from Indonesia. I Love You So Coffee is the store’s all-day café and bar for small bites, coffee, and cocktails. In The Music Room, you can shop thousands of records and even kick back and listen to whatever you find. End your experience at Kaum, the acclaimed restaurant with a beautifully fresh Indonesian menu.
New York: BLACKBARN
BLACKBARN is tucked away in the madness of Chelsea Market. Stepping in from the chaotic crowds feels like coming home: The chill vibe is calming, the staff and setting are welcoming, and the inventory is inviting. Chic flatware and linens, quirky statement pieces like taxidermy dioramas, artisanal jams—things you need and things you just want are arranged in easy-to-shop groupings, while a curated book selection features recommendations from Kim Gordon and Tilda Swinton. Pick a Tilda-approved title and settle into the café/restaurant, where you can indulge in bubbles, coffee, charcuterie, braised octopus, or, why not, rum butterscotch bread pudding.
by Courtney Iseman
Have you been to a restaurant-cafe-shop hybrid lately? Share your finds with us below!
(via Food52)
