Walk into any cafe and you’re likely to be greeted by the aroma of coffee and the sound of a cool playlist drifting through the room. So it makes total sense that cafes would be the perfect place for Sofar shows. Cafes around the world host Sofar concerts, offering up a cozy backdrop for a fun night out. Here are a few of our favorite cafes for live music in cities around the world.
Great Cafes for Live Music
From a hidden cafe in Taipei to a sleek cafe-lounge in LA, these are six of our favorite cafes for live music, Sofar style.
Congrats Cafe, Taipei
Taipei’s Congrats Cafe is the antidote to chain coffee shops. This hidden gem is tucked away in Taiwan’s capital–you’ll have to peek down an alleyway to find the entrance. But it’s so worth it. Inside, mismatched furniture, art everywhere, and well-loved concrete floors give this warehouse space the feeling you’ve just wandered into someone’s trendy loft. It’s the perfect backdrop for live music–all that’s missing is a cup of the cafe’s signature coffee and a slice of pie (sweet or savory, take your pick).
Café del Monaguillo, Madrid
If you’re planning on catching a Sofar show at Café del Monaguillo in Madrid, here’s a tip: Get there early. Sure, it means you’ll be able to score a great seat, but really, you just want to give yourself plenty of time to browse the cafes impressive library of secondhand books, maybe play a board game or two, and, if you opt for a spot on the terrace, soak up the sun of Southern Spain. Come evening, the living room vibe gets turned up along with the lights, inviting you to gather and discover your next favorite band.
Black Sheep Bagel Cafe, Boston
Daytimes are all about bagels at the Black Sheep Bagel Cafe. This Harvard Square spot in Cambridge (just across the river from Boston) is known for its house-made bagels and piping-hot espresso drinks. But the magic of this unfussy and welcoming space is that it occasionally doubles as a music venue after hours. It’s nothing fancy: the stage is often just a part of the floor outlined in twinkle lights, but in the true Sofar spirit, it’s a comfy place to kick back with friends and rediscover the joy of live music.
Garçons de Café, LA
There are cafes and then there’s Garçons de Café, a bistro-leaning, lounge-ish spot in LA that has a standing date with live music. It calls itself “your extended living room,” but only in your wildest dreams does any room in your house play host to a Sofar show where you can also order up a charcuterie board and a glass of Pet Nat. Our advice: Just embrace this alternate version of your life and make yourself at home. Bonus: you don’t have to decide on a playlist, since Sofar has you covered.
Artifact Coffee, Baltimore
A great thing about cafes as Sofar venues is that they tend to be busiest in the morning and early afternoon, making them ideal for DIY evening gatherings. That’s definitely the case with Baltimore’s Artifact Coffee, which buzzes through the day with wholesome offerings like warm breakfast bowls, lip-smacking sandwiches at lunch, and all the coffee all the time. On live music evenings, the daytime crowd disperses and makes way for the Sofar scene. The cafe’s stone walls glow under the evening lights and excitement builds as the evening’s acts tune up and let loose.
Chaveta Coffee, Toronto
Run by locals and full of community-minded spirit, Chaveta Coffee in Toronto’s Seaton Village neighborhood hosts music on the regular. Vintage wallpaper and wood floors give the space a homey feel, and people come from far and wide for the organic free-trade coffee and local treats. On live music nights, the cafe transforms. If you happen to walk by, you’d hear music drifting out onto the sidewalk. Peering in through the cafe’s big picture windows, you’d be greeted by a sea of happy faces watching musicians make their beautiful sonic art.
Ready to discover live music in cozy spaces? Browse shows near you.
Words by Sofar Editorial Team
