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    Cafe Nova

    4.4 (397 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Cafe Nova Photos

    CAFE NOVA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Nova

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    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!

    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!

    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!

    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.

    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!

    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!!

    Buffalo Gyro
    Macy M.

    You must add this place to your list!! First time dining at Cafe Nova and it was great!! The atmosphere was welcoming and the patio was beautiful on a sunny day. Menu has lots of options, everything looked so good it was hard to choose! Service was good but sort of slow Hummus App: 5/5 *pita was so fresh and hummus tasted great, would get again! My dish (Nova Gyro): 5/5 *HUGE portions! Really really delicious and the fries are also great! Baklava: 5/5 * got this to go and it was amazing Girlfriends also got the buffalo chicken gyro, chicken panini, soup of the day which was a chicken noodle and the mushroom platter. Really great experience overall, can't wait to visit again!!

    Megan R.

    Cafe Nova has a *pita* our hearts! This authentic Mediterranean must-try is only 5 minutes from us in the Princeton Heights neighborhood. (Um, how did we get so lucky?!) Although it's tucked right alongside traffic-heavy Kingshighway, their patio couldn't possibly be more peaceful and picturesque--and there's plenty of parking around back! Every dish we ordered was divine! From the hummus starter to the salmon special, the sangria to the grilled chicken plate, we were stuffed and so, so happy! The only thing we'd do differently next time? Save room for dessert!

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    2 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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    9 months 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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    Wonderful place. Great food & service. The patio is amazing. Good place for big groups.

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    Page 1 of 10

    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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    The Breakfast Corner - The Corner Breakfast with Harvest Waffle

    The Breakfast Corner

    (101 reviews)

    $$

    Saint Louis Hills

    I had the breakfast special and it was absolutely fantastic. Even the scrambled eggs were…read moredelicious! They were fluffy and moist and you could tell that it was real egg. The potatoes were cooked perfectly with lots of flavor and that Belgium waffle Yum Yum Yum!! Our server was great. She was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed multiple times during our dining experience. The ambience is very inviting and clean. One of the things I loved most were the pictures of old sports areas from St. Louis

    Saw a recommendation for BC and wife and I thought we'd stop by on Tuesday morning. There was no…read morewait, although the restaurant was full. FOOD-Omelettes were that, actual real omelettes not scrambled eggs with varied ingredients! My chorizo omelette was delicious. Chorizo was flavorful, I may nah e wanted more spice/hear, but float was there! Potatoes were cooked nicely. Wife's avocado omelette was also tasty as we're here potatoes. Wife also had a plain pancake which was a towering height and yummy. I had the Harvest waffle with bananas and strawberries. Again, flavorful waffle and the fruit was fresh and tasty too. We love coffee and the blend at Breakfast Corner is delightful! SERVICE-Sierra was wonderful. Gave us time to peruse the menu and took our orders. Coffee refill was timely and we kept the pot! Although the restaurant was full, food came out relatively quickly and hot. Management/ownership could be seen assisting with order deliveries and extra smiles...always a good sign! AMBIANCE-Space is brightly colored, has tasteful lighting fixtures, and the huge black and white St. Louis prints on the walls are a very nice touch! Overall noise level was good and we could take at a conversational level with ease. OVERALL-Our dishes were delightful and make us want to be back to try more items. Service was wonderful and also makes us want to be back. Happy to have found a new breakfast/brunch spot! Thank you!

    Vivid Cafe

    Vivid Cafe

    (15 reviews)

    $

    Princeton Heights

    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.

    Russell's on Macklind - Chocolate chip gooey butter cake

    Russell's on Macklind

    (879 reviews)

    $$

    South Hampton

    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.

    I don't think I will ever stop talking about this dinner. I always knew Russell's was good, but…read morethis was next level. When I saw their post about the "cold weather comforts," I knew I had to go. We each did the pre fixe dinner- this included a salad, entree and dessert. Each. The chicken pot pie soup was not included, but was worth it. This soup--one of the best things I have ever eaten. I was speechless eating it. I had to text multiple people mid soup to tell them about it. The chicken was flavorful, and huge pieces. The soup itself was so delicious. It felt like a warm hug. I ordered the cottage pie. So delicious and hearty. The braised short rib was so tender. The potatoes were perfectly whipped. I cannot wait for the leftovers. My friend ordered the lasagna. The lamb was incredible. So hearty, and didn't feel heavy like some lasagnas can be. The serving size was huge. We will also be eating this tomorrow! Now the apple crisp. We were full by course two, but we had to dig in. It was fresh out of the oven. The vanilla bean whipped cream was so fresh and balanced out the crisp. The apples were perfectly jammy and the cinnamon was so intense but perfect. This made me feel like I was sitting in my grandma's dining room eating dessert after Sunday dinner. If you see any of these items appear on their menu, run-- and I will see you there!

    Espresso Yourself Coffee & Cafe - "Thick cut" bacon - actually economy slices. Taste boiled, limp and flavorless. Breakfast Burrito

    Espresso Yourself Coffee & Cafe

    (98 reviews)

    $

    South Hampton

    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.

    Knead Bakehouse + Provisions - Carrot cake cookie

    Knead Bakehouse + Provisions

    (215 reviews)

    $$

    Lindenwood Park

    As soon as you walk in you can smell the amazing fresh bread! I went for breakfast on a Saturday…read moreand it was quite busy but our food came out rather quickly. Everyone was extremely nice especially the person at the register! I ordered the breakfast sandwich and it was hearty and delicious! I also ordered a few more items to go like the seasonal pumpkin cruffin! Everything is fresh and made with care. If you're dining in they have a cute dine in section. The drink selection is quite limited but they did have a seasonal drink as well. Overall this is an amazing local spot that clearly cares about customer service and the quality of their food! Would highly recommend!

    I was spoiled to be so close to this spot while I was staying in town. I'm an absolute sucker for a…read moregood bakery and I was immediately intrigued by the variety of sourdough-based goodies Knead had to offer. It took all my strength to not buy one of everything but I selected on four picks for my first of two visits, as well as a bag of their sourdough shortbread that I just finished today and am already missing. I was also given a taster of their apple crisp with my first order, which was very delicious and will be a great addition to any holiday meal. The maple glazed doughnut was soft, a perfect classic. The cranberry ginger jam was delicious and punchy, but could have used a little something on the actual doughnut to balance out how strong it was. I enjoyed both kolaches; the everything seasoning one is well reminiscent of the classic bagel and schmear with its cream cheese center, and the three cheese bacon had good sized strips of bacon baked in. Perhaps my favorite was my take home item from the next day, their cinnamon roll. I warmed it up a little, not that it needed it. Pillowy soft with a delicious frosting. I also miss that already too. I really appreciate that you can also pick up local eggs and milk from this spot with Fed From The Farm. As you can see, it was very busy around 9am when I came in Saturday morning, but the line moves quickly and there's space in the back to wait for your order. The parking lot is small and fills quickly but nearby street parking seems feasible enough. Really glad I got to check out this spot!

    Cafe Nova - coffee - Updated May 2026

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