The Aesthetics of Aesthetic Cafés

After a tiring day filled with the monotonous routine of life, most people long for a retreat, to give themselves the warmth and inspiration they need to carry on. Aesthetic cafés offer this and much more to their customers.

People have always loved to go to cafés; one of the many reasons being, the overall ambience of the place which is warm and cosy. Cafés are favourite hangout spots to catch up with friends and socialize, or spend some quiet time and get work done.

Little White Kitchen, Kilpauk

Nowadays, there is an increased demand for aesthetic cafés that cater to individual preferences and trends. They offer all that a normal café would but stand out as they appeal to the aesthetics of customers. The place is filled with art, floral designs, quirky wall decorations, wall paintings, plants, comfy furniture or anything that would perk the aesthetic attention of the customer.

Aesthetic cafés are made to look ‘Instagrammable’ so that the customers can get their perfect pictures. The furniture and interior designs are all based on the aesthetic that the particular café is aiming to give and it captures the attention of the customers as people love to surround themselves with things they consider beautiful. Aesthetic cafés are therefore an escape from the routine-based life as it adds colour to one's life and nurtures the customer with its welcoming ambience. Chennai is home to a bunch of aesthetic cafés and as most people like to post pictures taken at such places, these cafes get extensive publicity.

Minimalist aesthetic cafés’ colour palettes are neutral, and their accessories and decorations are not bold or flamboyant. These cafés focus on the "less is more" concept and customers enjoy the ambience and see the café as a place for a peaceful retreat. Vintage aesthetic cafés are decorated and filled with items and furniture that remind people of the golden past. A student of literature, Sahana, says that vintage aesthetic cafés remind her of the English coffee houses of the 17th century. "I have an odd fascination for tall windows, vintage doors and antique things that I find in so many of these aesthetic cafés in Chennai. I prefer to go to these cafés as they have a sense of warmth and positive vibes," says Sahana.

Wild Garden Café at Amethyst, Royapettah. Image Source.

Most people who visit cafés that are aesthetically pleasing love the ‘Instagrammable’ setting more than the food, and as long as the café is Instagram worthy, the food does not matter much. However, it is not just for social media that people hang out in these cafés but for the overall ambience of the place as well. "These are cafés where I would love to hang-out in the evenings, for the atmosphere more than the food," said Sahana, who likes visiting aesthetic cafés across Chennai. She adds, "With these kinds of cafés, people are slowly starting to explore the aesthete in themselves!"

Wild Garden Café at Amethyst, Royapettah. Image 1 Source. Image 2 Source.

People also visit these cafés to gain inspiration and observe their surroundings. Gayathri, a budding poet who is also a minimalist, loves visiting Writer's Café which is just a few steps away from her residence. Gayathri shares that she likes going there to journal and sometimes finish her college work. "Almost every time it rains or it’s one of those cosy days, I head to the café and camp there for three hours. It's a lovely feeling: sipping hot chocolate, with the raindrops racing down the window still, the sound of the rain and the softness of the café itself, makes me feel all warm inside. I love minimalist aesthetic cafés because they are simple and cosy and mostly rely on natural light. It makes me feel like I'm one with nature.”

Writer’s Café, Gopalapuram. Image Source.

People love aesthetic cafés not only because of the food they serve or the nice photo opportunities they provide but also because of their ambience and the sense of comfort they offer.

Which aesthetic café are you headed to?